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To the Editors of the CRIMSON:
I have just read an article in the "New York Times" concerning an attack on the House Un-American Activities Committee in one of your recent editorials. In this editorial you stated that "No one should have the right to prevent an individual from teaching what he believes right." This to me seems a rather broad, and if you don't mind me saying so, assinine statement.
Can you imagine an "individual" operating a school for crime, teaching armed robbery, assault, murder, safe-cracking; how to outwit federal agents and the like? Would such an "individual" be right in teaching these things if he thought them right? Should the police and authorities have the right to prevent this "individual" from teaching what he thinks right? Well??
Immediately you will think this analogy "ludicrous." You will say that it is not pertinent to this case. On the contrary, if, mind I say "if," Dr. Struik is a communist, and if he, as a communist, plans to overthrow the country, or, putting it more mildly, sell the country down the river, then I think my analogy is quite pertinent.
For, my friend, when we speak of freedom, we do not mean "freedom to do what we wish," but rather, "freedom to do what we ought." I could elaborate on this statement with various examples, but if you are interested in it, you may find an enlightening article on "True Freedom" by Bishop Fulton Sheen.
I don't mean this letter to be abusive in any way and I apologize if my humble letter has put you to say inconvenience. Thank you for reading this far. Paul Hanien University of Netre Dame
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