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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 15, No. 3. March 20, 1952

Red Rag Profane Bull

Red Rag Profane Bull

One still heaps the Old, Old story, begun by people who should have known better and perpetuated by those who don't, that Congress is a "Hot-bed of Reds." There are two points to make in reply:

Firstly, it's not... Next to the Christian group, the S.L.F. contingent was the strongest present, for which everybody was glad, for we believe in the free clash of opinion as the path to Truth and believe also that an opinion is best stated by one who holds it most firmly. Long ago, in a no less troubled age. John Milton spoke boldly:—"And though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously by licensing and prohibiting to misdoubt her strength. Let her and falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter?"

Secondly, if you think Truth wasn't upheld, whose fault was that? The doors are open and then is not a student who has ever been to Congress who would not be glad to see anyone come, provided he too was prepared to live and let live. What we go to Congress for is not to embrace Marxism or even to finally refute it, but we try, as Socrates tried, and by tradition the University in Europe has tried ever since, To Learn to be Friends. That's what a University and especially a Congress is for.

Bryce Harland

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