with the america strongly polarized, an unseen enemy lurking at our door, blind hatred against a people, one group of people in control of the government, and the patriot act granting powers of investigation never had by the government before…
do you think we are prime for a rise of a McCarthy-like atrocities? does any one else see the similarities?
Are you think about self-censure of un-PC speak? Or more like hate-speech laws?
i’m thinking of a politician using fear and power and patriot act powers to generate a witch hunt for terrorists in america and unpatriotic americans
Politician with patriot act powers? Is that new set of cards Pokemon cards?
No. Things might get bad but I don’t see any type of HUAC/McCarthyism inquisition on the horizon. For one thing, unlike Marxism in the pre-Cold War era, extreme Islamic fundamentalism doesn’t have any type of appeal in intellectual circles or as a socio-political movement in America. I don’t think there are any Al Quaeda-aiding Alger Hisses or Julius and Ethel Rosenbergs out there who a political demagogue can use to scare the public into thinking that the nation is rife with undercover Islamic terrorists who have infiltrated every part of American government and society. You also have to keep in mind that during the Red Scare of the 40’s and 50’s, the Soviet Union had just taken over Eastern Europe and exploded its own A-bomb, Mao had taken over China, and the Cold War turned hot in Korea. In comparison, Islamic Fundamentalists have lost the only county they controlled (Afghanistan) and remain political minorities (albeit very vocal and dangerous ones) in the other countries in the Middle East. Granted, there is fear in America but it still doesn’t compare to what was going on during the early part of the Cold War.
Going to be a bit of a trick avoiding it, far as I can tell. And this time, it may be worldwide… judging from European reaction to the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh…
Calm down, everybody…
McCarthyism was a product of a different time–social mores were totally unlike now.In the 50’s, divorce made you a social outcast, and women proudly served their husbands at home. We put our hands over our hearts to sing the national anthem,we respected politicians, and government decisions went unquestioned.
And let’s not get confused between the Patriot Act and McCarthyism.McCarthy started out with a reasonable idea–checking for spies in sensitive positions–i.e. nuclear scientists. It became evil when the paranoia spread to people who could in no way damage America. A nuclear spy can damage national security–a kindergarten teacher or a Hollywood producer can not.The issue is whether there is a reasonable suspicion that a specific person has access to weapons or secret info.
Today, we face genuine dangers from Muslim fanatics, and so it is reasonable to
allow FBI monitoring of certain suspicious mosques, just like we allow FBI agents to investigate certain suspicious white militia groups.
We have a much more free society than in 1950–with journalists and lawyers everywhere, and a vast body of politically correct civil rights law that didnt exist then.
Checks and balances are in place.I’m not worried.
As for the OP’s link to the news story (about the Dutch filmmaker murdered by Muslim fanatics after he made a movie showing the truth about some Islamic social problems)–what is your point?why did you cite the article–because it shows the danger of Muslim fanatics, or the danger of Dutch McCarthyism rising up as a result?
Which danger worries you more?
Sorry, but there are a couple of errors in my entry. First, that should read “the only country they controlled.” Second, I forgot to include Iran as a nation whose government is run by Islamic Fundamentalists (albeit Shiite ones as opposed to the Sunni Muslims who make up Al Quaeda and the Taliban).