Political Activism
As a student in the 1960s, he was initially attracted to the Communist Party of New Zealand which tried to groom him to be the party's lawyer. The CPNZ had been the first communist party in the world to side with China in the Sino-Soviet split. However, Jesson, being an independent thinker, soon struck out on his own, writing a number of polemics such as Traitors to class and country: A study of the Conservative Left and publishing a journal called Te Tao (The Spear). He had a lifelong antipathy to the sectarianism and dogmatism that plagued the small Marxist groups in New Zealand. As a student he was involved in anti-Royalist activities, being associated with the burning of a New Zealand flag by another student during a visit by the Queen Mother. He founded the Committee to Oppose Royal Tours (CORT).
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Famous quotes containing the word political:
“The real grounds of difference upon important political questions no longer correspond with party lines.... Politics is no longer the topic of this country. Its important questions are settled... Great minds hereafter are to be employed on other matters.... Government no longer has its ancient importance.... The people’s progress, progress of every sort, no longer depends on government. But enough of politics. Henceforth I am out more than ever.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)