#UPPER VOLTA ONCE FULL#

#UPPER VOLTA ONCE FULL#

President, that reminds us, 'If the head burns, let not the shoulders rejoice.' Certainly it is in unity and solidarity that free men find the full meaning of independence-and it is in unity and solidarity that the free peoples of America offer their friendship to the free peoples of Africa. All across this great land of America, among both young and old, there is a strong and a swelling interest in your continent and in your country. President, but I could mention many others. And, because of the very growing demand, I am told that an Institute of African Studies is being inaugurated devoted to Africa's rich history and culture, including Upper Volta. Students on that campus, where my beloved wife once roamed, study the dialects of West Africa, including Upper Volta.

The most popular general book on the list of the University of Texas Press is about the folklore of West Africa, including Upper Volta. Over the past 3 years that university-representing only one of our 50 United States-conducted a major study of the grasses of West Africa, including your own Upper Volta. But there is much more to the story than just that. That collection is still preserved and used at the University of Texas today. More than 100 years ago-back in 1859-the first library on West Africa west of our Mississippi River was established in the capital city of my native State, the city of Austin, Tex. I hope, sir, when you return, that you will take with you this message. President, that America is far, far away-both in distance and in development. But we are enemies always of human privation and prejudice-and we shall not rest until justice prevails throughout the world against these adversaries. So long as men anywhere go hungry, so long as men anywhere live in poverty, so long as their bodies are afflicted with disease and their children are denied the light of education, this great and restless Nation that we call America will be searching without ceasing for ways to overcome these curses and tribulations of mankind. We in America covet nothing on any continent, but so long as the independence and the freedom of any peoples may be in jeopardy we of the United States shall never cease our sleepless vigil.Д«ut ours is much more than just a material commitment, for we keep a moral commitment, too. Your words recall for all Americans the words of one of our own patriots who said when our Nation was quite young: 'The cause of America is the cause of all mankind.' President, you went on to pledge that the spirit of modern Africa would be devoted to what you described as 'the only worthwhile cause-that of man himself.' If history makes them belated Wise Men, the gifts they bring to the cradle of the New World are no less costly, for they are made of age-old wisdom and the will to construct.' He was then speaking of the young African nations, and the President said: '.

At that time the constructive and courageous statesman who is our guest tonight made a most memorable observation. This has been a delightful day for us here at the White House and we are so pleased that our friends in America could come here from all parts of the country to join us tonight in welcoming our distinguished guests.ДЇive years ago the people of Upper Volta won their independence. So I know that, as that music was playing, you enjoyed those attractive young men and what they were playing so much more than you are going to enjoy what I have to say that I hated to see them leave. Didn't I tell you when you were here that you should cut out your drinking if you wanted to improve your hearing?' He said, 'Yes.' The doctor said, 'Why didn't you do it?' He said, 'Doctor, when I got home I considered it and I just decided that I like what I drink so much better than what I hear !'

'Well,' said the doctor, 'I can't do anything for you if you won't follow my advice and take my prescription. And he said, 'Now have you cut out your drinking?' And he said, 'No.'

The doctor examined him carefully and said, 'How much are you drinking these days?' He said, 'Well, I drink about a pint a day.' The doctor said, 'If you want to improve your hearing you are going to have to cut out your drinking.'ДЄbout 90 days later the fellow went back to the doctor and the doctor examined him again and his hearing hadn't improved a bit. One of our eider statesmen found difficulty in his hearing and he went to the doctor. I am not unmindful of how you must feel and I was thinking, as the music was leaving, about a story that occurred down in my own hills of Texas.

Upper volta once