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[galrudula]

Oh, kickass! Our history curriculum just entered into the McCarthy era! This is the same guy who effectively exiled my grandfather for having been an American diplomat dealing with the Russians during World War II. This is also why my father was born in Germany, but is 100% American

Comments

[johnnybrainwash]

Ooh, tell this story sometime. My grandparents were blacklisted, and my grandfather (who was working in TV in NY) ended up a genuine Bowery bum for some time as a result. My aunt, on the other hand, apparently told off McCarthy in front of the committee (although I've never looked it up to know for sure).

But then, as my friend used to remind me, they were hardly innocent bystanders. Good old fashioned Bolsheviks, they were.

[galrudula]

McCarthy got on Charlie's trail for having dealt with the Soviets during the war, and because he was more rational about what America's policies should be than most documents of the day (most of which supported massive arms races and a reactionary policy of containment, both of which were remarkably ineffective). When McCarthy sent two of his goons to question my grandfather about his "communist leanings", he physically hurled them from the office. He was promptly blacklisted and forced to leave the country for "un-American activities". This is why my dad speaks German while my grandfather speaks Russian, while I ironically speak French.

I did a report, earlier in life, about my family history. Hurling people from our homes or places of work is apparently what all my coolest ancestors did.

[qiihoskeh]

kickass, indeed!