WHEN FEAR TAKES OVER…

“Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.” -- J.K. Rowling

When Fear Takes Over

Back in the 1940's and 1950's.., just as the Cold War was heating up… There was fear, building up in the US of Communist infiltration -- a hysteria, really. Known as the "Red Scare" or plain old "McCarthyism.., it was fear mongering, at it's best.

A special investigative committee, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), was a branch of the House of Representatives. Thousands of Americans were accused of being communists or communist sympathizers.., there careers and lives destroyed, some even jailed… And with no real evidence, at all. Just the accusation of being a communist was enough.

And to think, 100 years earlier.., the same kind of fear mongering was going on that targeted immigrants and -- catholics. Yes, The Know-Nothing Party also known as The American Party was under the impression, that Catholicism was root of all the problems of the time. By instilling the fear that immigrants were a threat to your way of life and catholics were a threat to your religion.

Fear mongering has a long and unabashed history.., often resulting in violence and completely irrational behavior… This was never more prevalent, then in Hollywood in the 1940's and 1950's… Known as the Hollywood Blacklist, it began in 1947 -- when a group of 10 Hollywood writers and directors refused to testify to the House Un-American Committee.., for suspicion of being communist sympathizers…



They were fired from their jobs and put on, what would become known as the -- Hollywood Blacklist… As the list grew, many of Hollywoods leading actors of the time were called in front to the HUAC to answer questions.., and deny accusations.

Fearing their careers would be ruined, their livelihood taken away.., everything they worked so hard to achieve, destroyed -- they would submit and come before the committee. Even actors like Humphrey Bogart feared the outcome of such accusations -- just for speaking out against the tactics of the HUAC -- he penned an article titled "Im No Communist" in a 1948 issue of Photoplay magazine.

Born from a list of names published in the Hollywood Reporter in 1946, naming certain Hollywood types, as communist sympathizers, by a man motivated by personal revenge… It grew into a committee that would bully, threaten and punish American citizens for trying to protect the freedom of speech, fight off censorship and defend liberty.

Once again.., all Bogie and bunch of other Hollywood actors were trying to do -- was stand up for American liberties… The right to free speech and defending the bill of rights. They were American citizens that felt a threat to their liberty. And just by voicing that threat.., the were labeled communist sympathizers. And just like that… He went from Bogart the Capitalist to Bogart the Communist.

Other Hollywood types.., the most famous of the time, were also quick to deny any connection or sympathy for the communist party were Lucille Ball and Desi Arnz. The fear of the repercussions.., just for having your named mentioned by the HUAC was so great -- Desi Arnaz opened a live filming of their show by stating -- “The only thing red about Lucy is her hair, and even that’s not legitimate.”

Charlie Chaplin was labeled "A Red" and was targeted by none other than the head of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover. Hoover would feed personal details of Chaplins life to famed Hollywood gossip reporter Hedda Hopper, in order to sway the publics opinion of the lovable Chaplin. In 1952 Charlie Chaplin was barred from re-entering the United States until he would submit to to an interview about his political views.

Actors and other progressive thinking people fled to Mexico and Europe... Mr. Chaplin would settle in Switzerland, to live out his life… In their (the HUAV) effort to instill fear -- they would destroy many careers and lives along the way. The fear was so great.., that many just fled. Never producing any evidence, that any of these people had any ties to the communist party.., or any lawful justification for the tactics they used… It was fear run amok!

When Fear Takes Over…

Fear mongering is a very real thing.., used as a tool of control. It's effectiveness has been proven throughout history -- and even in our present political dialogue. We here in America, and I would suspect most around the world, just witnessed a whole presidential campaign based on fear mongering… And they won!

That's what can happen.., when fear takes over.

The fear is for real, too. The chemicals created when you get scared and fearful, are real. The adrenalin released is real. It changes the way you act.., your behavior. It can and will make you do things against your better judgement -- because you're in fear. Fear of what… Whatever it is, they want you to be fearful of…

We are, as a people -- being bombarded with fear and fear mongering, at it's finest, by all sides (they know it works). And it can be used, to attack your liberty. Any government, group, or person using fear to impose their will -- is a bully. Fear in itself, is not a bad thing… It signals to the brain something is wrong, sometimes keeping you safe. But when you let fear takeover.., people do stupid shit!

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