The New McCarthyism

Going to watch "Goodnight and Good Luck" tonight. I have high hopes for this one, not only because I've admired David Strathairn's work for a number of years but because we're in the midst of a new round of censorship and paranoia. Only this time we've managed to internalize it, to "watch what we say" like that walking piece of filth Ashcroft admonished everybody.

Whatever happened to the bold American spirit? The ability to be independent minded, to look at something and figure it out and speak strongly and fearlessly? Apparently gone missing, that American spirit. Replaced by fearful timidity and slavish groupthink. People today are actually startled to hear some iconoclast speak his or her mind about our rush to fascism. And sometimes they get angry, but not because of what that iconoclast is saying, but because they're bold enough to do it.

The Guardian has a story about this new McCarthyism in our schools and universities, places that have always been seen as hideous bastions of free thinking by the fascist goon squads - Silence In Class
"University professors denounced for anti-Americanism; schoolteachers suspended for their politics; students encouraged to report on their tutors."

Now for that movie.