He calls them 'mindless sheep'
Author disenchanted with New Left
By MARY QUINN Kansan Staff Writer
A self-employed carpenter is turning from the sawdust of New Left reaction to build his future as an author.
Laird Wilcox, a former member of the KU Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), said his political views have changed as a result of the growing subversion in radical student groups. He said anyone who has to depend on an "ideology such as communism, Marxism, or fascism to determine their life style is falling into a trap and the New Left groups have stumbled, landing flat.
"The descent of the New Left stems from a membership of insecure, image seeking, mindless sheep," said the 26-year-old former editor of the Kansas Free Press. "Today politically involved college students are products of permissive child rearing with guilt ridden consciences," he said.
"My experience has been that the majority of young radicals have certain kinds of personality problems which preceded their involvement in the New Left. A syndrome typified by an inadequate father figure, poor self-esteem, mixed-up sexual identity, confusion amoust the concept of authority and a general inability to make fine qualitative distinctions is fairly frequent."
Former Sociology Student
Former Sociology Student Wilcox, while a sociology student at KU from 1961 to 1965, became active in the Young Socialists of America club, Student Peace Union, the Lawrence Congress of Radical Equality and the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy. He compared the student leftists during his involvement with those of today, as "intellectually bright but emotionally immature, very concerned with the rights of others but certainly not revolutionary in their approach.
'My basic concern has always been for freedom and civil liberty
Laird Wilcox
in political, economic and social affairs. The kind of socialism I supported during my days as a KU radical was the voluntary socialism of the cooperatives and not the statist socialism of communism. I have no respect for anybody who needs a cause or movement to submerge themselves in. Perhaps the hero of the future will leap to the barricade and shout, "To hell with the people. Long live me!"
Wilcox who describes himself as a right wing leftist, characterized the New Left movement of today: "no one who values real freedom of choice and individualism could honestly support SDS or the New Left. They have become revolutionary communist movements dedicated to the subjugation of the individual to the cause. These values are inconsistent with the cult of equality. Free men are not equal and equal men are not free."
He said it was a simple fact that all men are not created equal except they should have equal rights under the law. He said he thinks the inheritability of intelligence, the central question to the race issue, will soon
be answered through genetics. Wilcox then raised this question.
be answered through genetics.
"If the answer to inheriting intelligence is affirmative, will scientific truth or ideological policy prevail in today's emotional climate?"
The husky carpenter, his tace fringed with a rust colored beard, said the New Left, through its 'leadership cadres', is puppeting its followers into dangerous positions."
Radicalization like Hitler
Radicalization like Hitler "The so-called radicalization process they speak of was used by Hitler and Stalin. By forcing young people into senseless confrontations with police and university authorities, they further alienate them from their parents and society. The goal is to smash individualism and build group and class consciousness."
In discussing the New Left and today's protests Wilcox said he thought the Vietnam war was a mistake. His reaction to the moratorium was mixed, he said he opposed it because it gave aid and comfort to a totalitarian system but he supported it to the extent that it challenged the prerogative of the government to
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"My only oppressor is the government, with its maze of taxes, permits, licenses, regulations and fees. The small businessman and the self-employed individual are the most oppressed class in this country," he said.
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"Capitalism has meant freedom for me," he said. "I'm a self-employed carpenter by trade. Eventually I hope to earn my living by writing. I work my own hours, set my own prices, pick my own customers and do my own work."
Wilcox said there was a need for him to speak up now. He will voice his extremist views to women's, businessmen's and veterans groups in the area at any time, he said.
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SUA to hear draft resister
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The executive secretary for the Central Committee of Conscientious Objectors will speak at 7:30 p.m. November 6 in the Kansas Union Forum Room as part of the SUA Minority Opinions Forum.
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Arlo Tatum has twice been imprisoned for his objection to the draft. He was first imprisoned for "failure and refusal to register" under the 1940 Draft Law and in 1949 was sentenced to a year and a half term for the same offense.
Oct.23
1969
"Non-cooperation with conscription is one of the grandfathers of civil disobedience in the modern world." Tatum said. In 1955, Tatum became the general secretary for the War Registers International. As general secretary, he traveled throughout western Europe, the Near East and India. He founded the first pacifist organization in Nigeria.
Tatum is currently a member of the War Registers International Council; director of Peace News in London and is an executive committee member of the War Registers League.
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JUNIORS and SENIORS In The
SCHOOL of EDUCATION Are Invited To
HOSPITALITY DAY
By The Kansas City, Kansas School System TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28,1969 Room 101 STUDENT UNION BUILDING 9 a.m.-4 p.m. REFRESHMENTS SERVED