Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1981. július-december (35. évfolyam, 27-50. szám)
1981-10-15 / 39. szám
AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZÓ Thursday, Oct. 15. 1981. 2. I PRESS DIGEST NAMING NAMES The lengthy examination, NAMING NAMES reflects Victor Navasky’s concern about the use of anti-communist informers. The book focuses on the investigation by the House Committee on Un-American Activities from 1947 to 1954 of alleged Communists in Hollywood. Navasky explores the reasons, circumstances and consequences that damaged or destroyed lives of a great number of people. For background material, the informer is defined as “...someone who betrays a comrade, a fellow member of a movement, a colleague, or a friend to the authorities.” Then, Navasky continues to explain the term in three categories: There are three types of informers for three types of cases- espionage, conspiracy and the general liberal informer. Espionage case informers were used in the trials of Alger Hiss, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. The conspiracy case informers operated against the Communist Party (Smith Act Trial,).Liberal informers included James Wechsler, former editor of the New York Post, members of the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans for Democratic Action, and the American Committee for Cultural Freedom who testified or cooperated with the Congressional investigating committee. The classification was central to the author’s intended purpose. The informers testified for the investigating committee. In 1947, Hollywood’s most talented writers, the “Hollywood Ten”, many of whom were Communists, refused to cooperate with HUAC (House Committee on Un-American Activities). They were charged with contempt of Congress and sentenced in 1949 to prison. The Committee hearings reopened in 1951. Persons from all branches of the movie industry were called to give names of Communists, ex-Communists, or suspected “communists”. The double standard for Afro-Americans was sustained during the proceedings. HUAC’s main target was Paul Robeson. Black artists and others were summoned to denounce Robeson as a “Communist”. The American Business Consultant, Aware, Inc. Catholic War Veterans, the American Legion, Red Channels, American Jewish Committee, the media were among the groups that collaborated and enforced blacklisting. The harassment of families, friends, and associates of uncooperative witnesses was the pattern that continued for years. Navasky’s concern is valid regarding the number of Hollywood people that named names. However, considering the pervasive opportunism of Hollywood which pursues “popularity“ and the dollar without regard to principle, it is perhaps not surprising. Between 1938 and 1954, more than 35 Hollywood films glorified the anti-communist stool-pigeon. Politics in its crudest form was mixed with culture. With some exceptions, the film industry has created movies unrelated to social reality. It distorts moral and social values. The book reveals that many of the informers felt no guih for the crimes they committed. A cultural world with untalented and insensitive writers. Navasky states, “The social costs of what came to be called McCarthyism have yet to be computed . By conferring its prestige on the red hunt, the state did more than bring misery to the lives of hundreds of thousands of Communists, former Communists, fellow travelers and unlucky liberals. It weakened American culture and it weakened itself.” Then the author goes on to say, “Unlike the Palmer Raids of the early 1920’s which were violent hit-and-run affairs that had no long term effect, the vigilante spi- ' rit McCarthy represents still hves on...” I It would be a misinterpretation of American his- i tory not to recognize the continuing suppression of left and socialist thought, since the early part of this centúry. In addition to the Palmer Raids, there were a series of crises during the 1920’s, resulting from people’s dissatisfaction with conditions in American life. These inevitable clashes were assumed to be inspired by or the work of Communists. The “red scare” of the early 20’s'continued as a policy against opponents of the system. Anticommunism became institutionalized. By 1951, television (invented in 1925) transmitted the “red menace” into every home during the McCarthy hearings. It carried the message that said not only were Communists vulnerable but the everyday Ame- can family could be sought out and destroyed if it dared to think and speak out. Navasky, editor of the publication “The Nation” is a liberal with obvious anti-communist and anti- Soviet opinions. He hammers away at thb political ineptness of the Communist Party, USA. The use of jargon and innuendo give evidence of his prejudices. He says that the “...CPUSA was a relatively ineffectual organization - officially fighting against rasicsm, fascism and the depression...