By Dylan R.N. Crabb

Edward Murrow (1908-1965) broadcast a speech in March of 1954 during which he spoke out against Senator Joseph McCarthy and his incessant witch hunts against perceived Communist infiltration of the United States government.

“It is necessary to investigate before legislating.  But, the line between investigating and legislating is a very fine one, and the junior senator from Wisconsin has stepped over it repeatedly.” – Edward Murrow.

Ed Murrow represents the pinnacle of a watchdog news media and should be the standard for journalists today.  America needs journalists who aren’t afraid to speak up against party lines to call out the government when it is wrong.  Mr. Murrow recognized that Senator McCarthy’s congressional hearing were nothing more than witch hunts by the Right-wing against the Left-wing; witch hunts based, not in facts, but in fear.

Under a democratic-republican government that triumphs individual freedom, Americans cannot sit idle and watch our government grow stronger with more and more war powers and less accountability measures with each passing decade.  Rather than surrender liberty for security in the name of fear, Americans must face overseas threats and proclaim our freedom as a badge of honor against those who wish to seize freedom and establish authoritative/totalitarian governments over people.  For, if people succumb to fear, fascism prevails.

Mr. Murrow opposed Senator McCarthy and his witch hunts in the name of our nation’s constitution and the values of freedom for which that constitution stands.  The Cold War tested us, not with external threats of violence, but with internal threats of bigotry.  Americans won the Cold War, not with brute force abroad, but with our continued commitment to our values of individual liberty and due process.  The United Sovereign Soviet Republic (USSR) lost the Cold War, not because of its inferior military force, but because of its disrespect of freedoms that the West holds dear.

The proclaimed War on Terror is yet another test for Americans; not a test of strength, but resilience – resilience through love.  Terrorist organizations around the world cannot be defeated through violent tactics because violence only breeds more violence.  The War on Terror is, by definition, never-ending.  Terrorists organizations must be defeated through starvation by education.

“Darkness cannot shine out darkness, only light can do that.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The supposed American Empire cannot bring about world peace through war and occupation.  The democratic-republican government of the United States can only advocate for world peace through education, diplomacy, and humanitarianism.  People all over the world need to show the down-trodden and the desperate that a better life is possible, not through violent extremism, but through cooperation and virtue.

The United States of America was once the example for peace and liberty on the world.  I believe we can be that again, as long as we encourage love over hate.