Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 54 — page 106: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Get Integrated by Peter Summers Ts title of this article is a very common phrase in America at the moment, and, in a different form, is quite common in Britain. Its mes- sage could be said to be the basis of all psychological and psychiatrical advice and intent. Yet, as I hope to convince you, it is a doctrine that, if effected, would halt civilisa- tion in its tracks. Let me say at once that I am not necessarily suggesting that such a halting would be a bad thing. That is a topic for another argument. But I am suggesting that the exponents of the doctrine of “Get Integrated”’ probably do not realise that they are encourag- ing a state of stasis in society. This kind of thing has been the basis of very many clas- sical science fiction stories, and I’m sure you will concur that it will do with some discussing. 105 What, first of all, does the doctrine mean? When one American says to another (or to another several millions if he happens to be on radio or television) “Go get yourself integrated” he means “Adapt yourself to the conditions around you, so that they don’t get on your nerves and make you sick or in some measure an agitator.” The doctrine comes out quite clearly in another Stateside expression: ““He’s just a poor mixed-up kid’’—implying, truthfully no doubt, that if the child could be “‘unmixed-up” he would not get himself into the par- ticular scrape under examina- tion. Here in Britain we say the same kind of thing but not so succinctly. Nearly everybody believes that people would be happy and harmless if they were not in some degree at war with their environment. Modern legal Ccomiclbooks.conn