The People’s Forum

Northland Age, Volume XVIII, Issue 14, 16 November 1948, Page 5

The People’s Forum

I [The “Age” in no way associates itself with views expressed by correspondents.] ARMISTICE DAY Sir.—lt has been my privilege on successive Armistice Days to observe the two-minutes’ silence in London. It is an unforgettable experience to I witness the complete cessation of the i rhythm and roar of the great capital and to stand with millions of others, J in a silence so absolute that one dare hardly breathe. Yet on Thursday, Remembrance Day passed almost un-noticed in KaiI taia. No siren sounded at the begin- | ning and end of the two minutes set aside for a nation’s tribute to her j gallant sons. ■ Gratitude and respect for her fallen can stop the heart-beat of a mighty city—but it would take more than I this, apparently, to halt busy little Kaitaia—even on a Sunday. Yours etc., B. C. SIMMS. DEMOCRACY WITHIN BOUNDS Sir. Tennyson, the mystic poet, wrote ages ago, “Democracy is doomed, for they set the feet above the brains, and swear the brains ai - e in the feet.” Swedenburg, the philosopher, wrote centuries ago : “All man’s troubles in this world are due to lack of intelligence, incapacity to think, the test of which nothing is cleared.” The soundness or unsoundness of any man’s judgement—can any man disagree that wisdom is all that is needed. Tennyson also wrote: “When all the schemes and systems, Kingdoms and Republics fall, then a higher, holier system all for each, each for all, till the war drums throb no longer, and all battle flags are furled in the parliament of man.” The federation of the woi’ld had America-led Wilson’s version that there wo uni „jvr been no second world war. Can America SnsWci question today—where would she be standing without federation. Brother killed brother in thousands opposed. So it is surely beyond all comprehension why all the leaders of the world today cannot learn and gain from past history. May I say there is no hope for i world peace except in Tennyson’s version. j Yours, etc., LEONARD M. MASTERS.