The Joseph McCarthy era. [View All]

[cornermouse]

One of the darkest periods of our history. Its always been a source of horror for me. Being hauled in and asked "Are you or have you ever been a Communist?" with the accompanying threat to your job, friends and associates, and income hanging over your head. This week they had the following on PBS.

American Masters
Miller, Kazan, and the Blacklist: None Without Sin
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/kazan_e.html

It focused on Kazan and Arthur Miller's friendship and the Joseph McCarthy era. I've read other accounts about the McCarthy era and have been appalled at the cruelty shown and willingness, even eagerness to destroy others over things that are not really that important, but this one and the similarities to the present time chilled me all over again.

I never realized that Miller wrote The Crucible about the Salem witch trials in an attempt to explain to himself how Kazan and others could abandon principles and friendships when fear becomes the prime motivator.

It was very depressing. There is way too much similarity between mindsets of people during the Salem Witch Trials, Hitler's rise to power, the McCarthy era, and G.W.'s presidential years.