If You Ask Me
by Eleanor Roosevelt

I am quite sure that it is good for the morale of the men to have their wives near, if it is possible for them to put up with whatever conditions they may meet without grumbling, which would make it harder for the men. If a wife realizes that she must take second place as against the war job which her husband must do, and that she is there primarily to help him do that job, she will endure difficulties and discomforts cheerfully and be happy that they have a chance to be with each other for a little longer.

If a woman has this attitude, I am sure she will find endless ways in which to help her husband and other men in the camp, and her presence will always be welcome.

Every effort is being made and has been made to reach some agreement with the Japanese government on the exchange of prisoners. I read the other day that there was to be a first exchange. I do not know whether the Japanese had agreed to send us some of the men from Bataan. Japan has been unwilling to make any arrangements, and for a time we had very few Japanese prisoners to exchange, since most Japanese soldiers prefer to die rather than to be taken prisoner. We probably have some now, but not a great number, and Japan has very little interest in her imprisoned soldiers or even in accepting some of her loyal nationals in this country who are willing to be repatriated.

My son James was in the R.O.T.C. in college and was a member of the reserve for many years. He did not have to take a physical examination in order to get in, and therefore he is able to stay in as long as he can do useful work. He had a commission for many years due to the fact that he was in the reserve from the time that he was in college.

Divorce is something which should never be taken lightly, but I think the real emphasis should be laid upon the seriousness with which we undertake marriage in the first place. Sometimes even when a marriage begins with every apparent prospect of success, however, people develop differently and find themselves, over a period of years, unable to live in harmony with the person to whom they are married. When that happens it seems to me that there is nothing to do but to resort to a divorce.

Certain religions do not recognize divorce, and of course I am not talking about people who belong to those religions, but it is a rare thing that people who find themselves unhappy together can have a home where there is an atmosphere of kindness and consideration and unity, which is the only atmosphere in which children can develop successfully. It is better, I think, to make the inevitable adjustment and separate, hoping that both people involved may find companionship and love with someone else, or that one can make of life alone something worth living. For two people to live unhappily together seems to me bad for them and for the children involved, if there are any[.]

They are doing the very best they can, but everything that goes to China has to go by air, and the route is long and difficult. We are constantly increasing the amount we can send, but the transportation problem is not yet solved.

Why? I cannot imagine that they want to be singled out from the other men in their regiments.

I do not think there is the slightest possibility at present, because the need is not great enough. If the need were to become great, no doubt women would be drafted into the WAC, the WAVES, and so on, or into factories or onto the land, just as they are in other countries where the need has made it imperative.

You are very kind to attribute so many good qualities to me. I am afraid that with the amount of publicity and controversy which have surrounded me and my family for a great many years, I would either have become an embittered old lady or a nervous wreck if I had not been able to decide on what I thought was right and become indifferent to what other people thought, unless they were people whose opinion I respected and valued.

I should think it would be a little difficult to divide the housework equally, but any husband who really cares for his wife will naturally help her in any way he can.

The Bible tells a story of Christ at a wedding feast turning water into wine, of which all the guests were asked to partake. In the communion service many churches use wine to represent the blood of our Lord.

That is just one of the lies which are circulated by our enemies. Jews and colored boys are drafted into the services in exactly the same proportion as any other, unless they happen to have an essential war job. If you will read the casualty lists and the list of decorations for brave deeds, you will find many Jewish names. I know there are colored soldiers who have received medals for exceptional service, too, but there is no way of identifying them by their names.

There is no reason why they cannot, though I imagine where laws exist to prevent this, women have never expressed their feelings strongly enough or worked and organized to see that the law is changed.