Censorship Goes Way Back
Graphics by Emma Novy
Over these past few weeks since the death of Charlie Kirk, the US has become introduced to a new wave of censorship across the media. As most know at this point, around two weeks ago Jimmy Kimmel was taken off the air after he made comments regarding President Trump's and MAGA’s reaction to the death of Kirk. The internet was flooded with angry social media users, calling the Kimmels taking off the air blatant censorship. But, Kimmel was only the most popular to be targeted, numerous others have also become victims.
Karen Attiah, a Washington Post Opinion writer, was fired after she made social media posts about the assasination of Kirk. It's ironic for an opinion writer to be fired after giving her opinion, confusing. This censorship not only infests the online sphere but extends into the real world, where hundreds of people have been fired or suspended from their jobs after they were reported for making comments about Kirk. It seems we have entered into a new era, the Blue Scare.
The Blue Scare is a term coined by Corey Robin, an American political theorist and journalist, essentially saying that we are entering an era of political persecution. But the US has been through this before, twice in fact, going through two scares named: The Red Scare and The Lavender Scare.
These two scares are staples of US history. Focusing on the Red Scare, it started in 1919-1920, but revived in the 1940s-1950s. It was a time where neighbors, friends or colleagues turned on each other if suspicion arose that they were possibly a communist. Most people turned on each other out of fear or paranoia, but there was also the aspect of political pressure to help keep your country safe. This age of paranoia did not fall short of Hollywood, in 1947 a group called the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) began to investigate possible communism within the film industry. Multiple writers, directors, and actors were questioned of their affiliation to the communist party, most refused to testify. After the trials, many were blacklisted from the film industry and the even association with these possible communists could end whole careers.
When thinking about the Red Scare and the now discussed Blue Scare, they seem eerily similar. There have been multiple instances since the Kirk assaination of people making jokes to their work colleagues, only to be met with a resignation letter when entering work the next day. These similarities follow the saying “history repeats itself”, but history manifests itself in different ways. In this case, these people are not communists and are not by any means breaking the law. They are simply people with opinions and free speech. Kimmel is allowed to use his show's platform to discuss news events, and apply commentary. Attiah is allowed to use her personal social media and display her opinion. The hundreds of people who are silenced for their comments are exhibiting free speech.