‘Russian-style communism’ will be a lasting failure in the U.S....” His chants are those heard from the “New Left” which present a danger to the unity of a broad “Left” coalition in this country. It has harmed the interest of the American people. The author is short-sighted regarding the historic political repression in the United States. Because of this condition, there has been no viable “Left Movement”. Navasky restrains his criticism of liberal informers. He labels them as “reluctant informers”, “unfriendly informers”, “the unlucky ones”. This refers in particular to James Wechsler who in no uncertain terms was a collaborator. Wechsler welcomed the invitation to testify and considered his role as a liberal to be most effective in opposing Communism. The untenable position of liberals is put into perspective. Contempt for Communists, false allegations, and their indecisiveness strengthened the fascist-like terror of the period. More serious was the fact that the legal profession “buried its head in the sand” by refusing the request for legal counsel by Communists and allegedly guilty persons. The book is repetitious as Navasky labors his informer investigation. NAMING NAMES contends that the ineffectiveness of the Communist Party was such that it did not present a danger and thus there was no basis for the HUAC investigation. This is a twist which weakens any political impact the book may have. Norma Rogers Sec’y Hugo Gellert Committee ‘We have not forgotten how to fight* Here are excerpts from speeches at the Sept. 19. Solidarity Day protest march: * Lane Kirkland, president, AFL-CIO: “We have come too far, struggled too long, sacrificed too much, and have too much left to do, to allow all that we have achieved for the good of all to be swept away without a fight. And we have not forgotten how to fight.” * Jacob Clayman, president, National Council of Senior Citizens ’ “This is the first time since the Social Security Act was approved 46 years ago that any President has called for Social Security cuts to those already receiving benefits. For shame!” * Joyce Miller, president, Coalition of Labor Union Women: “We cannot be proud of a nation that j steals from the lunch trays of schoolchildren. We I cannot be proud of a Congress that chisels the poor, the handicapped and the old.” * Sam Church, Jr., president, United Mine Workers Union* “We didn’t choose this battle, itwas thrust upon us. Thrust upon us by President Reagan.” Let us learn Hungarian Hotel. Lodgings 1. Hotel Is it a fronI room or a back one? It’s a room on the /irst floor. Is there running hot water in the room? Can I telephone from my room? What's the price of this room for a day? That’s rather expensive for me. Perhaps you have a less expensive [smaller] room? 7 his room doesn’t suit me. Have you no other room to give me? Ml right, I’ll take this room. I shall stay for one night only. I expect to slay for a week. I shall be staying about a week [month]. Would you mind writing your name and address? Will you fill up this form, please? Surname Christian (First) name Nationality Occupation Permanent address Where born Date of birth Signature Szálloda. Lakás 1. Szálloda Utcai (uccai) szoba vagy udvari? Első emeleti szoba. Van meleg víz a szobában 7 Telefonálhatok a szobámból? Mi az ára ennek a szobának egy napra? Ez nekem nagyon drága. Talán van olcsóbb [kisebb] szobájuk? Ez a szoba nem felel meg nekem. Nem tudna egy másik szobát adni nekem? Rendben van, ezt a szobát fogom kivenni. Csak egy éjszakára szállók meg. Előreláthatólag egy hétig maradok. Körülbelül egy hétig [hónapig] maradok. Lenne szíves felírni a nevét és a elmét? Legyen szíves, töltse (tüicse) ki ezt a kérdőívet I Családi neve Keresztneve (Utóneve) Állampolgársága Foglalkozása Állandó lakcíme Születési helye Születési éve, hónapja, napja Aláírás AMERIKAI V MAGYAR SZQ USPS 023-980 ISSN 0194-7990 Published weekly, exc. last week in July and 1st 2 weeks in August by Hungarian Word Inc. Inc. 130 E 16 St. New York. N.Y. 10003. Ent. as 2nd Class Matter, Dec. 31. 1952 under the Act of March. 2L 1879,at the P.O.of New York, N.Y. Szerkeszti a Szerkesztő Bizottság Előfizetési árak New Yorkban, az Egyesült Államokban egy e'vre $ 18.- félévre $ 10.- Kanadaban és minden más külföldi országban egy évre $ 20.- félévre $ 12.- Postnjastert Send address changes to Hungarian Word, Inc. 130 E 16 St. New York, N;Y. 10003.
