TALKS ON RUSSIA
Sir,-I was somewhat ironically amused to see that Mr. Brian Bell contends that G.H.D. is a bigot because he is presumably so unwise as to criticise the talk given by Mr. Norris Collins on Russia. Mr. Bell, of course, destroyed his whole argument by committing the logical fallacy of arguing ad hominen. Surely the point at issue is not G.H.D.’s bigotry or otherwise, but the fairness and correctness of the views presented by the broadcaster. Mr. Bell has not answered this. As for his contention that the general public has been deafened by an antiSoviet cacophony; to a consistent mind
it has become increasingly manifest that the evidence of the thousands and hundreds of thousands of people who have fled the Soviet and satellite tyrannies since the end of the war is more than sufficient to establish that the Soviet system of government is not to our liking, even if Mr. Bell and one lone New Zealander may imagine otherwise. Truth is not based on discussion but on reality, and the facts of the case are clear writ across the pages of our times, Further, a bigot is he who blindly attaches himself to any opinion, system or party. G.H.D. presumably on this definition is. blindly attached to the opinions and system ‘of the free world and at least it is an advantage that he can say so, I can publicly agree, and Mr. Bell can disagree. But to call this bigotry is the first step in the denial of freedom and I hope that your correspondent does not intend taking this
step.
A. A.
N.
(Wellington).
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 795, 15 October 1954, Page 5
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270TALKS ON RUSSIA New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 795, 15 October 1954, Page 5
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