While the Red Scare period in American history was largely viewed as mass hysteria, and unjustified actions towards individuals based on political affiliations, or suspected political affiliations, is what is happening today parallel? or even more wrong?
True, the constitution provides for the suspension of habeas corpus in times of war, but after the 9/11 attacks was there really a threat on American security, and institutions?
and even assuming there was, does that justify denial of basic rights to people at random on vague suspicions?
however few, however unknown, the victims are.
however un-aware (or even uncaring) the American public may be.
2006-12-04 11:27:56 · 5 answers · asked by NAMELESS 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
When we covered the the Red Scare last year, our current situation was the first thing that came to my mind. It seems as though everyone in this country thinks that everyone with a middle eastern background is a terrorist or extremist. Our country seems to consider Muslims, middle easterners, and Hispanics to be inferior, and much of it comes from a fear that they are all working against us. The reality is, our country is the one that invaded two middle eastern country and accomplished nothing as far as I can tell, and we have violated the rights of countless people. Blunders like the war in Iraq have brought us down to the level of the actual terrorists and extremists, and I think that we allowed this to happen because we fear that we are in danger, just as in the Red Scare.
2006-12-04 11:37:30 · answer #1 · answered by pctorab 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES!!! Someone else sees it!!!! FINALLY!!!
No, it does NOT justify the basic right of the people at random on vague suspicions! Do you know that the FISA court has issued over 15000 warrants for domestic surveillance since it's inception in 1978? THat means that people have been spied upon who dont know that they've been spied on. The Patriot Act has only expanded it's powers.
If they can spy on us any time they feel threatened (and who polices THEM???) then I want to know why the debris from 9/11 was carted away and sold as scrap metal somewhere (China, maybe) very quickly without allowing a full investigation of the debris from the building? We may never know what really happened on 9/11 but someone does know....I think this administration was banking on us being a bunch of sheep and was really surprised when we found out we weren't. I dont think this guy is going to be able to get away with much more, we are not a bunch of sheep to be fed a bag of garbage and forced to be content with it.
What's really funny is how the far right insists on blaming Clinton, like he was getting a ******* at the same time he was supposed to be dealing with this threat? And Bush was only in office 9 months? You dont mean to tell me you couldnt put an attack like that together in 9 months? Come on, Fellow Americans, stop listening to Rush Windbag and think for yourselves! I'm sure if Osama bin Ladin or the CIA could've hauled butt and put it together in that amount of time!
In the McCarthy era, people's lives were ruined by this ignorant man's accusations. Did you know "Tailgunner Joe" only went on one mission? It was a milk run. Kind of like Bush Sr. This time is similar because everyone is scared. "Those who don't learn from the past are destined to relive it...."
Great question!
2006-12-04 19:46:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a connection? none other than the use of fear to manipulate populations. is what is happening today "more wrong" - would that be "worse"? i'd say that the failure to learn from history contributes to it but the Dixies didn't have it as bad as most of McCarthy's victims.
there is no threat to the security of the nation. threats to national security - a different thing - do not warrant limits on civil liberties. we all have to fight the politics of fear. good on ya!
2006-12-04 19:42:26 · answer #3 · answered by Boring 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is so weird, because I just thought on this today in Calculus (not paying attention).
And I think you might have a point.
We might start naming people terrorists merely because of a whisper we heard while grocery shopping.
The horror.
2006-12-04 19:30:43 · answer #4 · answered by beelz 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You just described the connection. We love to have a "them" to target and we are great at falling into mob psychology and going with the crowd.
2006-12-04 19:32:26 · answer #5 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