The era of HUAC and McCarthy . . . ponder the following questions and add a comment (with some in-depth explanation!) that addresses at least two:
1) Should people be held accountable today for their words, actions, and personal associations (aka, "friends") from 10 or more years ago?
2) Would you rat out your friends to keep yourself from getting into trouble?
3) Are you now, or have you ever been, a communist (look it up if your confused on what a communist/communism might be)?
4) Was McCarthy a patriot or a villain?
Good luck!
This is due by 11:59pm on Tuesday 3/22/11.
First name, last initial, class period.
10 points.
32 comments:
While people were getting all crazed over communism and claiming that tons of people were communists they'd reference things the people did from 10 or more years ago. I don't think this really was the right way to go about accusing people of things. Proving that somebody was associated with a group 10 years ago doesn't mean they still are. I think looking at what they did 10 years ago should only be done if their currents actions are reminiscent of their past actions. Also I don't think I'd be able to rat out my friends just to stay out of trouble. I would rather go through the consequences of not telling, than telling and putting them through that. The people that hunted communists, such as McCarthy thought they were acting in the best interests of the nation. Yes, they were. They were being patriotic and trying to help their country, but their tactics were just awful. So McCarthy was both a patriot and a villain.
I don't think that that people should be held accountable for their actions today that they made 10 or more years ago. Like Cody said, as time goes on, people change. People may have been associated with the communist party ten years ago, however, it doesn't mean that their beliefs are in association with the communist party. I think that the whole Red Scare and looking at people several years in the past, was ridiculous. Going back into people's past was just a way for McCarthy and others to assert their "patriotism". Also, I don't think that I would rat out my friends; however, in an instant, things can change according to the consequences. There's no saying what I would do until the time comes. And the question of whether McCarthy was a patriot or a villain, well I'd say he was a bit of both. I understand that he was trying to "help" the country by ridding it of unpatriotic citizens (communists), however, he went too far. McCarthy thought he was doing the right thing, but in the end he and others caused thousands of American citizens distress because they literally lost everything based upon assumptions that they were associated with the communist party. How is that patriotic?
People should not be held accountable for their words, actions, and personal associations from over 10 years ago. I believe that people should not dwell in the past and that people can change. They should not be blamed for the past and people should be forgiven, like I have forgiven Larry for multiple wrongdoings. I would not rat out my friends to keep me safe because if I got caught, I would not want my friends to be cruelly punished as well. I am not a communist and I never was. I do not think being manipulated by a single ruler works very well and I believe that the public should have some say about how their country is run. The only ruler I would allow to run the country in a communist way would be Larry.
I would never rat out a friend. A snitch is the lowest of the low. I would take the fall every time. I would never forgive someone if they ratted me out, so I would never rat on someone else.
I think that McCarthy was a patriot because he was trying to keep America save. He wanted to keep communism out of America, so he was trying to eliminate people that he thought were potentially hazardous to the general population
I think that people should be held accountable for their words or actions from ten years ago. This is because one a persons past can help tell their future like kids that torture animals are more likely to become serial killers. Also they should be held accountable because no matter what they had those thoughts or choices ten years ago what is it to say that they will not repeat those same choices. However if someone has shown considerable change from now till then there should be an exception. I would have to say that McCarthy was more of a patriot than a villain because he did indeed put away communist threats to the nation but I think that he should have gone about it a different way. This is because he did ruin many innocent peoples lives in putting away the communists that he found.
I believe that people should be held accountable for their actions from 10 or more years ago, but not for their words or friends. If you did something stupid a long time ago, you made that mistake and should live with it. But people say things all the time, and words can be taken out of context, manipulated, and altered to get a point across. Actions, on the other hand, are a little more black and white. And for your “personal associations,” people you used to know change over time and you can’t be held responsible for what someone else did after you knew them. For instance, no one should have gotten in trouble for liking Hitler’s drawings before he was a dictator, because he wasn’t a dictator then. Just like people shouldn’t have been charged with being communists simply for being friends with a potential communist 10 years before that was an issue. Speaking of communists, I am not among them. I disagree with a system where I am no better or worse than any other person. That takes away my motivation to succeed, and if I don’t strive to succeed yet am the same as everyone else, then everyone else must lack determination with me, and society would collapse from no one working. But when I was a little kid I’m sure I would have liked the idea of communism, because I would have assumed that meant everyone shared their nice things with everyone else. Unfortunately I have learned that that is not the case, and it is much more plausible that everyone would be without necessities, rather than having an abundance of luxuries.
