I was in my first semester at Marshall when Senator Joe McCarthy was destroying a great many citizens with his commie conspiracy. He began by saying, "I have a list here – no one actually got to look at it – of 205 individuals working in the State Department who are Communists!"

He also said that the U.S. Army was infiltrated with commies.

I also was taking a class in political science and we were required to read several books and write a paper on the subject of "The Red Menace." 

My problem was that I heard McCarthy believed if anyone showed the slightest interest in that bunch, he or she would be on his hit list. Being a commie back in those days was not taken lightly. 

Let's face it. There were at least three solid opinions about communism. Our government said it threatened freedom, democracy and capitalism. Most of the students I knew back then thought, "No big deal. The elected folks were really worried about the threat to their wallets." 

We college kids were mostly still scared after our atom bomb destroyed Japan and our fear was that Russia would blow us off the map. The third possibility came from the church ... at least from my Sunday school taught by good old Charlie Brown, a deacon and not related to the comic book, Snoopy or Peanuts. Mr. Brown showed us, very biblically, that Jesus taught socialism, which a lot of people related to communism. 

Now hang on here! Jesus almost always condemned the wealthy. It wasn't easy for the rich folks to get into heaven because all they wanted was money. Check out Matthew 19:16-22. Jesus taught to help the poor, helpless and hungry by sharing. Think about this while I keep setting the outcome.

Back to Joe McCarthy. The senator kept trying to get attention and control his need for power and recognition through fear and distraction. If anyone questioned his attacks and Red Scare paranoia, then that person must be a commie, no matter if he or she was in congress, entertainment, education and especially the press because he hated the truth and people like TV reporter Edward R. Murrow.

If you did not watch George Clooney's play, "Good Night and Good Luck," please do. It is a masterpiece depicting the struggle of CBS and CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow to expose the lies and destruction caused by an uncontrolled senator who would do anything in his power to manipulate, terrorize and ruin anyone in his path. 

CBS was warned that McCarthy would start a rumor that CBS had commies on their staff and the advertisers would leave the station and it would go bankrupt.

The reality is this: power, lies and corruption can destroy truth if no one has the courage to stand up with the facts and challenge the bully. Well, CBS stood up and put on the gloves. Congress had some courageous members who did the same. A lawyer for the hearings against McCarthy said to him, "Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?"

My conclusion is not easy but hopefully necessary and to the point. The power to control and destroy, in whatever form, can happen when victims lack the courage to expose the lies and express the truth.

I stand firm with the words of Isaiah 1:17ff, "Do good, seek justice and correct oppression."

I get my information from stations that give the facts and not the opinions. I read the newspapers – like my very loved Herald – that has the courage to print the truth, even when it hurts.

I close with God. What other choice can I choose? Like Joshua 24:15, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Thanks, God!

By the way, Saturday, June 14th, was my birthday. No presents necessary.