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Rector Reid - ‘don’t join the rat pack’ -
given ovation
Glasgow. Friday
WITH A SPEECH which had even the Press
benches applauding, Mr. Jimmy Reid, UCS leader and Communist councillor,
was installed as rector of Glasgow University, here today.
For the first time in the history of 107
Rectors at Glasgow University, the whole audience spontaneously arose to
acclaim his speech.
He won the vast support of almost everyone
for his work in leading the UCS workers in their "right to work" and his
determination to act on behalf of students for a more democratic system
in their universities.
Mr. Reid, who spoke for 45 minutes, made
the main theme of his speech the question "alienation" and used the
subject to analyse the class differences in society today.
He said: "Alienation is the precise and
correctly applied word for describing the major social problems in
Britain today. People feel alienated by society.
"Today it is more widespread, more
pervasive, than ever before. Let me at the outset define what I mean by
alienation. It is the cry of men who feel themselves the victims of
blind economic forces beyond their control.
"It’s the frustration of ordinary people
excluded from the processes decision making. The feeling of despair and
hopelessness that pervades people who feel, with justification that they
have no real say in shaping or determining their own destinies.
"It is expressed by those young people who
want to opt out of society, by drop-outs, the so-called maladjusted,
those who seek to escape permanently from the reality of society through
intoxicants and narcotics.
"Society and prevailing sense of values
leads to another form of alienation. It alienates some from humanity. It
partially dehumanises some people, making them insensitive, ruthless in
their handling of fellow human beings self-centred and grasping.
"The irony is they are often considered
normal and well adjusted. It is my sincere contention that anyone who
can be totally adjusted to our society is in greater need of psychiatric
analysis and treatment than anyone else.
Mr. Reid developed the theme that "man is
a social being". He said the real fulfilment for any person lay in
service to his fellow men and women.
Again he received response when he said
that "the big challenge to our civilisation is not the OZ magazine nor
is it permissiveness - although I agree our society is too permissive.
Too permissive
"Any society, which, for example, permits
over a million people to be unemployed is far too permissive for my
liking."
The rector went on to say: "The challenge
we face is to root out anything and everything that distorts and
devalues human relations."
He gave the example of a commercial
television ad in which the words of a speaker at a banquet were posed in
such a way that the bride was led to believe they were directed at her
but instead were directed at promoting the products of a sherry firm.
Mr. Reid said that the whole aim of the ad
was to get the audience to snigger along with the hurt of the individual
rather than feeling genuine sympathy.
He said: "Even genuinely intended friendly
advice can sometimes take the form of someone saying to you "listen you
look after No.1" - or as they say in London "Bang the bell Jack, I’m on
the bus."
"To the students I address this appeal -
reject these attitudes - reject the values and false morality that
underline these attitudes. A rat race is for rats. We are not rats.
We are human beings.
The menagerie
"Reject the insidious pressures of society
that would blunt your critical faculties to all the happenings around
you that would caution silence in the face of injustices lest you
jeopardise your changes of promotions and self advancement.
"This is how it starts and before you know
where you are you are a fully-paid up member of the rat pack.
"The price is too high. It entails a loss
of your dignity and human spirit. Or as Christ put it: ‘What does it
profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his
soul.’
"Profit is the sole criterion used by the
establishment to evaluate economic activity. From the rat race we have
come to lame ducks. A vocabulary in vogue is a giveaway. It is more
reminiscent of a human menagerie than human society."
Summing up, he said: "My conclusion is to
reaffirm what I hope and certainly intend to be the spirit permeating
the address. It’s an affirmation of faith in humanity.
"All that is good in man’s heritage
involves recognition of our common humanity - an unashamed
acknowledgement that man is good by nature.
Worthy goal
"It’s my belief that all the factors to
make a practical reality of such a world are maturing now. I would like
to think that our generation took mankind some way along the road toward
this goal. It’s a goal worth fighting for."
Among the guests of the Rector were people
who are directly associated with working class struggle in this country.
They include Mr. John Gollan, general
secretary of the Community Part. Mr James Jack, general secretary of
the Scottish TUC, Mr Alex Kitson, executive officer of the Transport and
General Workers’ Union, Mr Alex Murray, Scottish Secretary of the
Communist Party - and members of the co-ordinating committee of UCS.
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