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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol. 37, No. 17. July 17, 1974

Letters

page 12

Letters

Occasionally in the past Salient has noted that its policy is to print all letters, subject to the laws of defamation and obscenity. Recently we have withdrawn a few letters on these grounds. Now, and with some regret, we must announce new editorial policy. Due to the greatest outpouring of coprophiliac [took it up—Ed.] and bum-fetishist indulgence unequalled since the sewers last broke at Parliament buildings, we now reserve the right to not print letters on the grounds of excessively nauseating bad taste or crushingly irrelevant vacuity. Contrary to some frustrated students' opinions, the Salient letters column is intended to be a forum for free exchange of fact and opinion. Criticism is welcomed, urged, but try and keep the incidence of faecal references to less than one word in two, please. Shit-spielers and general drivellers have taken of late to trying to get their contribution into our columns obviously as a new sort of personal therapy. They are respectfully urged to write their hang-ups onto toilet walls, or ring Dr Geiringer on Monday nights, 10pm12 midnight.

Positive criticism...

Dear Sir,

Criticism of the content of Salient by a few overly-vocal crapheads encourages me to write in support of your editorial policy as I see it.

Generally, my position is one of acceptance without comment of that which seems desirable and criticism of that which appears undesirable. I make an exception in this case because of my concern that these critics might just possibly succeed in influencing editorial policy.

Salient exists as one of the very few (perhaps two) NZ newspapers prepared to discuss and criticise national and international sociopolitical matters from a position of justice and principle, and I suggest these mindless and irresponsible critics are already sufficiently well served in this country and that their intellectual appetites and sense of social responsibility would be better satisfied by their following the programme which I have troubled myself to compile for them:
1)Arrive at the pub as early as possible and drink as much as possible.
2)Leave early in the evening and purchase a copy of 'The Evening Post'.
3)Buy fish and chips on the way home, arriving in time to absorb the early evening TV commercials which provide enlightenment on correct living and social responsibility.
4)Read 'The Evening Post', paying particular attention to editorials, letter to the editor, articles by Gabriel David and cable page headlines. Lodge cartoons provide further enlightened social comment.
5)Spend the remainder of the evening in attentive listening to one of the talk-crap radio stations.

Finally I would suggest that the content of Salient could mostly simply and easily be improved by their not writing letters to the editor

Pete Mackey

... and negative

Dear Sir,

Congratulations on a readable Salient. This week's issue (July 10) was actually of interest to non-socialist inspired students as it contained items relating to Godzone. How about putting an end to your intellectual wanking by making Salient a magazine of interest to the majority of the students who finance it.

Yours etc,

Kiwi Keith

Carson replies

Dear Roger,

Henry Lawhutt seems rather taken with the way I begin my letters, judging from the way he began his own letter in the last Salient. I must confess that "I am compelled to bring to your attention" is a phrase borrowed from our dear departed "liberal moderate": I too stole that quaint expression.

Mr Lawhutt has stated that I equated the number of people at a meeting with the views of a person speaking to that meeting in my article in Salient 15. This is manifest nonsense, I did no such thing. However, a meeting decided unanimously—that's right unanimously, not even Mr Lawhutt's dulcet tones in dissent—"That this meeting urges Mr Kirk and the Labour Party to rescind the decision to make the Malay National Language a prerequisite for entry into New Zealand universities." I may perhaps be justified in entertaining the suspicion that a significant proportion of those present were more than just a little out of sympathy with the Prime Minister.

Finally, I reported that there was mixed feeling at the meeting about the requirement of Bahasa Malay in Malaysia itself. From this I fail to see how Mr Lawhutt concludes that I, personally am against the teaching of Bahasa Malay in Malaysian schools. I would suggest that Mr Lawhutt re-read my article to see what I really did say and refrain from drawing grossly distorted conclusions from that article.