Also, Mr. Hoffman you should check out who's looking at your blog. America is covered in views.
I do believe that people should be held accountable for their actions even if it was ten years ago. However I think the years since then should also be taken into consideration. People can have shady pasts and end up becoming model citizens. There are some people never learn from their mistakes and continue on a bad path. In regards to the communist hunt yes I do think records about people’s pasts from 10 years ago should be questioned however, it is unfair to judge them based only on those facts. Those facts may elude to their present activities or simply show the mistakes of their past. If we discount past information we will never be able to get close to what we are searching to find.
If my friend did something really awful than yes I would rat them out ,but I would NEVER rat them out for personal gain. I take friendship very seriously and if someone trusted me enough with information and that information did not directly impact anyone’s life; than I do not feel it needs to be public knowledge. If I was asked to rat out friends who were communists I would not granted I knew that their intent was not to harm to others.
I would never rat out my friends to avoid punishment. I believe that the worst thing a person can do is betray his fellow man. On the other hand, if I legitimately believed that someone was a danger to the United States of America, regardless of their personal connection, I would report the issue. I am not, and have never been a Communist. I am actually more of a free-market Capitalist, with a heavy emphasis on Social Darwinism, and very little government intervention. I believe that in the absence of a natural wild condition (and in the creation of an artificial one), we as humans have a duty to continue our own evolution via free socio-economical competition. McCarthy was a villain through and through. He destroyed countless lives, and disrupted the flow of corporate Social Darwinism through unhealthy government intervention. Besides the people he destroyed of course. Big picture or small picture, he never did the right thing in accordance to my views. Ergo, he was a villain, (to me).
People should not be held accountable for their words, actions, or associations from ten or more years ago. Sometimes people get confused in the wrong crowd bt that doesn't always mean that it makes them a bad person. Also as a younger person in your days you mught say something without actually ever meaning it, or being to ignorant at the time. The truth is in ten years people change. I would never rat out a friend to save myself from getting in trouble. That goes against the friend code, and just makes you downright selfish. I am not a communist either because I believe that power shouldn't reside in one person's hands. I love peace, and in communism they believe that if violence is neccessary they will use it. That goes against my personal beliefs, and is frankly just wrong. In my eyes McCarthy was trying to be a patriot but was so extreme that he turned into a villian. It was great that he was putting up a fight against communism and wasn't going to let people run around jeopardizing American's freedoms. He became a villian when he started falsely accusing people without significant enough evidence to be doing so. By this he ruined many people's reputations and lives.
Should people be held accountable for their actions 10 or more years ago? that depends, are they a criminal? you see, if you aren't a criminal, or a communist, whatever you have been accused of, then your past shouldn't matter. But say you were a member of the recently discovered Russian sleeper cells? up until this point, except for being a spy, you probably haven't done anything to draw attention to yourself, 'cause you're a spy and all. so can we judge people based on what they did or didn't do in the past? No, because there is no way to know who is guilty of what. Did McCarthy lock up some communists? probably. did he lock up some capitalists? probably. there is no sure way to know.
As for me being a communist, I don't think I have, it's not really something you can do be by yourself.
Was McCarthy a Patriot? depends on your definition of a Patriot. Benedict Arnold was considered a Patriot right up until he betrayed his country. Its hard to judge people that you have never met.
Yes, I think people should be held accountable for their actions from ten or more years ago. You cannot just look at the McCarthy cases. If you murdered somebody ten years ago you will be held accountable for your actions. You cannot claim you're a changed person or that you were young and stupid, you're still responsible for that person's death. Same thing if you commit any other crime. Senator McCarthy takes this argument too far, but I still think people should be held accountable.
As for me ratting out my friends, I would never. There's a reason they're my friends and they would never deserve to be tattled on. Besides, I can't drag them into it if I was stupid enough to get caught. I have to face my own consequences.
People should not be held accountable for their actions or associations from ten or more years ago. First off, what an organization was 10 years ago may be different than it is today and it may stand for different beliefs then it previously had. Ten years is a long time, people can change. I mean.. Kendall changed SO much in high school its crazy. Lastly many people aren't part of the same things they were part of over 10 years ago.. for example I no longer play basketball or soccer. I would definitely not rat out my friends to save myself. That is against everything that I believe in. If my friends go down, then I'm going down with them, but I'm not one to throw people under the bus.
