to do with defining it. McCarthy actually gave substance to all those strange, scary terms used during this time like un-American. He saw his opportunity to take a country over and thats exactly what he did for a few years. Stephen Whitfield then attempts to describe exactly what these abstract ideologies were that kept our culture pumping during this era. Whitfield asserts that it was our concept of Americanism which supposedly stood for everything else against communism. Everything that conservatives feel made up the perfect, Levit town faade of 1950s America is what the patriots like McCarthy were against. The problem that occurred was that many realized that we mimicked Russia herself on certain issues that could be regarded as socialist like the new deal programs. Whitfield feels that one of the most profound aspects of our culture during this time, because of issues like this, is our unquestionable acceptance of authority while they were out chasing the ideals that would save us. Those looking out for us like Joe McCarthy were seen as heroes. Those who wouldnt jump blindly into a situation without thinking about the consequences were weak. This is what happened to Truman when he fired MacArthur for insubordination. MacArthur who was wrong came out on top and Truman who was right looked like the loser because of the ideals of this time. MacArthur just wanted to go and take over the world and not even consider how badly we could attack. Truman stopped him and it appeared as cowardice in the face of the red behemoth. This boundless bravado attitude that everyone was supposed to inhibit at this time like MacArthur did was overall for one general purpose. To aid in the amazing prosperity of this era. The economy was booming and so was the Ozzie and Harriet lifestyle, according to Whitfield. This perfect family ideal is what the FBI and the justice department were going crazy to uphold because those barbaric Russians didnt behave like t...
