Freethought & Rationalism Archive

George Oilwell · 05-12-2003, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Attorney General John Ashcroft has encouraged federal agencies to reject Freedom of Information Act requests; President Bush has illegally sealed the papers of former presidents; and the USA Patriot Act has expanded government surveillance powers and trampled upon the privacy rights of American citizens. Could the chill of fear that froze political debate in the 1950s occur again? In an interview with National Public Radio, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., says, "History is a powerful teacher . . . I think there's greater awareness of McCarthyism and there's greater resistance against those who would try to still voices that they disagree with."

Could it happen again?

Grad Student Humanist · 05-12-2003, 11:23 PM

Just a couple of years ago I would have answered no.

Now, I see it as a possibility.

AtomSmasher · 05-13-2003, 02:31 AM

Of course, and we should all do everything in our power to combat intrusive and oppressive government legislature. We must all do our best to engage those who would undermine our individual rights.

Jat · 05-13-2003, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by somedude
Could it happen again?

Could happen again? It is happening again. I.E Dixie Chicks.

peacenik · 05-13-2003, 06:42 AM

Yes, it could happen again. It is already occuring to a certain extent. You can't criticize the President and/or his war without being labelled un-American or unpatriotic by most. Those who do such as musicians like the Dixie Chicks are the target of boycotts, hatemail, ect. ect.
Michael Moore is coming out with a new documentary, which factually assails the President, and the mainstream media is already portraying his documentary as if it is merely a load of crap being put out by a wacko extremist. Where were all of the "Patriot Police" when Republicans were saying that they were ashamed of their President during a time when U.S. troops were engaged in a conflict in Kosovo? Where were all of the Republicans who criticized Clinton as being a draft dodger and a pot smoker when their party ran a draft dodger(who also went AWAL) and a drunk, cocaine snorter, ect.?
The hypocricy and evilness of the Republican party is truly appalling, and they will stop at nothing to maintain their power, including McCarthey type tactics. I just hope that they fail, but unfortunately they have been successful thus far despite the fact that they have ran our nation into the shitter.

Overgrowngoblin · 05-13-2003, 02:11 PM

There was an older general on TV being interviewed by MSNBC about a year after 9/11. He was talking about the war on terror and how Americans had to give up certain rights to be safe from terror. The part that was really scaring me was the fact that he kept saying �communist� instead of �terrorist.� He couldn�t keep the two straight.

�In order to be free of communists -- ah, I mean terrorists -- we need to give up certain privileges that we have become used to or the communists -- ah, terrorists -- will truly win.�

That interview pretty much sent me right back to the fifties.

Jat · 05-13-2003, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Overgrowngoblin
There was an older general on TV being interviewed by MSNBC about a year after 9/11. He was talking about the war on terror and how Americans had to give up certain rights to be safe from terror. The part that was really scaring me was the fact that he kept saying �communist� instead of �terrorist.� He couldn�t keep the two straight.

�In order to be free of communists -- ah, I mean terrorists -- we need to give up certain privileges that we have become used to or the communists -- ah, terrorists -- will truly win.�

That interview pretty much sent me right back to the fifties.

I think that he was already there.

beyelzu · 05-13-2003, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jat
Could happen again? It is happening again. I.E Dixie Chicks.

could you hook me up with a link to a news article about the senate hearings on the dixie chicks and their official black listing. damn, how did I miss that?

or on the other hand you might be comparing some apples to some oranges.

Autonemesis · 05-13-2003, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Beyelzu
could you hook me up with a link to a news article about the senate hearings on the dixie chicks and their official black listing. damn, how did I miss that?

OK, ok. Let's not call it McCarthyism, since the Senate isn't having hearings. This time around, it's all being done extra-judicially and in the press. How about calling it Krystallnacht instead? Happy now?

Jat · 05-13-2003, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Autonemesis
OK, ok. Let's not call it McCarthyism, since the Senate isn't having hearings. This time around, it's all being done extra-judicially and in the press. How about calling it Krystallnacht instead? Happy now?

Yeah, they've learned from thier mistake this time and are bypassing the courts in order to try and ruin those who oppose them.

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05-12-2003, 11:23 PM	#2
Grad Student Humanist Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melrose, MA Posts: 961	Just a couple of years ago I would have answered no. Now, I see it as a possibility.

05-13-2003, 02:31 AM	#3
AtomSmasher Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Tampa, Florida, U.S. Posts: 95	Of course, and we should all do everything in our power to combat intrusive and oppressive government legislature. We must all do our best to engage those who would undermine our individual rights.

05-13-2003, 06:42 AM	#5
peacenik Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 331	Yes, it could happen again. It is already occuring to a certain extent. You can't criticize the President and/or his war without being labelled un-American or unpatriotic by most. Those who do such as musicians like the Dixie Chicks are the target of boycotts, hatemail, ect. ect. Michael Moore is coming out with a new documentary, which factually assails the President, and the mainstream media is already portraying his documentary as if it is merely a load of crap being put out by a wacko extremist. Where were all of the "Patriot Police" when Republicans were saying that they were ashamed of their President during a time when U.S. troops were engaged in a conflict in Kosovo? Where were all of the Republicans who criticized Clinton as being a draft dodger and a pot smoker when their party ran a draft dodger(who also went AWAL) and a drunk, cocaine snorter, ect.? The hypocricy and evilness of the Republican party is truly appalling, and they will stop at nothing to maintain their power, including McCarthey type tactics. I just hope that they fail, but unfortunately they have been successful thus far despite the fact that they have ran our nation into the shitter.

05-13-2003, 02:11 PM	#6
Overgrowngoblin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Shooting dice in a crater on the Moon Posts: 501	There was an older general on TV being interviewed by MSNBC about a year after 9/11. He was talking about the war on terror and how Americans had to give up certain rights to be safe from terror. The part that was really scaring me was the fact that he kept saying �communist� instead of �terrorist.� He couldn�t keep the two straight. �In order to be free of communists -- ah, I mean terrorists -- we need to give up certain privileges that we have become used to or the communists -- ah, terrorists -- will truly win.� That interview pretty much sent me right back to the fifties.

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