Ageless Dichotomy

Rating: 10/10 (28 November 2005)

Habeas corpus, due process, and guilt by association play a mighty part of our daily news in the Bush administration. It is sadly reminiscent of the "good old days" from other periods of history in our country, notably the period covered by this fine film. Pastor Martin Niemoeller's quote from Nazi Germany is important to the theme of the film, "First they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me." Murrow was a great American in his time. The question is who carries the burden of the U.S. Constitution's vital safeguards of political liberty today? This writer is having difficulty naming courageous contemporary journalists, too.