People should not be held accountable for their actions from 10 or more years ago. The world is continually changing and ideas and actions of today’s world that are not acceptable may have been completely normal. The only way people can get in trouble for their actions of ten years ago is if back then the activity was illegal. In addition, people cannot be held accountable in today’s world for their words ten years ago. In the bill of rights the people of the United States are granted freedom of speech. If people were held accountable then one could justify that the government had taken away these rights. People also cannot be held accountable for the people they associate themselves with. People should be free to choose whom they are associated with without the fear of it biting them in the butt in the future.
Had I been placed in a position to where I could rat out my friends I would not do it. I think of myself as a loyal friend. Also, I would never do something that would hurt one of my friends. In addition, I wouldn’t’ want one of my friends to rat me out therefore I would never rat them out no matter what the circumstances. Finally, nothing is worse than a tattle tale. They betray their friends and afterwards no one will ever trust them again.
People should not be held accountable for their actions/associations from ten years ago. First off, people can change in that time. Just watch that show "Intervention" on A&E if you don't believe me. Those people go from being addicts to normal people in a matter of months. If this is the case, just imagine what 10 years will do for you! This would also be true in the case of Michael Vick. He went to jail and took classes on animal abuse. These made him a changed man and gave him the second chance he deserved. Imagine where the Eagles would be without him had people held him accountable for what he did several years ago as opposed to the person he is today. Additionally, I would never rat out a friend. No one wants to be "that guy" who always snitches on people. I could never look at myself the same if I cost one of my friends to go to jail to save myself. Friendships are all about trust and this trust includes not ratting out a friend. Also, I would never want anyone to rat me out, so why would I do it to them? It's the Golden Rule people!!! Also I beat fling the teacher...talk about a fun time !!!
I don't believe people should be held accountable for things they said years ago. The world is always changing and our views are the same way, so therefore there needs to be discretion for that sort of trial with respect to time. Also, I have never been communist, and truly despise the idea that everyone deserves equal without giving up equal. My life is based on a firm believing behind the idea you get what you give, which takes me back to Rockefeller's days when he for the most part legally dismantled American business because he was smarter and more gifted than everyone else. No excuses, get the job done by yourself I say and communism doesn't let you do that.
"These try-hards mad, I'm gettin' E.C."
I believe that people should be held accountable for their actions of 10 or more years ago. However, I believe that to be "held accountable" is simply to understand and accept the consequences of one's choices. With each action comes varying levels of repercussions, i.e. someone who killed a man should have to face greater consequences than someone who was friends with the wrong people.
All this being said, I think it’s important to assert that a lot changes over the span of a decade. If you judged me by who I was 10 years ago, I would be considered unfit for society and incompetent at skills necessary for everyday life. Just as I wouldn't want to be judged for what I was as a six year, I'm sure that others would not want to be seen as people they were in the past.
I am not a communist, nor have I ever been one. I have grown up in a capitalist society and it has worked reasonably well for me thus far. Even more importantly, I have no interest in watching communism and capitalism try to one up each other for the next 40 years. That just seems like a waste.
No, I don't think people should be held accountable for their words, actions or friends from 10 years ago because that's just not fair. 10 years is a long time and many things have changed in these past 10 years. Different views and beliefs have come into existence and some have ceased to exist. It's not fair for us to look back 10 years ago and say well so and so said this so they should be prosecuted today. The past is the past and we can't escape what we've done, but that doesn't mean it's ok to punish people 10 years later. Too little too late.
I would like to think that I wouldn't rat out my friends to keep myself from getting into trouble. If I was put in a tough situation though I might just confess something in the heat of the moment. Also, if they were my true friends and not just acquaintances they would probably have a better chance of remaining nameless. The movie we watched in class made me realize that it might be harder than it seems to stand up for what you believe in and not rat people out.
People should not be held accountable for their words, actions, and friends from 10 years ago. People change, so what they say, do, or associate with may not be the same as 10 years ago. It wouldn't be fair to blame a person for who they used to be, all that matters is who they are know. If I was asked to rat out my friends, I don't think I would be able to do it. If I blamed one of my friends so that I would get out of trouble, I would feel so guilty that I wouldn't be able to enjoy the fact that I got out of trouble. It would still feel like jail, because I would be trapped by my guilt. And as for being asked if I am a communist, I can't say that I have, and I'm pretty happy about that.
