From McCarthy to Bush; From 9/11 to the Fed

Back in the 1950's communism's possible infiltration into the hearts and minds of America's best was a tangible fear. This fear of "evil" in other cultures has been, some say, quietly supported throughout the decades and much like the elephant's renowned memory, the Republicans have never forgotten this threat although they seem to have misplaced the part of the story that details the injustices that an estimated 10,000 people had to endure because they had no choice and no rights.

Instead of the Red Scare, we have the new buzz-phrase: the War on Terror. In the name of this war without a decisive end, Americans were asked in 2001 to give up many, if not most, of their personal rights in the name of security and protection. The country, if not the world, watched in hushed awe and heartbreak as things we only thought could happen in third-world countries was brought to life before us, in front of us, with live coverage on at least 13 news channels. The quiet before the storm gave way to an eerie echo of demands for retaliation and justice. Our enraged citizens were then briefly quieted with the suggestion more subtle than a thought - if they can do this, what else can they do? And with the stench of fear as palpable as a muggy afternoon in Georgia, we gave up our freedoms for the sake of security.

Instead of each person being allowed to judge for themselves what they and their country is up against, Uncle Sam quietly took us by the hand and promised everything would be alright - our Chief would get the bad people who did evil things and life would continue as it should in the American way. And now, again, the media has found itself in the crossfire between publishing what they feel they should and the government demanding they get their way - give up your freedom, they ask, so that we can get the bad people who did these things to us.

With the death of Valerie Plame due to a "leak" from someone with a high-ranking security clearance and the imprisonment of Judith Miller because she would not disclose her sources, one must consider if the Uncle Sam who holds America's hand is really keeping the pulse of the American people or blinded by his objectives. But then, it's happened again.

With President Bush, Treasury Secretary Snow and Senate Majority Leader Frist all lined up to get their 15 minutes by backing a program which tracks "American money" all over the globe and quick to hang the New York Times up by their toenails (if not sources), we're faced with the same totalitarian-like controversy with freedom on one side and our protection on the other. What journalists will end up in prison because this CIA program to monitor what is coming and going on the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication system (Swift) has been published? If the CIA cannot monitor itself, why is it the job of the press to do so? Simply put, before 9/11 such accusations of the NY Times being "irresponsible" for publishing such a story would not have come out.

The media has played its part well for the Oval Office and the Fed in the past, informing the masses with their press conferences and releases, but in a free land you can't always have your way and dictate what will be published. To suggest such a thing would, ironically, give way to McCarthyism again, just in a new and updated form.