The McCarthy Era was a shining example of intolerance. While tagging people as Communist, McCarthysm had the added impact of narrowing tolerance for differing opinions or shades of liberalism. We have seen the same thing in recent times by using the Liberal label in place of "Communist". Today it is often referred to as 'otherism". It is easier to identify a person as "other" when the color of their skin or their accent is obviously different, so give the McCarthy Gang the edge in degree of difficulty when comparing.
In this environment there is no tolerance for differing opinions, different looking people, or different approaches to problems. Tolerance is the basis for bipartisan problem solving. Without it we descend into a cram-down world where brute-force policy making becomes the rule.
Much like the McCarthy era needed a voice of reason and tolerance like Edward R. Murrow's. Hopefully the Murrow Project can be that voice and effectively reorient people on the heels of a hard-felt political loss.
The McCarthy Era was a shining example of intolerance. While tagging people as Communist, McCarthysm had the added impact of narrowing tolerance for differing opinions or shades of liberalism. We have seen the same thing in recent times by using the Liberal label in place of "Communist". Today it is often referred to as 'otherism". It is easier to identify a person as "other" when the color of their skin or their accent is obviously different, so give the McCarthy Gang the edge in degree of difficulty when comparing.
In this environment there is no tolerance for differing opinions, different looking people, or different approaches to problems. Tolerance is the basis for bipartisan problem solving. Without it we descend into a cram-down world where brute-force policy making becomes the rule.
Much like the McCarthy era needed a voice of reason and tolerance like Edward R. Murrow's. Hopefully the Murrow Project can be that voice and effectively reorient people on the heels of a hard-felt political loss.
Thank you Jim!