COMMUNISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27166, 23 August 1949, Page 6

COMMUNISM

Sir,—l must thank “A. Rattar ” for reminding me of a letter written by “ Christian,” as from this writer’s statements it is' obvious that the secondary school text books are being used by the Government for the purpose of pumping Communist and Socialist propaganda into the minds of our school children. It will be remembered that Hitler and Mussolini used the same technique to make fanatics and killers out of the school children of their respective countries, while Lenin, the founder of the Russian Communist system, who to-day is practically worshipped as a god, made this statement before the Department of Education in Russia in 1923: ‘‘Give us a child of eight years and it will be a Bolshevist forever.” He also said: “We must hate—hate is the basis of Communism. Children must be taught to hate their parents if they are not Bolshevists.” “ Religion must be abolished,” said Lenin. “ The best country is a godless country. If religion will pass out quietly our attitude will be qne of benevolent tolerance, but if it resists we will hasten its exit by violence proportionate to its resistance,” We know how religion in this godless country was characterised as “ opiuro of the people, how God was reviled, the Bible suppressed and churches closed. Yet when I read the anti-conscription speech which put a present-day Cabinet Minister behind prison bars in December, 1916, I find these words: ‘‘This political system has its roots in hell. The wowser churches are infamous dens administering chloroform and dope.” Can the leopard change its spots or do Communists and Socialists still think alike?—l am, etc., Matilda.

Sir —Had his hysterical outburst against Russia in Monday’s Daily Times been clothed in the symbolical language of blank verse “ Matilda ” might have gained some notice as the author of a new hymn of hate. Set to appropriate music it might have served as a rousing warsong to be chanted by the young sprouts of the new growth of cannon-fodder, should they be sent overseas during World War 111 to fight against their recent allies of World War H-I am. etc., „