“The worldwide outbreak of revolution against colonialism and imperialism, the entrenchment of totalitarian states, menace of war, overpopulation, international disorder, and super technology” (177) all these things too were contributing factors to the decline of the nation. All of these things shattered our view of the perfect world but we chose to respond to these
They made life miserable for those accused and did not stop, even when they had had their “fun”. The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, draws obvious parallels between the 1950’s Red Scare and the witch-hunts that took place in Salem of 1692. Miller connects the hysteria brought about through accusations thrown around by both Senator McCarthy and Abigail Williams by emphasizing how much power their groups hold over everyone. During the times of the Salem Witch Trials and the Red Scare, fear ruled those unfortunate enough to be involved in nearly any conflict. Be it fear of witchcraft or communism,the fact is that it swept throughout the early and post-industrial United States.
A History of Persecution For millennium humans have been afraid of the unknown and what they do not understand. This fear has led to violence and the perpetration of unspeakable actions in the name of eradicating that fear. During the 1940’s and 50’s the United States was suffering under the fear of communist sabotage and were turning to McCarthyism to root out the traitors. Playwright Arthur Miller saw the unfairness and mad persecutions that were sweeping the nation and satired it all in his play The Crucible which is a retelling of the Salem Witch Trials that took place in Massachusetts in 1692. Miller used the play to represent injustices that were going on at the time such as accusations that had no substantial evidence, an unfair assumption that the accused was guilty until proven innocent, and the tendency of Senator McCarthy to retaliate against any criticism against him an accusation of being a communist sympathizer.
Americans know “racial profiling is both morally wrong and ineffective”, but they rather be safe than sorry (Chavez 563). Americans only get the idea that all middle easterners are terrorists because media has taken the role of portraying them in such a way to plants terror in Americans (Spurlock). People have gotten to the point of people being “singled out” because of looking certain way or because people around them feel uncomfortable (Chavez 569).
While the scare is over terrorism rather than communism, the principle is the same. Out of this terror, paranoia, fear, and general discomfort, historians tend to draw a more positive light to shine through the darkness of the age. The terrorist attack on the twin towers on September 11th was one spark that started the fire against terrorism. People, primarily men of Middle Eastern descent are the new subjects of discrimination - in the eyes of the fear-ridden American they are possible terrorist threats. The country, just like in the 1950’s – nearly 60 years prior was, and is sold on fear.
Long after the years where they had to fight for their land and their freedom (by the way, at the expense of the American Indians), they seem to have become completely paranoid. The September 11, 2001 tragedy did not help to invert that trend. So why is that so? The answer that Michael Moore is presenting in "Bowling for Columbine” is that Americans are being controlled by fears, oh, not their own, but fears actually instilled by repetitive and diverse media coverage. According to him, the constant spreading of fears of just about anything and anyone is benefiting some large corporations as well as the authorities in place.
Cruel Times. The Holocaust was a terrible and horrific time for all people under the rule of Adolf Hitler. Hitler played a lead role in the Holocaust and the laws, which he passed, were extremely cruel and harsh towards the Jews and minorities. If that was not enough later laws were enacted dictating instructions for the complete extermination of the Jewish race. The Nazis were so unforgiving and cruel in their ways that Jews and Minorities had to find new ways of living without becoming known to the Nazis and the German public.
He also makes it seem like everything is crumbling around Paul, and destroying all hope of survival and return to normal life for anyone who had experienced the front line. This is very different from pro-war poetry, which makes war seem fun. Something Remarque does either subconsciously or very well, is to make you feel sorry for the German and Central Powers’ soldiers, and to grow a subliminal hate for the allied soldiers, no matter who’s side you came in on. The Textbook also does this well, but in reverse. The Textbook gives off a sense of dislike towards the Central Powers, and made them seem primitive and destructive for no reason.
The narrator is not afraid to speak his mind throughout the book by leaving a trail of witty or sarcastic remarks and even says, “It kills me sometimes, the way people die” (464). This quote can not be taken literally, but it can be taken to heart if the readers are not a fan or the narrator. Another example of New Historicism is when the book changes culture. Normally, in Germany from 1939-1942, the culture is to hate the Jewish religion and all who believe in it. The narrator says, “The Germans in basements were pitiable,
7 December 2010 Illegal Immigration: The Silent Invasion Over the past decade or so I have noticed the growing concern about the non-citizens coming in and going out of our country. Indeed, after the horrific events that transpired on September 11, 2001 it seems to me that tracking immigrants is of paramount importance to our national security. With that in mind, I find it more and more disturbing that many Americans do not have the intestinal fortitude to call illegal immigrants what they truly are: criminals. I constantly hear the quaint euphemisms attached to illegals being bandied about on news broadcasts. I have heard it said too many times that they aren’t “illegal”…they are simply “undocumented”.