History has a terrible habit of repeating itself.  This repetitive condition lends itself to two phenomena: the reflection on history and its effects upon our present or the deliberate snubbing of lessons that should have been learned.  The steady growth of the new red scare, now simply emblazoned with the moniker “terror,” has given birth to a new brand of McCarthyism.  Under the power of this nation’s erroneously titled Patriot Act, the government holds sway over all that we do from common dissention to outright vocal protest.  Not much can we say in protest to our country’s policies without being deemed unpatriotic and a threat to our own government.  This is plain. 

Examples flood the airwaves with examples of our administration’s fear of its own people.  Most of the media paints this picture as keeping our watch fires lit.  Being observant and aware should have always been the priority of this country’s security forces and should not be something introduced as a new idea with the creation of another bureaucratic tape wheel, the office of Homeland Security.  Neither should our government intrude into the daily workings of its people in the name of fear nor should we as American people ever feel that we are being watched by the eyes of a conniving and tyrannical government in the name of national defense. 

The notion that we are the richest and, arguably, the greatest nation on this earth has never meant that we are invincible.  Not one thing could be further from the absolute truth.  This is a lesson that Americans forgot not long after toppling the great British army in the Revolutionary War.  The British were asleep at the helm of their ship all the while the storm overtook them.  The life of our country is short in relation to all great civilizations, yet we act as though we are made of faultless marble, shiny and smooth.  When you act like kings there are always a few, quiet enemies ready to topple your reign.  Rome burned amid the fires of uneducated barbarians and so may we in due time.

As we all stare into the mirror everyday and reflect on the past day’s events, we all owe ourselves a lesson in history.  Recently I had the distinct pleasure of reading Bob Edward’s book, Edward R. Murrow and the Birth of Broadcast Journalism.  I learned much about our current political conditions by reading about Murrow’s fight against Senator Joseph McCarthy and the absolute fear McCarthy generated by demonizing communists and the liberals he deemed as such.  Again, this country is living in a climate of trepidation because of the political urgings of a few in positions of power.

Edward R. Murrow on McCarthy:

”No one familiar with the history of this country can deny that congressional committees are useful.  It is necessary to investigate before legislating.  But the line between investigation and persecuting is a very fine one, and the junior senator from Wisconsin has stepped over it repeatedly.  His primary achievement has been in confusing the public mind between the internal and external threat of Communism.  We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.  We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law.  We will not walk in fear, one of another.  We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes which were for the moment unpopular.”

-Bob Edwards, “Edward R. Murrow and the Birth of Broadcast Journalism,” pg. 115-116

Of noteworthy relevance to this entry is the story of Brandon Mayfield.  A lawyer and Muslim convert, Brandon was taken from his home here in Portland, Oregon by federal agents. The United States federal government accused him of taking part in the Madrid 3/11 train bombings.  Brandon was eventually found innocent due to a certain FBI agent’s mistake in analyzing the fingerprints taken from the scene of the tragedy.  This is a fine example of our government’s tyranny at work.  Let not this one example alone solidify your opinions, as we are all susceptible to such transgressions and many more are the examples available with resonable research.  Our government continues to step over the fine line between investigation and persecution and will do more so as we approach the eventual end of President Bush’s reign as commander in chief.  More information can be found at the following sites:

Spain bomb charges dropped in US

FBI case against Oregon lawyer built on blurry fingerprint, logic

Attorney arrested over Madrid bombing released

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