I would not rat someone out to keep myself out of trouble. If I was going to get in trouble for something I did, I am willing to take the fall. Plus I don't think anything I would get in trouble for would be that bad. It feels horrible to rat someone out, because you feel like a snitch.
McCarthy was neither a patriot or villain. He was an Anikan Skywalker. He started with much potential, and the force was strong within him. But Yoda sensed the sith inside of him. McCarthy was very powerful and had much potential but as he gained power he abused it, and eventually his plight to save the country he loved turned him to the dark side of the force. Just like Anikan turned to the dark side to save Natalie Portman.
I do believe that people should be held accountable for their actions even if it was ten years ago. However I think the years since then should also be taken into consideration. People can have shady pasts and end up becoming model citizens. There are some people never learn from their mistakes and continue on a bad path. In regards to the communist hunt yes I do think records about people’s pasts from 10 years ago should be questioned however, it is unfair to judge them based only on those facts. Those facts may elude to their present activities or simply show the mistakes of their past. If we discount past information we will never be able to get close to what we are searching to find.
If my friend did something really awful than yes I would rat them out ,but I would NEVER rat them out for personal gain. I take friendship very seriously and if someone trusted me enough with information and that information did not directly impact anyone’s life; than I do not feel it needs to be public knowledge. If I was asked to rat out friends who were communists I would not granted I knew that their intent was not to harm to others.
In most circumstances, I believe that a person should not be held accountable for something he did 10 years prior. Of course, serious crimes cannot be overlooked. But for the most part, a person is not the same person he was ten years ago, and he should not be held accountable for previous views and opinions, if they have changed.
I am sure that I would not rat out a friend. Knowing that a small action on my part could have permanently altered for the worse the life of a friend--how could I live with myself?
I believe people should not be held accountable for the actions they did when they were younger some 10 or 20 years ago, like McCarthy did. You should he able to experience different situations to make sure you know what is the best thing for you to do. People might have been drawn to communism at first or wanted to see what communism was before they formed their opinions. People should have an open mind before they decide their beliefs so if people were held accountable for all of their actions, they wouldn't be able to properly form their beliefs. No, I would not be a communist due to the communist beliefs of total equality in business and the limited rights. I like having a difference in wealth where one can become an entrepreneur and have greater individual rights. However, I would probably look like a communist to McCarthy, who I believe is a villain. Just because someone you know is a communist, it is unfair to be called one yourself. The Government should not determine who your friends are.
I think that people should always be held accountable for their action, no matter how long ago it was. Their words may be more open to interpretation, but their actions show what they mean. I don't think people should have been branded communist just by association, though. I think to McCarthy I would be a communist because I don't like divisions in status and class, although I do believe in individualism and equal rights. I wouldn't use violence or brainwashing or anything like that to achieve a classless society, but he might think me one anyway... I would probably say he's a villain because he ruined so many lives, many of which were probably innocent. The Government should not have so much control that they can tell you your beliefs are wrong and punish you for them.
I think that people should be held accountable for their actions and words from 10 years ago because actions do have consequences and people should always be aware of what they say and do. However people should not be held accountable for their friends from 10 years ago becasue they can not control what their friends say and do and sometimes people befriend people that they learn they cannot stay friens with.
I would never rat out a friend to keep myself out of trouble. I don't think I could live with myself knowing that I was responsible for harming a friend's life just for my own safety. I would only speak of myself and my own actions, not the actions or decisions of my friends.
I believe that people should be held accountable for their actions even if they were ten years ago. But not their friends actions for the very simple reason of that you control your own actions you can't control your friends' actions.
Of course I would never rat out my friends because when you are friends with me all you need to do is ask and I will try to do everything possible to complete their request. But these are real friends not facebook friends, friends that actually know me.
No, a person should not be held accountable for their actions. Just college age girls who get butterfly tattoos and end up making it to graduation, we have to grow up. So maybe during the desperation of the Great Depression people starting looking for alternative means to fix the economy, that does not make them in anyway believers of their old manifestos. When things get bad, it turns into a dag-eat-dog world, but you cannot judge people for what they considered a viable option.
Would I rat out my friends? No. Nothing is worth betraying your friends.