Don Carson

Trust Moon not Cunningham

Dear Sir,

Walking down Mount St the other day I noted that the Moon people's flag had come down. Could this have been due to the article in last week's Salient titled "The Dark Side of the Moon" in which they were strongly attacked? The insensitivity of this attack distressed me. My personal impression of the Moon group from meeting them in the Cuba Mall and elsewhere is that they are happy and sincere, in short good people. Before writing this letter I saw David Cunningham, the author of the article, to find out if there was any basis to his criticism. His information came from two sources, firstly his own interpretation of Moon's book, secondly from a number of Truth articles. Readers take note: if you see any more similar articles by Cunningham bear in mind that he may not know what he is talking about. 'Truth' is well known for its intolerant and narrow minded articles. It is sad to see this occuring in Salient.

Michael Thomson

No support for straight

Dear Sir,

It has been brought to our notice that a recent issue of Salient contained a rather incoherent rave letter on the subject of homosexuality by one Richard G. Wardle. He implied that he was a member of Young Nationals and the Christian Union, and that these organisations supported him.

On behalf of Young Nationals I can assure readers, our policy here is quite clear. Young Nationals (and the National Party Conference) are in favour of legalisation of homosexual activities between consenting adults in private.

We in no way support Mr Wardle's sentiments and he is not a member of Young Nationals.

Stuart Wardell

Publicity Officer Wellington Young Nationals

The Zionists start quoting

Dear Sir,

If Salient's latest (?) Middle East atrocity of July 3 ("Blood in the Milk and Honey") could include imaginary statements by General Dayan, may I submit some factual statements by some Arab sources?

"The Arabs have kept the Palestinian refugees in tents, according to a planned policy for the return of Palestine—since the rehabilitation of the Palestinians would have lost them Palestine for good," (Colonel Jaloud, Libya's number two man, in the Beirut paper "Al Hawadath', 24.12.71)

"The Jews deviated from the Law of Moses and tried to murder Jesus Christ because they did not want the Laws of God to be observed....They are the enemies of Islam and it is specifically stated in the Koran that the Jews are the worst sworn enemies of the Moslems...We must unite against Zionism and communism, which are both dangerous enemies of Allah and the faith of Islam," (King Faisal, 20.12.73, according to the Saudi Press Agency).

"This is a holy war and it is the duty of all Moslem countries to join in. If any Moslem country shirks this duty, then it will be deviating from the teachings of God and his Prophet." (A noon prayer service broadcast by all Cairo radio stations from Cairo's Al Azhar Mosque, 12.10.73).

"Hitler did not burn Jews alone—too bad he didn't! He burnt his enemies of all religions and no religion at all......Nobody finds the time to say: the Jews are by nature bloodthirsty beasts. All their religious books testify to that and describe them as having the meanest characteristics," (Anis Mansour, in the Cairo paper 'Al Akhbar', 11.12.72).

"There are people who talk about freedom of expression, liberty and democracy, and even about freedom in the universities. Only sick people can think such things," (Colonel Kaddafi, quoted by the London Daily Mirror 9.7.73).

Such are just some of the revolutionary and progressive-sentiments of those on whom so much sympathy has been lavished in Salient's fair pages.

David Carr

Open letter to Mr Kirk

Dear

Mr Kirk,

I am writing to you as a concerned individual who is very involved in the Gey Liberation movement, it is my intention to forward copies of this letter to every major newspaper and all university papers in New Zealand.

This letter is in response to recent statements you have made concerning liberalisation of homosexual legislation, particularly comments ascribed to you in a report published in 'The Dominion' (July 9, 1974).

According to this report, you have inferred that the Gay Liberation movement exhibits anti-social rather than socially-concerned attitudes. I demand that you substantiate your inference or, if this is not possible, publicly apologise to members of the movement.

Perhaps you consider that the recent picketing of parliament was an anti-social act. Surely the right to protest is well established? Along with other persons concerned with social issues, gay people in New Zealand are incensed by Government inaction, To impede the individual's right to register his/her lack of confidence is more akin to communism than socialism or democracy.

In fact a great many gay people are deeply concerned with social reform that extends far beyond the confines of homosexual law liberalisation and related areas. I believe that your own ill-informed statements are inimical to socially concerned attitudes.

