There's a book on BARD called An American Family. I forget the name of the
journalist who wrote it, but it's about his father and mother who were
Communists in the thirties, and what happened to them during the cold war
years. What was happening was a response from the establishment to blot out
any possibility of interest in, or sympathy for, the Soviet Union and the
countries which were aligned with it. The US had attained domination after the
second world war and wanted to ensure that it stayed dominant and that
capitalism did too.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Monday, March 2, 2020 12:39 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: new podcast
Those were ugly times. I remember the FBI nosing around our house.
They drove up in a black sedan and parked in front of the neighbor's house.
Then they both clambered out and slowly looked around, finally coming to our
door. I answered the knock, and they asked to speak with Clyde Jarvis. It was
about 3:30 PM. and I told them that my dad was at work...which I'm certain they
already knew. I believe it was all part of intimidation. Dad was called into
his bosses office around that same time. "I wanted to let you know I've
received several calls regarding your past involvement in the Communist Party.
I just want you to know that I highly value your work, and I have no intention
of being bullied by gossip."
Not all my dad's friends were so fortunate. Several public employees were
fired, even though they'd not been a "card carrying member" for years. And
before Harry Truman made membership to be illegal, the American Communist Party
was a legitimate political party. Looking back at the small numbers of
members, the Communist Party was never a threat to our Ruling Class. I believe
the fear mongering was just another tool by the Ruling Class to keep the
Working Class divided and fighting among themselves. During those days I was
called Pinko, and some of my classmates went about bragging that they were 200
percent American. "I'd rather be dead than Red", and "Love it or leave it"
were chanted.
Were those the Great Days that Donald Trump wants America to return to?
Carl Jarvis
On 2/26/20, miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Back in those good old days, people lost their livelihoods if they
didn't sign those pledges and they were blacklisted, sometimes,
without any pledges. That was when my wonderful high school math
teacher lost a secure, city civil service job because of what he'd
believed 25 or 30 years previously. After I was in college and needed
math tutoring for some course or other, we found that teacher and had
him come to give me a bit of paid extra help. What I remember most is
how he had changed from the serious, kind high school teacher I'd
known. He seemed angry and cold and beaten down.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 7:27 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: new podcast
We're back to those rolicking good old days, when government employees
and teachers were offered the opportunity to sign pledges stating that
they were not now, nor had ever been members of the Communist Party.
My uncle, a professor at Oregon State U. was handed a packet along
with his Pledge of Loyalty, that asked him to identify his activities
on behalf of the state of Oregon and the city of Corvallis. I
remember my dad asking him, "Do all the business owners in town have
to fill out this questionnaire?" My uncle was shocked by the idea of
the City Fathers needing to do such a thing.
And we thought that, just as we now think, that we live in the "Land
of the Free and the Home of the Brave".
And yet, as coarse and crude as our "leaders" were back then, I don't
recall a single 6 year old being handcuffed and dragged down her
school hall to be slammed into a Police Car and locked up in the
Juvenile Center. Nor did we lock children in cages. Not back then in the
"good old days". No Siree!
Carl Jarvis
On 2/26/20, miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I just discovered that Mint Press has a podcast called, mintcast. It
was impossible for me to access it from the website, although it's
there. But I can get it on my Stream. There appear to be 10 episodes,
according to my stream. The latest one is an interview with Abby
Martin, the documentary maker, about how she and CARE are suing the
University of Georgia for requiring her to sign a pledge not to
participated in the BDS movement before they would allow her to give
a scheduled talk about an entirely unrelated subject at the university.
Miriam
