Hysteria

Americanism means that if you applaud Paul Robeson's singing you are a Communist. It means that if you go to Columbia University you can't hear Howard Fast lecture or if you go to the University of Wisconsin you can't hear Cal Marzani. It means being dragged out of the marriage bed at 4.30 in the morning and being questioned as to your political beliefs. It means that, if you're a government employee, you can't belong to the Communist party, despite the fact that it is a legal party. It means compulsion, if you're a labour leader, and the signing of an affidavit stating you are not a member of the Communist party. It means government by fear, by hysteria, by ignorance.