You are reported as having stated that you would not vote for legislation that treated homosexuality as "normal behaviour", As Prime Minister, Mr Kirk, you have an obligation to express yourself more precisely. If you are under the misapprehension that homosexuality constitutes a mental disease, then you ought to be made aware of the official attitudes of a number of informed groups. Official opinions of the American Association of Psychiatrists, the British Medical Association, the Australian Psychological Society, and the Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists are that homosexuality is not a psychiatric disease. In its remit, the Australian Psychological Society further elaborated that:
1)The Australian Psychological Society condemns discrimination against homosexuals.
2)That the APS condemns community attitudes which discriminate against homosexual behaviour between consenting adults.
3)That the APS affirms that it supports my moves to counter discrimination against homosexuals.

A similar remit was passed in 1973 by the Federal Council of the ANZCP.

As far as religious attitudes are concerned, you are no doubt aware that the majority of New Zealand churches favour liberalisation of homosexual legislation.

Obviously the words "normal behaviour" were ill-chosen, In any case your statements can be shown to have no rational basis.

Once again I shall remind you, that whilst you may regard a bill seeking homosexual law liberalisation to be damaging to party unity, you have certainly lost the votes of 10% of the voting public (i.e. those who are predominately homosexual in orientation) along with those of many other socially-concerned individuals. We will not support a government which refuses to treat us as people.

Yours sincerely,

Raeone Dellaca (Ms)

President, Gay Liberation (VUW)

The Freak Bros.

The Freak Bros.

The Freak Bros.

page 13

Is he for real?

Dear Sir,

Artwork of two children reading and writing at a desk

I was deeply disturbed to read a letter signed a straight and proud of it" in Salient, July 3 [unclear: Not] only am I disgusted with the sentiments [unclear: expressed] by Richard Wardle, but also deeply [unclear: angry] that he found it necessary to lie to give [unclear: credence] to his "opinion".

Young Nationals are strongly in favour [unclear: of] a change in the homosexual laws. They [unclear: are] an ugly blot in our legal system and we, as a [unclear: group] are trying to erase this blot. At the [unclear: Dominion] Conference in Auckland later this [unclear: month] we are calling for a change in the law—as [unclear: we] did in Napier at the Wellington Divisional [unclear: Conference] in June. There may be some people [unclear: who] belong to Young Nationals who feel the [unclear: way] Mr Wardle feels, but they are acting as [unclear: individuals] and not as representatives of us. Mr [unclear: Wardle] however declined to name one Young [unclear: National] who agrees with him and any inferences [unclear: to] be drawn from that I leave to the reader. I [unclear: disassociate] ouselves from his opinion and ob[unclear: ject] strongly to his using our name to further his [unclear: bigoted] views.

To examine his letter further I notice he [unclear: suggests] a "fun-fight" to ward off temptation to [unclear: commit] a homosexual offence! Apart from [unclear: suggesting] that a cold shower might be mre [unclear: effective] I can only say, that is as ludicrous [unclear: is] suggesting a fun-fight instead of making love [unclear: to] one's girl. Personally I'd rather "pash" than [gap — reason: illegible][unclear: ash!] His comment however shows not only [unclear: is] ignorance but his immaturity. He also states [unclear: that] homosexuality it dirty, degrading and a [gap — reason: illegible][unclear: ower] animal instinct. It horrifies me that a [unclear: supposedly] intelligent person can say such things. [unclear: It] is not dirty or degrading—perhaps these [unclear: adjectives] are better applied to our friends [unclear: thoughts!] As to being a lower animal instinct—[unclear: why?] It is a human expression of feeling [unclear: between] humans. Certainly the thought does [unclear: not] appeal to me at all, but that does not give [unclear: one] the right to condemn those to whom it does, [unclear: Remember], Mr Wardle, that heterosexual activity [unclear: doesn't] appeal to many homosexuals.

