Minding the Store

18. Credo

18 Credo IN COLLEGE I TOOK A COURSE in medieval history in which the German Reformation and Martin Luther occupied three pages of the textbook and twenty minutes of classroom discussion. It was years later, at an exhibition of the works of the great American artist and humanist Ben Shahn, that 1 came across a poster he had painted to advertise the motion picture Martin Luther, which he simply titled Credo. It was only then that 1 understood what Martin Luther was all about. Luther said, "I have the right to believe freely. To be a slave to no man's authority. If this be heresy, so be it. It is still the truth. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe. 1 cannot . . . will not . . . recant. Here 1 stand. No man can command my conscience." It seemed to me then, as it does now, one of the noblest statements ever made by man. 1 bought the painting, and whenever the pressure against freedom of expression gets too great, 1 reread it for sustenance. Of all the controversies in which 1 have been involved, the "long hair" episode proved to be the most savage in the reaction it engendered . It all started in 1966, when three teenage musicians were ejected from a Dallas high school because the principal said their hair was too long. 1 didn't know the boys and 1 personally disliked the fashion of long hair, but 1 was appalled by what 1 thought was a violation of the boys' constitutional rights. 1 read the 361 CREDO newspaper account of the incident on my way to the airport and telephoned them before my flight to offer financial aid in fighting the decision in the courts. My secretary, unaware of my call, told me we had never received so many phone calls in a single day on any subject, and that the vast majority of the messages were highly critical of my position. The protest against my support of Kennedy was mild in com· parison to the flood of letters, telegrams, and messages condemning my offer of assistance to the three boys. The attacks came from all sides: from schoolteachers siding with the principal, ministers, conservative older people, doctors, lawyers, friends, and even relatives - from residents of Dallas and nonresidents alike. In retrospect , I realized that I had touched a sensitive nerve in the populace - the insurgency of youth - and it was glad to have someone of stature to lash with their pent-up indignation. Some of the letters were so similar in wording that I was forced to suspect they had been inspired by some common source. More charge accounts were closed than on any of the other occasions when I took an unpopular stand. Typical of many of the letters was this one from a Dallas woman: Dear Mr. Marcus, I was shocked and horrified to read that you upheld those who defy school rules. You evidently are not aware that dress does make a difference in attitudes, behavior, and even human morals. You should stick to merchandising and allow principals to do their job without interference. Yours truly, AN IRATE CITIZEN I received a card with a Dallas postmark, Dear Stanley, It would be impossible to estimate the loss in volume to your firm 362 CREDO from your asinine remarks about "civil wrongs and liberties." Your remarks hurt all the merchants in Dallas. Why don't you keep your trap shut? ED I had no way of identifying "Ed." From one of the city's most respected and competent physicians came a copy of a letter addressed to a school board member: I do not agree with Stanley Marcus regarding the "Mop-tops" III W. W. Samuell High School. Mr. W. S. Lanham, the Principal, has my wholehearted support. Educating is more than text-book instruction. Mr. Marcus has been quite successful financially, by helping people appear well groomed, and I doubt that he would think of employing these strange looking students in his store. If he wants to be of real help, let him furnish wigs instead of lawyers. Yours very truly, An oilman wrote with obvious restraint, Dear Mr. Marcus: I have been a customer of yours and all my family has traded with you ever since we came to Texas. I have always thought well of you...