Dear Editor,
I recently had the pleasure of watching the film Good Night and Good Luck.
For those who are not aware, the film is about CBS News anchorman Edward R. Murrow’s battle to bring down Sen. Joseph McCarthy, the fear-inducing communist hater who defined 1950’s politics.
Sitting in my theater chair, I marveled at the similarities between Sen. McCarthy’s actions and those of our current administration. Simply replace the word communist with terrorist and prepare to be amazed.
I then read your article concerning the federal investigation of Mrs. Laura Berg’s letter about the president’s delayed reaction in response to the Katrina disaster, and the association was cemented. President Bush’s administration uses fear, hearsay and illegal means (wiretapping anyone?) to silence dissent.
All of this, of course, is done under the title of “Patriotism.”
Take this quote from the film condemning McCarthy’s anti-communist regime, “We must not confuse dissent from disloyalty.
“We must remember always, that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends on evidence and due process of law.
“If we dig deep into our history and our doctrine, we will remember that we are not descended from fearful men. Not from men who dared to write, to speak, to associate and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular.”
Is history repeating itself? Oh, I think it is indeed.
When the government denies its citizens their guaranteed rights, we must speak out. We must not be silent.
It is out patriotic duty to question authority, as our forefathers did. What could be more American that dissent?
How can a government proclaim to spread democracy throughout the world, yet deny it at home?
I did not intend to go Bush bashing (I actually am Republican).
I simply wanted to tell everyone about a great film.
So please, see Good Night and Good Luck.
Jared Moffett

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