In speaking to Mr Wardle, he suggested to [unclear: me] that a few "beatings!" is a cure for "queer [unclear: activity] and he cited as an example what [unclear: gang] members do to another member if he is [unclear: found] to be homosexual. All I can say to this is [unclear: bullshit]. Such a "cure" may repress but it [unclear: sure] as hell won't cure. Perhaps he would favour [unclear: public] whipping post for homosexuals? Why not [unclear: castration] Mr Wardle? Surely that would fit into [unclear: our] higher scheme of things. To be quite frank [unclear: Mr] Wardle. I consider that you are sick, sicker [unclear: than] any homosexual, if you really think inflicting [gap — reason: illegible][unclear: ain] can be justified for therapeutic purposes, [unclear: believe] me, if I beat you for long enough you'd [unclear: crew] a sheep to avoid more pain.

Finally. Mr Wardle said homosexuality was a [gap — reason: illegible][unclear: in] and there was a spiritual cure. There is no [unclear: time] here to put up a long argument about this, [unclear: but] briefly Mr Wardle I am not prepared to play [unclear: God], are you? Apart from numerous churches [unclear: supportinq] a change in our law a small piece of [unclear: scriptures] springs to mind "let he who is without [unclear: in] cast the first stone."

In total therefore Mr Wardle your letter was [unclear: unadulterated] drivel and I will happily meet you or [unclear: anyone] else who shows your warped views, in [unclear: public] debate and justify every word I have [unclear: written] and tell you a few more things I have been [unclear: unable] to say here due to a lack of space. True [unclear: you] are entitled to your opinion, you are [unclear: welcome] to it and further more you know [unclear: exactly] where you can bloody well put it—[unclear: being] a "proud straight" I suggest [unclear: you] stick it "straight up". But whatever [unclear: you] decide to do with it, do not ever again use [unclear: Young] Nationals to shove up your point of view. [unclear: it is] repugnant to us.

Duncan G. Harvey,

Wellington Division, Young Nationals

The rise and fall of a young turk

Dear Sir,

I was fortunate enough to be present at a debate in the union hall on July 10, the purpose of the debate being to pass certain motions concerning the middle-east situation. Although I enjoyed this game, I feel responsible to offer some advice on how the situation should be resolved.

The solution lies in the example set by Turkey. Istanbul was Constantinople, now its Istanbul—not Constantinople, been a long time gone as Constantinople—still, its Turkish delight on a moon-tit night! If we look even deeper into the (act we find that every gal in Constantinople lives in Istanbul not Constantinople, so it you've a date in Constantinople she'll be waiting in Istanbul.

This can be backed up by the famous American example that ever old New York was once New Amsterdam. Why they changed it I can't say, perhaps they just liked it better that way!

Let's get back to Constantinople. No, you can't get back to Constantinople, because its Istanbul not Constantinople, why did Constantinople get the works? That's nobody's business but the Turks!

RSP President of the White Sport Coat Soc.

Battering Ram?

Dear Sir,

Who did the writer (s) of the front page article of Salient 15 think he was fooling.

If the majority thought the union officials were worth fighting for and/or supported the writer's unsubstantiated bullshit, there may have been a "march" through Wellington during the so-called 'strike'—one and one half thousand is a number to be laughed at (I for one, jeered at the rabble).

As for the "bosses sitting on bags of money" picture—the words unions and bosses should be exchanged. Perhaps the writer failed to notice that many New Zealand companies are on the verge of collapse, and there has been a large drop recorded on the stock exchange (—yeah go on, blame it on the government and credit squeeze.)

Maybe the biggest fault of the article was that it was all opinion.

I was almost astonished to see some informed article writers giving facts and figures elsewhere in that issue. Perhaps Len McGrane would do a survey on how much of student funds were misappropriated last year. (Or perhaps he might care to name a value for any "surplus items" he has "borrowed" from someone else.

Its good to see some of the motion deleted from articles I—come on the wogs.)

Stephenson

P.S. I didn't know the state was a battering ram.

A touch of Zen

Dear Roger,

We may differ in ideologies to the extent, in your own words, that there is a bullet for you and me, but this will not deter me from saying this of you and your staff: you lot are apparently hardworking and appear devoted to your cause. Seven nights a week. Salient's of lice land the billiard room?) is blazing with lights!

