Right in one, Lady P. Senator McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee completely ignored the Bill of Rights. Why nobody with any clout called them on it is a mystery to me. I have a hard time believing that almost everyone in power at the time was so cowardly.

When Pete Seeger was called before the committee, he told them right up front that they didn't have the right to ask the questions they were asking, and they blacklisted him.

There is a great exchange of dialog in A Man for All Seasons -- I don't remember it verbatim, but in effect, Moore asks a young firebrand if he what he is advocating doesn't violate the law. The young man answers, "I would cut down all the laws to track the devil to his lair!" "Yes," says Moore, "and when the devil finally turns on you, where will you hide then?"

Don Firth

Don Firth