So was McCarthy a patriot or villain? Villain. In a civilized world, he turned people against each other in a useless witch hunt. Yes, there were communists, but grabbing at straws is still not the way to go about assisting the greater American public.
I believe that people should be held accountable for their actions and personal associations from 10 or more years ago. Most people do not "drastically change" within a 10 year time period, but even if a person does change, their past remains the same. The past cannot be altered, and people should be punished for the crimes they committed in the past. For example, if someone robs a bank but changes into a model citizen a few years later, the action of robbing the bank remains viewed as a horrible crime committed. Because the crime committed in the past remains a part of the individual's history, the individual must be punished.
I would never rat out a friend to keep myself from getting in trouble. I would feel extremely guilty for ruining someone else's life just to keep myself from getting in trouble, and would not be able to live with the guilt for the rest of my life.
2. No I would never rat out any of my friends in order to save my own rear. If I were to do something that I knew had dire consequences if I got caught then I would only include the most trusted of individuals. I would trust them not to rat me out and they would be able to trust me not to rat them out. Simple as that.
1. Yes, it is fair to use any past information, no matter how old, on any trial. If you make good choices all the time then you have nothing to worry about. If you have a shady past that will give way to a conviction in present day than it must be uprooted. Just because you havent killed in 10 years does not mean you are no longer a murderer. That sort of idea.
I think that people should in fact be held responsible for their actions of ten or more years ago, their friends? not so much, their words? only if they still would make the same statements today. I believe that a once a person acts, they are forever responsible for it, regardless of whether or not they have personally changed, because if we look into the actions someone had previously made, whether they are good or bad, we can then have a better chance of predicting how that person may act in a similar situation. Friends of ten years ago is, however, is not something that people should be held accountable for because, for the most part, friends change over the course of ten years.
I would not ever rat out my friend, I feel that this would be nothing but cowardice and honestly just makes me look like a bad person. Obviously this person would not be a grave threat to the safety of the country, because if they were, I would have noticed and stopped being friends with them. DUH!
I believe that people should not be held accountable for their actions or associations from the past ten years. People change over time, and this change can be drastic so if someone has infected changed then they are not the same person. Meaning they should not be held accountable. Also, you cannot control your friends so how could they be held accountable for something they cannot control. Also I would never rat out my friends because someone told me to. Especially when some fat big wig jerk is sitting there all fat like smoking a cigar in my face calling me things I'm not. Instead I would just go at him with some good old fashion American two fisted justice because he decides to make up lies about me ruining my reputation with my family and friends. Also, yes I can say I have been a commy at some point (not the equal sharing stuff) but the working man
taking over because I hate politicians. They do not know what is best for
the average working man because they have never been a real working
man, they are bred to be a filthy, lying politician. Finally, I do believe McCarthy was a villain because he unmorally ruined Americans' lives without physical evidence of commies. He was a fat jerk face
I do not believe that people should be held accountable for actions or associations from ten years or more. After such a length of time, I think that what happened in the past should simply stay in the past. It would be awkward to have a court trial persecuting people for actions they did using evidence and hearing from witness' accounts that are well outdated.
I would never, under any circumstance, rat out a true friend. I would rather receive the ultimate punishment than betray my friends and be perceived as a rat. I would, however, have no problem ratting out an enemy.
I don't believe I have ever been a communist, or will ever be one. There are just too many holes in the system of communism, and I don't believe it could ever work in our type of society. People are simply selfish, and focus on mainly themselves rather than their country. The idea of communism would be better suited on a sports team rather than an entire nation.
People of today’s world should not be held accountable for words that they said a long time ago. In America we have this right called freedom of speech. This allows people to say whatever they want and not be afraid of being prosecuted for what they said. Also, people should not be held accountable for their actions, unless those actions are illegal. If the action was illegal during the time it was done they the person may be held accountable. Finally, people should not be held accountable for the friends that they keep. People should be able to associate themselves with whomever they want to and be free of any backlash.
I would not rat out my friends to keep myself from getting into trouble. I think of myself as a lo0yal friend, one who would do the best for their friends no matter what. Also, I wouldn’t want my friends to rat me out so I would follow the golden rule and not rat them out. Finally, had I ratted my friends out they probably wouldn’t be my friends again because nobody likes a tattle tale.
Also, I posted this on Monday and for some reason it deleted itself so I’m a little confused.
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