Good Night, and Good Luck
Good Night, and Good Luck (Op-Ed)
Wendy Glavin, Founder & CEO, Wendy Glavin Agency
Saturday night, while watching Trump's "Fake News" press attacks, I'm reminded of the 2005 movie, "Good Night, and Good Luck," a powerful illustration of our Constitutional rights regarding freedom of the press.
The movie portrays Senator Joseph McCarthy's campaign to root out communists in America. During the McCarthy era, thousands of Americans were accused of being communist or communist sympathizers and became the subject of investigations.Most notable were the Hollywood blacklist and various anti-communists activities of the FBI, under Director J. Edgar Hoover. McCarthyism affected all levels of society and thousands of people lots their jobs. As you watch President Trump, ask yourself, are we reliving these times?At the time, CBS corporate sponsors wanted CBS News director, Edward R. Murrow, supported by producer, Fred Friendly and the CBS team, to desist their efforts to expose the senator's lies. Edward R. Murrow continued to advocate for truth in his powerful on-air report, frighteningly reminiscent of today:“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason.If we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to associate, to speak and defend the causes that for the moment were unpopular.This is no time for men who oppose Senator McCarthy’s methods to keep silent or for those who approve. We can deny our heritage and our history but we cannot escape responsibility for the results. We proclaim ourselves indeed, as we are the defenders of freedom wherever it continues to exist in the world. But, we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.The actions of the junior Senator from Wisconsin have caused alarm and dismay among our allies abroad and given considerable comfort to our enemies. And whose fault is that? Not really his. He didn’t create this situation of fear. He merely exploited it and rather successfully.Cassius was right. ‘The fault, dear Brutus is not in our stars, but in ourselves.' Good night, and Good luck." About the Author: Wendy Glavin is Founder and CEO of Wendy Glavin Agency. Wendy is a 20-year veteran of corporate, agency, consulting and small business ownership. From General Electric to Burson-Marsteller, and other B2B2C firms, Wendy’s experience spans a variety of industry sectors. Wendy is a published writer and guest speaker. Please contact Wendy at wendy@wendyglavin.com or through https://wendyglavin.com/.
