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Related Pieces
Piece Description
In October of 2001, the US Congress passed the Patriot Act. It allows the government to monitor citizens’ communications and personal information including financial and medical records.
To me, this seems very similar to a popular 1950s mindset called McCarthyism. McCarthyism was a practice, which accused people of being anti-American with limited or no evidence.
So it got me thinking, is the Patriot Act the new McCarthyism? Historically, the government has enacted policies during times of conflict to protect American society.
IUPUI professor of history and expert in McCarthyism Richard Gantz doesn’t think history repeats itself but says there are some parallels between the Patriot Act and McCarthyism.
Gantz: There are certain trends and certain reactions that Americans typically have. In times of war or particular threats, officials, politicians, and I think the public tend to look the other way and not be concerned and just wink and say well, the times require this sort of response.
Both respond to foreign threats made on America and are intended to protect its citizens; however some argue the cost is basic freedoms.
Toby Haslett, a recent Carmel High School graduate, researched McCarthyism for an in-depth school project. He thinks another parallel is the public’s reaction –fear.
Toby1: There’s supposed to be I think 30 possible nuclear bomb targets within the state of Indiana or that what was thought in the 1950’s. And so right now it was kind of implausible there are 30 terrorist targets within the state of Indiana. As far as that’s concerned that’s obviously a function of fear, people exaggerating the danger of a situation because people are so affected by fear.
Toby, along with senior Rosemary Boeglin, who is president of Carmel’s Amnesty International chapter, says both approaches are problematic. Back in the 1950s, Toby says…
Toby and Rosemary: (Toby) The motivations were justified but the tactics ended up being A: ineffectual and B unjust.
(Rosemary) Which I think is also directly related to the Patriot Act the motivations are not necessarily unjust but the results of they were motivated to do weren’t exactly in line with what’s right.
So is history repeating itself? Is the Patriot Act the new McCarthyism? One is an intricate law and the other is a complex mindset, and both have many fine distinctions and details. I can’t say whether they are the same but both have brought about similar results for similar reasons using very similar tactics. It seems to me the attitude then and now is just the same, only with a new target.
For Y-Press I’m Beverly Jenkins
