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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 27, No. 12. 1964.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

letters to the editor

Jonty's corner

Sir,—A statement in the last issue of Salient calls for some comment. Referring to the AGM, Salient quipped: "On this occasion the anarchists had launched a filibuster to rubbish the entire Annual Report."

Perhaps some of your readers would be interested to learn that the sacred Annual Report aforementioned was full of the mouthings of selected weak-bladdered beef-brained, reeky, foetid, mouldy, rancid, maggoty, scurfy, maculate, slimy, clinkerous, dungy, putrid, pompous, self-adoring bogtrotting oureaucrats who took it upon themselves to waste our student funds in telling us what splendid fellows they all are and what a grand Job they have been doing.

Yours till the job's grand,

Jonathan (fellow) Markham.

Sir,—There has been a lot of shouting about "sexual anarchy" in recent issues of Salient. I understand, sir, that when one uses the term "sexual anarchist" one is drawing a distinction between a sexual democrat, a sexual fascist or a sexual communist. It would seem therefore that sexual democrats take a vote before going to bed; sexual fascists force their way into bed and sexual communists all go to bed together.

I take it that the sexual anarchist would reject these approaches: that is, reject the commune, reject the force and reject the mob supervision. This would leave spontaneity, responsibility, mutuality. Rare qualities.

Yours till the beds fly,

Sexual J. Sodom, alias Markham.

Sexual morality

Sir—It is unfortunate that the Hutt Valley branch of the Federation of University Women, in joining the debate in your columns on sexual morality, should lose track of the consequences of their idea as their article progresses.

Their article raises questions of obedience and discipline that have implications outside the sexual context.

"We urge your students to recognise this feeling of 'wanting to kick over the traces' as one which is frequently concomitant with stress and to assure them it passes, especially if recognised as such."

This outlook is. I believe, potentially a very dangerous one for, instead of encouraging people to look critically at customs and authorities (temporal, spiritual and intellectual) it suggests that bucking the norm is wrong and should be avoided. I believe that too many university students accept the norms anyway, whether they concern politics, religion, good taste or sex. The improvement of social organisation is not promoted by encouraging people to repress any rebellious tendencies but by encouraging them to translate them into positive ideas—not thou shalt not but I will do this because . . .

To return to the more restricted subject of sex, the article resorts to the familiar tale . . . "We thought the same way when we were your age, but we know better now." The article puts it this way: "Those of our generation capable of mature judgment who succumbed to this specious reasoning would deny it now . . . Premarital sex experience did not enrich experience for them and make them capable of fuller life." (Notice the words "mature judgment"—they automatically exclude anyone who does not suit the writer's purpose, so the argument becomes tautologous.)

It does not take a trained psychologist to realise that the broad term "pre-marital sex experience" can cover a multitude of situations, from a single evening's encounter to de-facto marriage. Equally it can cover a multitude of states of happiness, from bliss to misery.

The article takes its use of broad generalisation a stage further with a quote from an article by C. S. Lewis (incidentally with an extremely masochistic title) which confuses conjugal infidelity with social irresponsibility.

"A society in which conjugal infidelity is tolerated must always be in the long run a society adverse to women. Women . . . are more naturally monogamous than men; it is a biological necessity."

I cannot see how 'conjugal infidelity' can work to the disadvantage of women unless it is taken to mean that men do not recognise their responsibilities. I cannot imagine anyone seriously upholding such a situation.

What "sexual anarchists" (or libertarian thinkers) propose is, broadly, that the individuals should determine their own conduct with reference to their desires and happiness, and also to those of other people involved directly or indirectly. This means that responsibility must play a part in shaping decisions.

I think that this approach is just as valid inside or outside marriage—I do not see that some mum bo jumbo murmured in a church and a few signatures on a mouldy bit of paper really make that much difference, unless people kid themselves that they do. Social customs seem little use if you realise that they are only customs and thus only arbitrary.

Your faithfully.

David Wright.

Hard times

Sir,—The great New Zealand people are being bled by self-seeking greed that must be treated as one bad apple amongst many. To achieve a better life for all, society must be rid of Capitalists, Englishmen and Imperialists. These parasites will be politely requested to relinquish their shameful positions although more positive action must be taken should reason fail. If they will not agree with my ideas, they must be removed for the good of everybody else. Fortunately, we have friends to help the people in their struggle against exploitation. When the herioc Chinese volunteers arrive. I can claim to be a hearty party member. In any case, their numbers are greater than ours: their need is greater than ours. However, if my smoothing of the way enables certain other liberators to free the country first, it will be less easy to talk my way out of a white skin. The oppressed can Joyfully look forward to the day when we shall spit on piles of rotting Capitalist corpses, which by the action of our good friends—the nitrogen-forming bacteria—will increase future production. My own position is slightly leftish, but above all I am a humanitarian.

C. Black

Triumph!

Sir.—Congratulations on your brilliant serial "Haas and the Youth Forum." The suspense is really terrific and I expect other readers like myself are eagerly awaiting the next episode. May I be permitted to guess the ending? Haas will organise a petition to the Queen, be successful and be cheered by the loyal, devoted, executive for his triumph over the wicked Youth Forum group. I certainly hope so, for at the moment tears come to my eyes whenever I read of that poor boy and his gallant struggle against what was obviously a deliberate, organized, vile trick.

Roger Hall

P.S. Has anyone bought the film rights?

The writer adds: "I don't suppose you will publish this letter—but honestly it really is a bit pathetic when you get to the stage of writing to the Prime Minister and filling up Salient with the details."

Exchange

Sir.—I am a student and like to get in exchange unusual postage stamps and postcards of various churches from your country. Found by chance your address, and wrote to se if you would be so kind as to publish my exchange wish in your newspaper to get exchange posts in your country.

Miss Hilda Ocks.

Jamour 34 Ljnbljour, Jugoslavia