1954 Debate: Teenagers from Philippines, India, Norway, UK. Subject - communism pt.1

You may also be interested in “The Huk Rebellion: Communism in the Philippines“ #ad Young delegates Johnny Antillon - Philippines, Peter Hudson - UK, Gunnar Aasland - Norway, and Vangala Ram - India, discuss the problem of communism within their respective countries. In a most lively discussion, the students look at the topic from numerous angles, but stress particularly how we can at the same time control communism and protect civil liberties. Whether politicians should deal with internal communism, and whether it would be advisable to outlaw the communist party are also considered. In this connection several related problems are brought to light: Would the party be more difficult to control if it were forced completely underground; Would there be danger of confusing liberals and other nonconformists with communists? An attempt is also made to define subversion, and several opinions are presented. Whether or not congressional committees are operating fairly and successfully is also discussed. One student expresses the fear that men may be unnecessarily hurt because of the fact that a committee may publicly suggest that he is guilty of some act, and yet is not empowered actually to establish that guilt or innocence. While much of the discussion centers, around the problem in the United States, several of the students describe what is being done in their own country about the problem, and the point is made that the solution for one country may not necessarily be the answer for another