The Red Scare and the ensuing Hollywood Blacklist, and Hollywood Ten decisions are a very embarrassing example of the American attitude. Our country’s government and highly regarded religious leaders were destroying these people’s lives in the name of “preventing” communism, but only succeeded in practicing the very things that they were preaching against. The U.S was appalled when we watched Hitler go on a rampage, rooting out Jews and killing them, but is the witch hunt that happened in our own country not as bad just because we didn’t kill anyone? This is still an example of targeting a specific person or group that did not fit a certain mold, or agree to conform to specific ideals. What a surprise that once again, money is the root of the problem, and that the people behind the money could sway public opinion. Just because these people had ideas that did not conform to what may have been socially or morally acceptable, this was an opportunity to oust them once and for all. It is really sad that this was blown so out of proportion, to the point of causing suicides and exilation.
The Red Scare was truly a horrifying incident in cinematic history. I found it very difficult to watch the film, knowing those people had gone to prison and what it would have done to their families, not to mention their future. It is interesting that you mention money as the root of the problem. While I think money definitely lends power to a group of individuals and perhaps lends more weight to that power, it seems that ultimately what was to blame was fanaticism. With movies, books, etc, it seems that it is a mindset that instigates and pursues persecution, sometimes fueled by greed, but most of the time by ignorance and a fear of inherent inferiority. What I find most sad about the situation was the public didn't demand anything different, because either they didn't want to see it or were too ignorant to.
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