Scare of communism similar to the new scare of terrorism?

Question

During the red scare, Americans were over-concerned, even obsessed, with the concept of communism from inside their own country.

Does anyone see terrorism as the new fad-type "scare" because it effected the most powerful country in the world, but in time will obviously still exist, similar to our previous fears of communism, but fade away slightly?

Answer 1

Yes in a way, but different.

Answer 2

Well, not exactly similar. I don't remember anything the Soviets or Chinese did directly to America that killed 3,000 people.

The fearmongering of terrorism is much like the red scare of the 1920s. Politicians will use fear any time they can to obtain what they want. Thus, we are now in Iraq, which would never have happened without September 11.

There are differences though. Communism was and is a legitimate governmental philosophy that was embraced, at one point, by more than 1 billion people (hardly a fringe ideology). Terrorism on the other hand is more about extremist beliefs and a perversion of a religion.

Remember that most terrorism is based on some sort of religion or fundamentalist movement. Communism was based more on society and the state and the cooperation thereof.

All of that being said, I do believe terrorism is the new enemy. America has been looking for a new enemy since the end of the cold war.

At first it was racism and those who sexually harass. Then it was the kids who shot schools up and now its terrorism which, despite 9/11, America has been nicely immune.

Answer 3

Yes there is definitely a parallel between the two. However, in the case of terrorism, it would seem that it is here to stay for quite awhile. The UN was disregarded when Iraq was attacked and subsequently "captured". The actions of the United States was not only questioned by the rest of the world(with the exception of Britain), but actually quite candidly opposed. Understandably, this is a very convoluted issue, that has progressed to the point of no return. Paranoia and distrust is flourishing in North America as a result, and hopefully in time(decades if it is to happen) it will fade as communism did. I do believe however, that it will get much worse before this occurs.

Answer 4

Communism is not as scary now because its principle exporter is collapsed, and most of the world has seen it doesn't work. It requires an autocratic dictatorship to perpetuate it, and even a small amount of freedom is MUCH more attractive.

Terrorism is scary now, for some, because there are a large number of people, here in this county, whose religion says there are only three choices: 1) follow the True Religion, 2) accept second class status, partly by paying an extra religious "tax", or 3) death. If you are Jewish, or athiest, that second one doesn't apply.

Terrorism is a natural outgrowth of it. That was the sole reason for the letter from the "president" of Iran to Bush. It was to give him a chance to join the True Religion, a requirement in their religion before killing someone.

I'm not scared. I know the averages. But I fully support going after terrorists. Fight them over there, not here. While I do not believe it will be possible to eliminate it, we can hit them where they live and train, diminishing their ability to strike. I don't believe it is coincidence we haven't been struck again. I shudder to think what would have happened if we had gone with Kerry's idea of just trying to knock it down to a "nuisance" level.

Answer 5

I think it has become this admistrations "tag" line to create Patriotism and thus make the admistration look strong when it stops the "attack". When things are not looking well for the admistration it comes up with an supposed "attack" to stop. They are always a bit to convient. Case and point the spying on american citiens, now in the last 2 months 2 major plots have been uncovered using these tactics. A little too supious if you ask me. Don't get me wrong, terrisiom is a real problem, but it more of a problem among middle eastern countries and countries that have a huge Muslim population. The Governments of these countries are going to have to put a stop to the Radical Clarics and regain control of their countries. Like the church of the Middle ages these Clarics are using their power to incite their own agendas for control. I do understand that Muslim and Christian faiths differ in the major fact that Muslims have no secular belief as such, while the West there is Christian and non christian beliefs and the Musilm countries do not understand the seperation of those beliefs. We could greatly reduce their money supply if we would rush development or bring out of mothballs inventions of alternitve fuels. No money to buy things to blow people up with and no guns to kill with.

Answer 6

I thing that no one wanted to admit that communism might be right, but most of all it was the fact that communism told every capitalist person, which includes the USA, that they were wrong. Terrorism is the same thing. We are scared of terrorism because it tells us that the entire western culture is wrong. There is a reason they decided to bomb the twin towers, the center for most western companies. I think that fear of terrorism will subside very slowly as the entire world adapts the western lifestyle. But after that another fad scare will come.

Answer 7

As Kissinger said, even the paranoid have enemies. The WTC attack succeeded because we were complacent that terror wasn't a problem for us here.. It would be easy enough for most of us to remain or return to complacency, since most or us are not near high profile, likely targets. But from time to time they have caught groups planning attacks in places like Chicago and New York. I have never met anyone who seemed paranoid about it, but it is a little unsettling when some suggest lowering our guard.

Anyway, in the event of a future attack, I would expect those same people to say Bush or other Republicans either weren't doing enough, or caused it, or even ordered it. They are partisan and inclined to fault any decision, even when it came from them originally, such as Clinton backing regime change for Iraq in '98. It's mostly just partisan BS.

As for the red scare, communism is responsible for an estimated 100 million dead, and repression and misery for hundreds of millions more. It promised heaven and delivered hell. Free markets, civil liberty and pluralistic representation, flawed as they may be at times, are still not nearly as harmful as the alternatives. Also, the Russians released documentary evidence that there were individuals with communist sympathies in our government. Just because McCarthy was a creep didn't mean that there was no threat.

Answer 8

Iron wall curtain has given way to open system,both in China and Russia.American obsession has indeed succeeded and the communism has lost its fangs,giving way to capitalism.The discussion of Communism is now in the books and small forums,a dying trend.

Terror has outlived many isms and was found in history associated with Islamic WARRIORS.The main source and centre of its activities was central Asia.Europe and USA ,were under the illussion that it cannot hit them but it is now all over and is real not fad type.The reign of controlling it have now come to the real hero's the Americans.The torrism has asumed different garbs but the fangs sprang from the same,misdirected zeal of converting every infidel to a muslim and earn a place in the Heavens among the Huries.Its foundations are very deep and hard to detect,it will take its own time.

Answer 9

Communism is still a problem. Communists killed over 100 million people in the 1900s. So to call it the "Red Scare" means you don't think it's real.

Maybe you didn't see the video, but terrorists killed 3000 people on 9/11/2001. So to call it a fad-type scare is say you don't believe it is real.

Your question has no relevance to the real world.

Maybe you should beem back up to the mothership!

Answer 10

I think the state that the world is in now the fad-type "scare" is terrorism. And I think it'll stay like this for a very long time unless we all want to put up are nuclear weapons on a shelf. I no longer feel safe in my country with all of these things they're finding on the internet about plans to attack cities. And the whole N.K. thing is scarring the crap outta me. Just think could one of our U.S. cities be the next Hiroshima or Nagasaki? Are going to have a taste of our own medicine? It seriosuly scares me to think something like that might happen again. So we really need a peace treaty with N.K.

Answer 11

To me, the fear of communism doesn't compare to terrorism.

Communism, and the fear of it, is based upon the worry that you don't know what your neighbor really is thinking. His belief system. And with the more open-minded (relatively) acceptance of alternate things...its ridiculous to be afraid of "communism" now.

But terrorism, to me, is more defined by the action of it. The possibility of death at the hands of terrorism and terrorists has proven to be all too real. Its the epitome of violence, AND ignorance.

Its not a fad scare (I see the mumps outbreak more like a fad scare) because terrorism requires sacrificial death, and always others providing the death part, not the terrorist.