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| Special Message to the Congress on the Internal Security of the United States, August 8, 1950 Harry S. Truman |
“Once a government is committed
to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition,
it has only one way to go,
and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures,
until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens
and creates a country where everyone lives in fear."
In 1945 Vice-President Truman stepped into the limelight at a most difficult time. An extremely popular president, Franklin Roosevelt, had served the country well for twelve years; culminating in leading us victoriously through a terrible second world war...he died a few months after beginning a fourth term.
His successor, Truman, had a big hill to climb; when he finished the term and ran for election the pundits even published newspapers prior to the election results with the headlines "Dewey Defeats Truman". Now, THAT was a wow moment.
Harry S. Truman was a man of the people, an uncomplicated, honest, straight-talking man who, for the most part, was instantly liked and trusted once people had an opportunity to see him, hear him, and shake his hand.
Okay, it's history 'way back when' but the transcripts of his press conferences reveal a 'humaneness' that seems out of character in some leaders.
When he addressed the Congress in August 1950, we were involved in the Korean conflict, Joseph McCarthy was on a witch-hunt...in other words, there seemed to be more unrest than the country needed or wanted.
And...there was censorship...aah, yes...we had it even then!
In that particular Congressional address, President Truman hit the nail-on-the-head.
Silencing the opposition was mentioned in President Truman's address...he was speaking about government. These days that statement is obviously relevant.
In 1945 Vice-President Truman stepped into the limelight at a most difficult time. An extremely popular president, Franklin Roosevelt, had served the country well for twelve years; culminating in leading us victoriously through a terrible second world war...he died a few months after beginning a fourth term.
His successor, Truman, had a big hill to climb; when he finished the term and ran for election the pundits even published newspapers prior to the election results with the headlines "Dewey Defeats Truman". Now, THAT was a wow moment.
Harry S. Truman was a man of the people, an uncomplicated, honest, straight-talking man who, for the most part, was instantly liked and trusted once people had an opportunity to see him, hear him, and shake his hand.
Okay, it's history 'way back when' but the transcripts of his press conferences reveal a 'humaneness' that seems out of character in some leaders.
When he addressed the Congress in August 1950, we were involved in the Korean conflict, Joseph McCarthy was on a witch-hunt...in other words, there seemed to be more unrest than the country needed or wanted.
And...there was censorship...aah, yes...we had it even then!
In that particular Congressional address, President Truman hit the nail-on-the-head.
A week ago I wrote and posted 'Open Books...Open Minds'...making a statement that our country...the USA...has no censorship.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that here in the Land of the Free...we do, in fact, have censorship in a variety of forms...government, religious, media, schools...you name it?
It's here...it's there...it's everywhere...and you know what?
It's been around for a very, very long time.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that here in the Land of the Free...we do, in fact, have censorship in a variety of forms...government, religious, media, schools...you name it?
It's here...it's there...it's everywhere...and you know what?
It's been around for a very, very long time.
'Censorship'...
derived from the Latin, censere
"to give as one's opinion, to assess."
From my heart...to yours,
Vasca
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