Examples Of Communism In The Second Red Scare

Communism: America’s Greatest Concern

“I 'm entirely hostile to the principle of Communism,” (Porter 550). Like Porter, during the Second Red Scare, countless people feared communism due to the fact that it had permeated American politics, culture, and society (Storrs). The Second Red Scare occurred from the late 1940s through the 1950s. American author Katherine Anne Porter’s To Dr. William Ross was written in 1951, during the midst of the Second Red Scare when the fear of communism was at a high (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica). In the letter To Dr. William Ross, Porter claims that in order to be loyal to the country, signing an oath of allegiance is unnecessary, especially when she was being blackmailed to do so. Katherine Anne

Katherine Anne Porter relates with the audience by appealing to their sense of patriotism. For example, Porter says in her letter, “My feeling about my country and its history is as tender and intimate as about my own parents, and I really suffer to have them violated by the irresponsible acts of cheap politicians who prey on public fears in times of trouble and force their betters into undignified positions,” (Porter 550). By comparing her love for her country to her love for her parents, she conveys her loyalty to her country quite well. Porter appeals to patriotism, and also the deep love for family. In the previous quote, Katherine Anne Porter speaks about how it troubles her that slimy politicians violate the public. Porter makes a logical statement when it comes to untrustworthy politicians, for instance, “Our duty, Dr. Ross, is to circumvent them [politicians]. To see through them and stop them in their tracks in time and not to be hoodwinked or terrorized by them, not to rationalize and excuse that weakness in us which leads us to criminal collusion with them for the sake of our jobs or the hope of being left in peace,” (Porter 550). Avoiding and combating these kind of politicians appeals to the audience’s logic because it is the best solution to the

William Ross there are minimal logical fallacies, and a few assumptions Porter made. In fact, the logical fallacies and assumptions Porter made go hand-in-hand. The first logical fallacy Porter used was ad populum, which disguised itself as patriotism. During the time, most people feared communism, which Porter assumes, so when she claims she is “entirely hostile to the principle of Communism,” she expects her audience to believe it, due to the fact that most people are “hostile” towards communism (Porter 550). She must be patriotic because of her family ties, and the widely accepted hatred for communism according to ad populum. Another logical fallacy Porter has used is appeal to fear. She constructs fear in the audience by bringing the discussion of blackmail into the letter. Porter intended to create support for her refusal to sign the oath of allegiance by showing the audience she was being blackmailed. She states that she does not “Like being told that [she] must take an oath of allegiance to [her] government and flag under the threat of losing [her] employment if [she] does not,” (Porter 551). She gains the audience’s support by appealing to their fear of being blackmailed into doing something unnecessary. The final fallacy Porter used is ad hominem. In her question, “Why must a person like me be asked to do a stupid, meaningless thing because one person with a bad political record got into your college once?” Porter attacks the issue at hand and