A Year Defined by Political, Social, and Economic Chaos
I’m not sure how to introduce myself, as this is not the first time I’ve written for this paper. Recently, I decided to write freely—no alias, no hiding behind a name in fear of retaliation. After this whirlwind of a year, consumed by political, social, and economic discourse, I feel compelled to publish my thoughts, as I believe everyone has lost sight.
I’ve always been interested in the humanities—the study of human culture. This includes history, language, art, religion, etc. Mankind has been around since before the Common or Christian Era, and I wholeheartedly believe that while we might be in the 21st century, the insights into human behavior and decisions of the past will always enlighten us in the present day and for the future.
Edward Murrow & See It Now
There was a man named Edward R. Murrow, a broadcaster who became a household name following his many television and radio endeavors. During WWII, Murrow truly built his prowess in the media world with his reporting out of Europe during the Second World War. His reporting from London was notable, as it brought the war directly to Americans and into their homes.
Following his work in Europe as a CBS reporter, in 1951, his famous radio show, Hear It Now, was moved to television and rebranded as See It Now. Now, remember, folks—quick history lesson here: the Red Scare was hysteria over the perceived threat posed by Communists in the U.S. during the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States, which intensified in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
The Red Scare and McCarthyism: A Lesson in Fear-Mongering
There was a man named Joesph McCarthy, who during The Red Scare, fear mongered the nation with hearsay and intimidation to establish himself as a powerful and feared figure in American politics. He leveled charges of disloyalty at celebrities, intellectuals and anyone who disagreed with his political views, costing many of his victims their reputations and jobs.
McCarthy’s reign of terror continued until his colleagues formally denounced his tactics in 1954 during the Army-McCarthy hearings, when army lawyer Joseph Welch famously asked McCarthy,
“Have you no decency?”
-Joseph Welch
In 1954, Murrow, without the aid of CBS, produced an episode of See it Now which focused on Senator Joseph McCarthy, and his widespread accusations of members of the State Department being communist sympathizers. Murrow used McCarthy’s contradictions and errors against him, crushed his popularity, and the broadcast is seen as one of the most pivotal show in history.
Reflecting on a Year of Discourse and Division
In comparison to present day, Donald Trump and the right-winged cult mimic the actions of Senator McCarthy by using fear mongering and demagogue tactics that won over the American public and this past presidential election. Yet, the condemnation of Trump hasn’t prevailed as the Trump cult and American society has lost decency.
With this all being said, I aim to establish the same trust, relationship with the modern American society, and venerate the truth and credibility of a true journalist. While I am pessimistic that I will not be as successful as Murrow, I hope to give someone the insight of the veracity.
Good night and good luck.
