O, TO BE IN ENGLAND
Sir,-Having read the article by Mr. Meek and the leader in The Listener I readily agree that there is a challenge to us in the implication that New Zealand sadly lacks encouragement for her young and thinking people, Why else do so many wish to leave the country at that period of their lives when they can give their best? Mr. Meek told us in an honest, wellbalanced way that he wants to leave because of this lack of encouragement. I don’t think Mr. Meek can be dismissed as a discontented young radical; that is too easy a way out. Who but a real ostrich could be contented just now? To me, he is symbolic; there are many of us in the same generation and what we feel is not just a symptom of war unrest. I love this country, but so many of its inhabitants seem to be immersed
in a stupor-like sleep, lying on the comfortable mattress of religious dogma, with any waking movement quickly put to sleep again by their numerical superiors -the aged with their cautious, fearful lullabies. I cannot but think that my generation and its successors would flourish more hopefully in a community less crammed with church spires, less overwhelmed by a hoary, trained intolerance. Instead let us have a more inspirational religion, and let the older generation be prepared to surrender the reins and encourage, instead of quelling, that imagination which, plus the energy of youth, should be the driving force of a country, a nation, or a world.
JEAN
ROBERTSON
(Wellington).
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19460418.2.14.9
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 14, Issue 356, 18 April 1946, Page 22
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264O, TO BE IN ENGLAND New Zealand Listener, Volume 14, Issue 356, 18 April 1946, Page 22
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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