COMMUNISM.

Evening Star, Issue 22450, 22 September 1936, Page 11

COMMUNISM.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — f< A.B.C. ” brings up a question about which many people have confused and mistaken ideas, the question of the Communist attitude to equality. Ignorant people frequently maintain that Communists hold the absurd belief that everyone is born equal. What Communists do believe is that everyone is born with equal rights, that everyone has the moral right to an equal share in the benefits of civilisation, benefits which are the result of the thought and labour of the whole human race The inequalities in different people, as pointed out by your correspondent, are admitted, though they do not exist, by any means, to the same extent in babies as in adults, and are therefore largely the result of environment, something to a great extent under* the control of man_ himself. Under Communism all men will not be expected, as “ A.8.C.” seems to think, to do exactly the same amount of work. What will be expected of them is that they shall all exert the same amount of effort, be it mental or physical, and, as everyone knows, some men can do a great deal more work than others without any _ greater exertion, just as some are satisfied with less remuneration than others. This is explained in the Communist creed, “ from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” “ What,” asks “A.8.C.,” “ are our Communists going to do about it? ” They are going to do all they can to foster the establishment of a system under which people will not bo penalised because they are unfortunate enough to be below normal in intelligence • or physical ability, and under which everyone will have that for which wo all strive, but which none ,of us at present has economic security.—l am, etc., W.P. September 22. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Communism in these days causes great interest to believer and unbeliever, the believer' condemning it and the unbeliever supporting it; but do either party know what _ they _ are talking about? Some consider it a general destruction, while others hail it as the dawn of happiness. Communism was founded, like many other societies, to confound the workings of Almighty God. _ We see Russia and other countries introducing Communism and forsaking God. Man is a rational being, and was made to serve his Creator in a definite manner which that Creator desires, and, alas, that Creator has made the life’s pathway of men different. Some are rich, others are poor; some are managers, others are muddlers; some have brains, others are without; and so on. But whether we are scientists, clergymen, or politicians, wo cannot interfere with the ways of God. We may succeed for a while, but Ho has the victory in the end. Christ gave us a law to live and follow, and if we follow that carefully wo enjoy peace and calm in mind—o.g., St. Francis; but when one endeavours to become equal to another then there is discontent, for our human nature revolts. Finally, 1 would suggest to “ Anti-Communist,” “ Presbyterian,”

“ Social Scientist,” “ Inski,” and others to read a book called ‘ Imitation of Christ,’ and when they have finished it, close it and contemplate.—l am, etc., X.Y.Z. September 22.