Well, one of the prevailing narratives in the progressive mind is that of McCarthyism; which is the secular version of the Puritan witch-hunts. I won't discuss the connection between the Puritans - New Englanders - and many modern-day progressives, but I will say that because they were the targets of the McCarthy 'witch hunt', they've sort of internalized the narrative.

Like in some very fundamentalist churches, if they find you differ on some 'key points' you may find yourself ostracized...

Having had experienced the latter, it seems like these Hollywood progressives are like fundie politicos. A political religion whose tenants are... leftism? And the church for them is Hollywood.

Ok, since I don't live there, I won't continue. But if it's an apt metaphor, it's yours.

I'm not certain as to what the appropriate Sabbath well-wishing would be, but you may insert it in the place of these particular words! (Miracles included!)

Interestingly, I just went through "multicultural diversity awareness" training at work. Guess what is NOT on the list of prohibited topics for questions to faculty candidates?

Yup. Political party affiliation wasn't listed anywhere. Now that doesn't mean it wasn't overlooked, but still--it's not there and some other rather ridiculous things were. My tongue-in-cheek remark was that it's ASSUMED the candidate is a liberal Democrat, why would we need to ask?

River:

Your metaphors are quite apt.

Here in Hollywood we are subject to endless reminders of the Hollywood ten. Almost every issue of the Writers Guild magazine "Written By" has some hagiographic article about these people or some other Communist fellow travelers.

I have no sympathy for Hollywood Communists. They were apologists for Stalin and totalitarian regime.

In Hollywood they are treated as heroes.

They were, in fact, enablers of genocide, gulags, and official state Jew-hatred.

Communism was (and is) a true existential threat to freedom, a grossly repressive political ideology that made the lives of millions in Eastern Europe a living hell and a virtual slavery.

How dare Hollywood treat such people as martyrs?

It's disgraceful.

The true martyrs lie in graves all over the former Soviet Union.

We say: Good Shabbos.

Thanks so much, always a pleasure hearing from you.

Dr. Carol:

same here in Hollywood. Step into any meeting and everyone in the room just assumes that you are a liberal—and the Bush bashing begins.

God Bless you for having the courage to openly admit you're Republican. I'm still unwilling to risk being open about my politics, although I have, occasionally, been forced to speak my mind, but I choose my battles carefully. I always win.

I'm an actress (regional), and have often been privy to major conservative bash-fests. It can get very ugly,but I usually just bite my tongue.

Sad that in a democratic, supposedly free society there are those of us who are too fearful to be open about our politics, and that blacklisting still exists. Although, there are those who feel we trivialize the McCarthy era blacklists by claiming we too are blackballed. I have one socialist commenter (though he's usually civil) who feels we do. He wrote that in response to my last post about the voting trends of the Hollywood elite. They are the true essence of liberal hypocrisy.

Love your blog.

God Bless you and your family!

I hope you don't mind but I think I am going to link this post to my post. If you'd rather, let me know and I will remove it.

Incognito:

Thanks so much for your generous and articulate comment. I'm not really courageous, just plain scared. I've witnessed too much cowardly silence and liberal posturing regarding Islamic Israel/Jew-hatred in Hollywood to remain silent. Appeasement now, as it did in the 1930's,invites aggression and genocide, not peacemaking. If I, an Orthodox Jew do not speak up, well, who will?

Feel free to link to Seraphic Secret anytime, that's what it's here for.

Here in the Bay Area (no doubt elsewhere) the prevailing liberal mantra/godless ritual phrase is that "Iraq is going badly."