Will History Repeat Itself Again?
I believe the saying is if we don't learn from history it will repeat itself. I went to a movie over the weekend - "News of the World" starring Tom Hanks.* The movie takes place in 1870, which was relatively early in the Reconstruction period following the Civil War, and the location of the events is the state of Texas. Early scenes show soldiers, Yankees or Blue Bellies as they were called, stopping Texans and demanding they produce a piece of paper - a signed loyalty oath. The requirement of Loyalty Oaths was ostensibly done in the name of promoting unity - reuniting the country after a bitter war. But it really was an effort by some in Washington to humiliate their opponents in the War - Southerners - while often promoting their own self-interest.** During the late 1940's and early 1950's we saw the hunt for Communists across the country. History shows there were Communist spies in many governments around the world and also Communist sympathizers i...