Oxford Union debate

Press, 13 March 1985, Page 28

Oxford Union debate

Sir,—May I endeavour to pierce the negativism of Margaret W. Dennis and others. Having lived in the United States for a time, I am familiar with the Rev. Jerry

Falwell and the other evangelists. There was no necessity for any approval to his debate, as the idea of competitiveness was not in my mind. As I say, he told it as it is. I have a great admiration for the nationalist quality in the American person. Would that we New Zealanders had some of it I thank God it was not my choice to be of British stock and not a Soviet citizen. The freedom to quote the Bible, or anything else for that matter, has yet to be permitted in the Soviet Union. There, the equality of human beings can be assessed, on the one hand, by the women street cleaners and on the other by the dark-clad, almost faceless men in the Kremlin. — Yours, etc., M. McKAY. March 7, 1985.

Sir,—l agree with M. McKay that it is foolish for Mr Lange to say "where are our enemies?” One would have to recognise that the Soviets are intent on overthrowing any system in the world which is not Marxist-Leninist. As the Rev. Jerry Falwell said, the communists have succeeded in taking over 40 per cent of the planet. We are in a strategic position, close to Australia and a stop-over to the Antarctic. As we go down the road of socialism we come closer to communism with each step. Do some people actually expect a red flag to go up once communism is here? The element of surprise will ; defeat us, so we had better be prepared. The more each indivi- ; dual contributes to making a valu- ■ able contribution, no matter how ; small that responsibility may be, it will help us to do an about-face • from the socialist road and enable us to move down the road to more ■ freedom. — Yours, etc., J B. GODFREY. March 7, 1985.