Danielle Mundhenk
Lambertville
As a teenager, I have firsthand knowledge of the increasing bullying. An incredibly distressing 60 percent of children have admitted to being bullied as biases are running rampant through schools. New Jersey, my home state, has even passed harassment, intimidation and bullying laws to fight against intolerance. However, we need to take a step back from our day and age, and see that human nature is a series of patterns in almost all aspects. These patterns include the recurring instances of prejudice and bias. I find such patterns in comparing this influx of bullying in schools to the Second Red Scare. I believe that formation of biases may be a large part of society. However the overcoming of those prejudices is more telling of humanity. These two instances not only demonstrate how preconception is interwoven in the history of mankind, but also may provide insight into how we as a people can rise above and prevent further discrimination.
The Second Red Scare was initiated in the 1950s by escalating fear of communist spies, which was one of the topics we covered in my English class this year. McCarthyism, named for this Red Scare’s most famous supporter, Sen. Joseph McCarthy, is defined as accusations of disloyalty without reliable evidence. Prejudice is described as the formation of an unfavorable opinion without proper knowledge beforehand. The most prevalent cause of bullying among modern teenagers is judging others without really knowing anything about them. I believe that these three concepts are perpetually intertwined in the roots of the nature of mankind.
Victims of discrimination are often perceived as being “too much” of a certain quality. The writers, actors, and directors who were socially attacked during the Red Scare were “too liberal,” and were thus classified as having communist ideals. Teenagers, like many at my own and other high schools, who fall prey to the bullying of others are labeled as anything from “too nerdy” to “too emo.” I believe humans feel the need to categorize all those who are different from them into standardized groups. Although many years have passed between the Second Red Scare and today, has anything really changed in regards to labeling others?
Sen. Joseph McCarthy can be compared to the common bully, as those he saw blacklisted are compared to those affected by bullying. Sen. McCarthy made radical assumptions about many people in a time where communism was not a real threat anymore, according to Robert Ferrell, who wrote about the senator. Like Sen. McCarthy, modern bullies make unreasonable judgments of others that are different from them. I believe the creation of these assumptions and judgments is mainly the result of insecurities and endeavoring to gain power. Although it will be with enormous difficulty, maybe these bullies can overcome their prejudices one day.
Most of those affected by the Second Red Scare never fully overcame the biases that were thrust upon them. Although they did not succeed, we can use their experiences. They can be used to help the later generations battle these preconceptions. You may be thinking to yourself: “I understand that past is important, but how can it really affect the future if this is all part of human nature?” The past can show us who we are as humans and that what we need to overcome is ultimately ourselves.
Even though it may not seem this way to most, bullying can even serve to the victim’s advantage. This year in my high school, we read excerpts from “ The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth” by Alexandra Robbins, which led to an interesting discussion about overcoming prejudices. “Quirk theory” — as defined in this book — says the characteristics that caused students to be excluded in school are the same qualities that set them apart and make them successful. Those affected by bullying, like so many people I know, have to remember that it will get better. They’ll probably even live a better life than their bully will.
These instances of discrimination not only include the Second Red Scare and bullying today, but are woven throughout the history of mankind. The comparison made between the two occurrences is an example of the redundancy of labeling and formation of bias throughout the past. The patterns in the fabric of human nature do not just include the creation of prejudices, but the battle against and triumph over such judgment. I believe that this is exactly what we all alike must do: battle our own instincts and overcome our repetitious patterns to ensure a brighter future for further generations.
