Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 11, No. 6. June 3rd, 1948
Indefinition
Indefinition
Dear Sir,—Mr. Brian Bell's enthusiasm for the Gallup Poll method of inquiry has proved that some students do not know what Communism is.
If the last answer is that of the one and only Ron's then he ought to be able to do better. His answer is as vague as the rest of them, except the most obviously silly. Perhaps it is because Ron knows that there is no such thing as knowing what Communism is. Emile Burns writing in his "What is Marxism?" cannot ever summon up enough fact to define. If Emile Burns cannot define in "the best, short exposition yet published in the English language" (see cover), then why expect other people to be able to on the spur of the moment.
The trouble is that Communists never can define what Communism is. If they once define there is no reason why that definition should apply two seconds afterwards. The policy of the party anywhere is expediency.
The Editor may prepare himself for a spate of either definitions or a mighty silence. Definitions I hope for as yet I have none in my collection of 'definitions which fill the bill.
In order to prevent any invective let me state in this, letter that Mr. Little has a theory about atom bombs which I do not support.
F.M.