With this salute, I make my exit with full realisation that little could now be gained by further writings on the matter After the words, action must follow.

Dated L.C.

The story of a hopeless president

Hello Editor,

As McDonald has resigned and I suppose when this letter is published the next president (on! etc! Don? Don!) will have taken up office and will furiously be going about his round of duties: constructive, constructive.

The position of president of this union is such a non-position—luck-all people could give a damn about it. Do you know why? Because the people up here don't give a damn about anything except their own arses. Its self complacency personified up here. It's bloody disgusting.

But the biggest joke of alt was that Don Carson did want to be the president of the union so badly. Poor old Don. A few people decided for a laugh—that's all—that they didn't want Don to be president, just to annihilate the complacency that hung around like a bad smell before the election. The someone, no-one had heard about, called McDonald was farted into the forefront, got pumped up with a bit of publicity and pissed in.

So he turned out to be bloody helpless—he was meant to be; but I'm damn sure the complacency is gone and I'm lucking well laughing but Don Carson isn't. He's crying.

An Instigator

Education or aid

Dear Sir,

Why should I, a tax payer of New Zealand, pay for the education of overseas students when the money could be better spent on aid? Patrick O'Hagan should know better.

Stevenson.

P.S. How much does it cost the Government to send each student to university? $4000 pa?

"The women's right

Dear Roger,

Those who advocate abortion law reform claim that a woman has the right to choose what she does with her own body.

The law already recognises this and protects her right, i.e. it makes it an offence for anyone to involve her in sexual intercourse before she is old enough to understand the significance and complexities of her decision, or to force any woman against her will.

Initially then, the woman exercises her choice when she voluntarily agrees to sexual intercourse which always involves some risk of pregnancy.

The law in this country even allows her to back-track on her initial choice by allowing abortion whore her life or quality of life are severely threatened.

Now approaching the question of abortion freely available, as a matter of sheer convenience, have those who advocate that it is a woman's right to choose what she does with her body, also acknowledged that it is the woman's responsibility to accept the consequences of that decision.

With freely available abortion the pregnant unmarried girl has the options: have an abortion, have the child and get it adopted or keep the child. If she keeps the child, by invoking the law she may require the father to contribute towards its support.

However if the father requested her to have an abortion but she declined, deciding to have the child and keep it, would she have any moral or legal right to expect that the father should support her and her child throughout its dependent years?

If she exercised her right to do as she chose with her body and continued the pregnancy in the face of legally available alternatives, could she reasonably hold anyone else responsible for what was entirely her own choice?

Could the lather argue in paternity proceedings that her free choice absolves him of responsibility? It would seem so, but would have unfortunate repercussions for the girl whose conscience would not permit her to take advantage of legal abortion.

With liberal abortion laws, how do the reformers see the rights of the father? Have they just ignored him?

I believe that any change in the law would bring great pressure on women to submit to abortion, oven against their better instincts, or face the alternative of assuming complete responsibility for the support of the child. It seems those in most need will again suffer for the convenience of others.

Wendy Turnbill

na na na Te hee hee

Dear Sir,

Just Beware

Just Beware

It has come.....to our notice and we would ask you to wipe it off. You realise of course we think it was a pretty slack thing to do and remind you that the penalties are very stiff. We know. If you intend then don't. Blue was Thursday and cat saw knives at ½ past a bubble. I know you are mad we got told.

Signed IT

P.S. I love you, ya na na na na.

Tee hee hee. And some other interesting cockeye.

Huh?

Dear Roger,

Shit it was good to read that thing you wrote about Te Kaha. [Actually it was about Wairoa-Ed.] Christ you put those artist buggers in their place shit hot. Too stuck up eh? Good for you Roger, you a real white man. You stick up for the old Maori eh? Like I didn't understand all the big words, but bloody good on you. Were you in one of the photographs? People like you, they can change the world. Shit eh?

