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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 9. August 10th 1949

Cold Shoulders?

Cold Shoulders?

This refusal to prove from essentials and by evidence, a legacy from that sort of education which leaves s man with nothing as a basis for thought, is a boon to radicals who can use propaganda methods not based on reason with little fear of contradiction. A critic must have a standard and thinkers principles to work from, but modem education firmly convinced of the omnipotence of not committing one's self leaves minds open to impression by the facile pens and persuasive tongues of the "progressives" who argue with emotion, inference and supreme evasive skill. Objections are rare. Attempts to pin down any orator of Garrett Street to the essentials of Marxian thought or practice were quickly brushed aside with the "down to earth let's talk about bread and butter routine". Progressives fear the spectre of essentials as much as they fear the rare man in the street who thinks.

Deeds do not prove anything but when carefully chosen and emotively presented they give a good impression which is sound politics in this way deeds which cannot be or are not related, and are not the results of the actions of the same forces, can be placed alongside each other and attributed to one force. Thus the spectre of the University red has a curious career which it is suggested is connected with every radical movement in the College. The inference is plain but the connection is not proved in spite of the fact that one of the movers in the radical clubs was later to be a prominent communist. Perhaps some of the Socialist Club's ancestry is traceable through the early radical clubs, but vocal radicals in pre-war years, even those who were against war are not necessarily an indication that Socialism was coming to greatness.

Politics, particularly those political schemes of the Socialists (Winchestrian and others) is in great part a matter of techniques. Providing the right techniques are used on the right people progress is made in a modem University a semblance of reasoned political theory presented with fiery idealism appeals to many of those who think at all. The technique is used to catch them with their enthusiasm getting no outlet, for thereafter there is so much to do in the cause of the party that there is no time to examine that semblance of political theory which was the original enticement nor is there time to examine other political theories which are continually abused within' the party in time the zealots convinced by their own techniques believe everything to be true, particularly since there is some truth in socialism and in communism and their socialism remains with them until its discomfit confirms them in their stubborn and bitter feud or disappears with an extra pound a week and a dress shirt.