The First Red Scare

We all know about the red scare of the 40s and 50s, with McCarthyism and the Cold War and all that. But what about the Red Scare of 1919 - 1920 in which there were many bombings, riots, deportations, protests, strikes, and the like. In some ways, I'd say this red scare was much more rational than the later one, because there was actually something to be scared of. There was a very real possibility of some sort of communist or anarchist revolution in the states at the time (however small the revolution would have been). Even Attorney General Mitchell A Palmer's house was bombed, along with several other senators and supreme court justices. So, this red scare seems to be to have been more serious than the later one, and its a shame its so forgotten. I also find it interesting that during this period, communism was seen as a domestic threat, whereas after this it began to be seen more as a foreign threat.

First Red Scare Wikipedia Article

This was before we actually had a reason to fear communism.

I disagree. For the 2nd Red Scare in the 50's, we know that there were plenty of Soviet spies that had infliltrated the U.S.. So to say that it the fears were completely irrational is simply not true.

I didn't say they were completely irrational. However, during the second Red Scare, we persecuted and arrested hundreds for being suspected spies (and we have proven most of them weren't). Whereas, in the 1st Red Scare they were arresting suspected subversives and even found such things as bomb making facilities in their basements.

As I said, we may have had more of a reason during this. Bombs, general strikes, riots, arson, shooting, etc. And all of that planned and carried out by anarchists.

Fearing reds isn't stupid or irrational. But rooting them out and silencing them was wrong and against the (I don't want to sound corny, but its true) beautiful principles US has been build on..

I agree. But I think the Red Scare was often, not all the time, but often, very irrational. There wasn't much to fear.

I agree partly, like the time in first red scare, there was US troops on the streets on Mayday because FBI feared a open communist rebellion, that was irrational

God, the red scare was dumb. You know people actually campaigned to have the tale of Robin Hood banned because they felt it was communistic? Fucking retards.

As I recall that particular incident was a source of great hilarity in the UK. Since, you know, we're civilised people and don't do stupid things like that.

Persecuting someone for their ideology is hardly any better than persecuting them for their race, ethnicity, religion, or otherwise.

But if they threaten the stability of a country, and the safety of its citizens, then in my opinion there is nothing wrong with arresting them.

Well ya. If they're setting off bombs it's a lot different than them simply being Communists.

So I'm guessing Robin hood is Kali's least favorite story ever.

This doesn't make sense Robin hood doesn't where a red costume. Now little red riding hood.

But the majority of those arrested were arrested at rallies and for criticizing the government. If this was still the Red Scare, everyone involved with Occupy Wallstreet would have been arrested as Soviet spies.

I'm not saying all the arrests were justified, just the ones where there was sufficient proof.

Well yeah, of course. The same way that some of the officers under Stalin's regime were justifiable to be purged, but in both cases, the majority were not.

What I think is funny is that in the red scare Americans were braking the democratic principles of the founders that they hold so high.
But it is also sad that people that were innocent was forced into prisons and sometimes death.
Yet what is the saddest of all is during the 2nd red scare Charlie Chaplin got branded as a threat against the state, partly because of this scene:

How fucking retarded must one be to see him as evil?
In short, every purge of ideologies in history has been retarded even if those ideologies are undemocratic.