Charles M. Aulino

The use of fear to achieve political ends has gained momentum since that morning in September 2001 when America’s self-image and sense of security were shattered. It was fear of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction that enabled the most recent President Bush to coerce the legislative branch of our government into support for a war that will be recognized as one of the worst blunders of international diplomacy in our nation’s history.

Former Vice President Cheney expounds on the effectiveness of torture to get information out of terrorists, warning that America is less safe since he and the administration he served left office. It is as if he is hoping for another tragedy just to prove his point.

The use of fear to manipulate public opinion and attitudes is a time-honored, if regrettable, tradition in politics. On Lincoln’s birthday in 1950, two ambitious politicians provoked fear to build political capital. One was then-Congressman Richard Nixon, who spoke about secret forces conspiring to impose the slavery of communism on America. The other was Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who claimed to have a list of 205 communists working in the Truman administration. Then as now, the ground was fertile and ready to nurture the seeds of fear. In less than one year beginning in August 1949, the Soviet Union detonated a nuclear weapon, Mao Tse-Tung solidified communist control over mainland China, and the U.S. Army, sent to Korea to defend against an attack, was nearly driven off the peninsula by communist forces from the north. Then as now, fear was power and those who were willing to use it became powerful.

At least now, some in the press and in private conversation are condemning the ranting of Cheney and his ilk. But it was so bad in the 1950s that citizens from all walks of life were afraid even to think of questioning the actions of Nixon and McCarthy. To be labeled a communist in America in 1950 was to become an outcast from society. One of very few who showed the courage to decry the use of fear for political gain was Sen. Margaret Chase Smith. Her speech before the Senate on June 1, 1950, entitled “A Declaration of Conscience” is as meaningful today as it was 59 years ago. Smith expressed regret that the Senate was being transformed into a forum of character assassination – all the more reprehensible because of the congressional immunity afforded the perpetrators. She reminded her colleagues that our Constitution prescribes trial by jury, not by accusation. Then she listed her “Principles of Americanism”: to criticize, hold unpopular beliefs, protest and have independent thought. Finally Smith asserted that no American should ever suffer the loss of reputation or livelihood for the exercise of those rights.

Smith’s actions were not popular with many of her Republican colleagues, who were willing to tolerate McCarthyism in order to obstruct the Democrats’ plans. How interesting to observe the courage of Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan M. Collins, who like Smith are both women and both from Maine. They are the only two Republican Senators to support the Economic Stimulus plan of the Obama administration. “It must be Maine” that inspires courage in the face of fear.

Our country survived the threat of communism and will survive the threat of terrorism but not through the use of fear to justify inhuman actions. We must return to our principles of courage, renew and intensify vigilance and, above all, treat every human with the dignity to which she or he is entitled. It’s a good thing that Margaret Chase Smith has successors who have the courage to champion the effort.