[unclear: n] Open Clique

I would like to try and reply to the letters and [unclear: cles] that there have been recently critcising [unclear: lient] and the 'Salient clique'.

Now, at least up until recently, and perhaps [unclear: en] now, I had little difficulty accepting that [unclear: re] was such a clique, and it was because of this [unclear: at] I did not support the motion of no [unclear: fidence] in Mr Tees at a recent meeting. [unclear: wever], I also believe in putting my money, as were, where my mouth is, so decided to [unclear: ually] come and work on Salient in order to [unclear: d] out the truth for myself.

Perhaps at this stage I should also clarify my [unclear: n] political position. I am not, firstly, a [unclear: munist] or a socialist: the genocide commited [unclear: ring] the invasion of Tibet and other [unclear: munist] atrocities have decided me on this [unclear: int]. However, neither am I right-wing. I think [unclear: m] a conservatist Buddhist, which includes a [unclear: ge] of opinions, some of which would be [unclear: sidered] extreme right-wing and others as [unclear: eme] left-wing in terms of current western [unclear: ught].

Having gone into Salient and 'blown up' [unclear: grily] at some communist articles printed this [unclear: r], I thought that I would have some difficulty [unclear: ng] accepted. Instead, I found that my [unclear: ons] and willingness to help were accepted [unclear: d] even welcomed. I found no evidence of [unclear: munist] 'blackballing'.

So, I would like to make one thing clear: I find [unclear: bturd] that a letter or article says that Salient is willing to tolerate or encourage alternative [unclear: wpoints], when I am spending hours helping [unclear: t], proof-read, lay out and so forth such [unclear: cles]. Getting Salient out may involve me, with [unclear: ers], staying up till one a.m. or over in the [unclear: rning] and spending a lot of time laying out [unclear: cles] criticising Salient in very objectionable [unclear: ms]. But I do it, and think that the others here too (and there are people of all political [unclear: des] here), because I strongly believe that each [unclear: son] should be allowed and encouraged to [unclear: we] his (or her) say. I would very much like to [unclear: e] those who criticise putting effort into the [unclear: gazine].