8.2.5 Rights of Citizenship

One of the issues explored in the course is whether or not following a particular ideology closes a person's mind to new and different ideas, or does it provide a sense of belonging and a direction for society?

Consider the t-shirt in the photo. The people in this photo are members of the "Tea Party"-a right wing movement that protests, among other things, the leadership of their president Democrat Barack Obama. How is this protest related to ideology? Is it a form of citizenship?

When we think about extremism, we often think of religious fundamentalism, fascism, and communism. Is it possible to be extremely committed to liberal democracy to the point of fanaticism? You may have noticed a political perspective on some U.S. news channels that is polarized to the far right. On these channels, news anchors, reporters, and commentators frequently criticize politicians and government policies in ideological terms that may differ wildly from your own understanding of what those words mean. To judge the relevancy and accuracy of these statements, compare them to your understanding of the ideological spectrum learned in the course.

People on both the right and the left of the political spectrum have spoken out against government actions with which they disagree. That is a freedom provided in a liberal democracy - the right to dissent. Should the government ever have a right to limit freedom of expression or speech?

In Unit Four, you read about the Cold War, a time in which many North Americans were extremely concerned about the growth of communism, sometimes referred to as the "red scare". Senator Joe McCarthy of the United States chaired the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, a subcommittee of what is now called the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

From the late 1940s to the late 1950s McCarthy accused thousands of US citizens of of being communist sympathizers. These people-often writers, artists, entertainment industry celebrities, teachers, or union organizers-were investigated aggressively by government committees such as the House Un-American Activities Committee. Many lost their jobs and had their careers destroyed; others were imprisoned. It caused fear and division within the United States and limited freedom of expression because people feared they could be jailed or fired for speaking their minds.  These actions were illiberal, as they violated the rights of many Americans in order to eliminate any perceived communist threat.

To enlarge the image, click the link below the April 1949 Washington Post cartoon entitled "You read books, eh?" During McCarthy's time, hundreds of elementary and high school teachers were investigated and lost their jobs, sometimes as a result of being named by vindictive individuals or groups with their own agendas. Was this illiberal action justified?

The term McCarthyism has come to refer to making reckless accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without regard for evidence as well as making personal attacks on the character or patriotism of those with whom the accuser does not agree. McCarthyism was a product of the anti-communist fears of the era, based on unsubstantiated rumours and intense adherence to a particular ideology.

Larger Historical cartoon