“Captive Nations" Exhibition

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29973, 7 November 1962, Page 7

“Captive Nations" Exhibition

Sir.—My mada objection to the “Shocking Truths'' exhibition is based on a fact of psychology. Show people brutality in Paraguay, Algeria, Sicily, Hungary, Cuba. China, India and in British and American race riots, and it is “brutality” "that they will react against. But say: “Russia did Ums,” “Russta did that,” and people will hate, not brutality, but Russia. Hitler was brought up on stories of French atrocities. The psychological results were hideous. In addition, the whole exhibition is out-of-date and suggests concern with revenge rather than with the present and the future. The results of thds deplorable motive are the real theme of the exhibition, for the events tn ex-Nazi Hungary and East Germany illustrate the aftermath of defeat in war rather than “Conanunist rule.”—Yours, etc., MARK D. SADLER. November 6, 1962.

Sir, —In reply to “A Tear in Time,” and for the comfort of those who fear insidious penetration by Communists into this welfare state.

I would tell them that England has had the red menace on her doorstep tor over 40 years, and still goes placidly on her muddled democratic way. Even the great slump did not greatly increase the numbers of converts who wished to exchange our home discomforts for those provided by Stalin. Communists in the trades unions have been of some nuisance value to the communist movement —especially at shop-steward level —and this is the only foothold that 40 years of continuous effort has gained for communism. A set-back to this minor triumph occurred when one large union expelled its Communist directorate after a lawsuit, which cost Mr K's comrades £BO.OOO. If workers in this country show similar prescience New Zealand would seem to be as secure from sovietisation as its progenitor across the ocean.—Yours etc., I.S.T. November 5. 1962.

Sir.—"A Tear in Time” seems to think that we have no reason to hide pictures of Communist brutality and that these pictures act as a warning. The worst thing we can do to our society is to show pictures of brutality carried out by an ideology which is foreign and inferior to ours. This ‘.‘Freedom Exhibition” brought people in contact with the worst side of communism which brutalised some (as has been demonstrated) while warning others who needed no warning. Only a very small number of New Zealanders voted Com-

munist in the last election, showing that we do not need warnings of this kind. We should be trying to raise Communist countries to our level and not debasing ourselves to their level by these useless exhibitions.—Yours, etc., C. November 6, 1962.

If you look back on your own education, I am sure it will not be the full vivid, instructive hours of truantry that you regret; you would rather cancel some lacklustre periods between sleep and waking in the class.—Robert Louis Stevenson.