Advertisement about Russia

Press, 26 March 1980, Page 16

Advertisement about Russia

Sir, — The advertisements by the League of Rights are only relevant if bad qualities can be ascribed to an ideology rather than to people. If so, then Christianity has just as bad a record of wars, witch-hunts and murder The listed conversions to communism should not be seen in black and white terms: many were beneficial and necessary after the ravages of extreme, inept pr greedy Right-wing rale (Russia, China, Cuba, Nicaragua). Other communist movements grew from patriotic resistance to an invader (France, Yugoslavia, North Vietnam). In Italy, benevolent communist control of many cities has reduced corruption. In Chile, Allende’s peaceful communist government was overthrown by the present Right-wing fascists. Anti-communism is a negative philosophy, In raising

fears to justify, constraining all communists, if will trigger disaster as surely aS cornering an animaL We would do better to support popular national movements regardless of the name of their; ideology. — Yours* etc RICHARD HARMAN* March 24, 1980. Sir, — It appears that D. J. Brown’s so-called "intelligence”- does not’ go as far as to be aware .that Communist Russia actually calls itself the Union of Soviet “Socialist” Republics* Thus Russia itself acknowledges the fact that they are socialists and that there is no difference between communism and socialism. As the advertisement (■‘The Press,” March 20) on the Afghanistan crisis clearly points out, with fully documented evidence, socialism does not work, and has to be supported by Western finance and expertise. IfD. J. Brown and her like want socialism so much then why do they not emigrate to a socialist country — there are plenty to choose from — and leave free enterprise to New Zealanders, Also if socialism is such a paradise to live under, why are the people of those countries forbidden at the point of a gun, from freely leaving that country, —* .Yours, etc., FRED STEEL. f March 22, 1980, I