Lionel Moko

Solutions to Last Week's Crossword Across: (2) Elite (6) off (7) Nero (9) Utianov (12) Rani (13) ls (l5) Distaste (16) Pi (17) Ena (19) Nixon (22) Guru (23) Trot (25) Csar (26) God (27) Orwell (29) Emu (31) Prestige (32) Goon.

Down: (1)Gossip (2) EIi (3) lnnate (4) Envisage (6) Fu (8) Rune (10) Ars (11) Onan (14) Sinister (15) Dextrous (18) Muldoon (20) or (21) no (24) There (28) Leg (30) Me.

Exercising a salient right

Dear Sir,

Now that he is back from his salient and zymotic parting-with-knowledge tour of NZ, would the "industrious and hardworking" socialist by the name of R. Put with a wealth of six year's indurate experience here, has done Constitutional Law and is doing International Law (most info gathered from the TV programme) please clarify the following matters which he appears to be so dexterous at.

1)In demanding the release of Khoo and directly attacking the legislation of Malaysia, is not NZUSA etc infringing upon the integrity and sovereignty of that country?
2)Since he has a photostat copy of the Internet Security Act 1960 kindly expostulate to me what is wrong with or so notorious about that Act?
3)He says he never urged Malaysian students to join him openly in the protest, yet how does he justify himself in calling his friends "cowards" when they refused to support his ideals?

As a learned law student, he should establish his case first.

In view of the fact that Put has been a Sal tern worker, is receiving top priority treatment from Mr Roger Steele, the looming intimidation from the leftist rascals and their secret police methods, and above all Put's three months' practice of the deadly Tai Chi martial arts which I was told he has, mastered and now is capable of killing an ant like myself, I must regrettably come under a pen name yet proud to be exercising my salient right to an unsigned authorship.

Any detective work is truly yours.

The Hunter

Sexual Bondage.

Dear Sir,

The almost unbelievable stupidity of the women who want abortion on demand absolutely staggers me.

Men have always tended to be selfish and irresponsible in sexual matters, and the pill and abortion encourage this attitude.

In countries where abortion on demand is available the obvious male attitude is the height of irresponsibility. They place all the responsibility of contraception on the women.

"She can take the pill or have an abortion if the pill does not work. I've had my fun, there is always some other stupid bird to give me a good time."

There is no regard for the woman, as a person, as an equal human being. All she becomes is a sex play thing.

Do these women really want to encourage their menfolk to be even more selfish and self indulgent than they are already?

Can they not see they are making themselves into sexual conveniences for the debased, selfish type of man who wants them for one thing only?

This is not emancipation or liberation. It is sexual bondage of the most horrible kind

Joan Oldoman

What is a student?

Sir,

I must point out to you that your publication is not doing its part in furthering the cause of the most neglected minority group in this university. Recently, many minority groups have stood up and proclaimed that they are not ashamed of their beliefs (one thinks of the Society for the Legalisation of Cannabalism and small religious groups such as The Rosicrucian Underwater Marching Guild).

But one group has up till now remained silent: they are known as students. They come to university with the intention of learning and seeking intellectual stimulation. The term "student" is often applied to the whole mass of people enrolled at university : this usage of course is entirely incorrect.

Basically, the people inhabiting Victoria University can be divided into three groups:
(i)those suffering from the "meal ticket" syndrome;
(ii)those Buffering from the "I'm-here-because-I-can't-think-of-any thing-better-to-do" complaint (these can be recognised by the conversations they have about 'stirs' and 'trail bikes');
(iii)people known as "lecturers"—these are of higher status than the previous groups. They can be identified by their academic gowns or their white coats (both of which are marks of status, equivalent to such insignia of rank as the penis-sheaths of the Small Nambas).

A recent study shows that the numbers of true students (who belong to none of the above groups) can be counted on the fingers of both hands (if one is suffering from advanced leprosy).

Even though it is socially-acceptable to be 'pissed-off' with university, students are actually interested in the subjects they are studying. We also believe that interest is not a disease, but is as natural a condition as being bored or uninterested.

Mareko Maruru