Perhaps un-NEW-American, but not OLD-American.
America wasn't as disgracefully emasculated as it is nowadays.
-- Joseph R. McCarthy
I've always thought the "Un-American Activities Committee" was very appropriately named.
(Yes, I know McCarthy was a senator and so unaffiliated with the HUAC, but they're all equally un-American.)
The first half of the twentieth century is among the lowest points in the American political consciousness, and is by no means remotely representative of "old" American political thought. Collectivism and authoritarianism ran rampant, to put it mildly. A disgusting chapter in our history.
P.S. My family was in America before the revolution. McCarthy's family were a bunch of new blood European immigrants. That's all well and good, but I'll trust my estimation of what constitutes "old American" over his any day of the week, and twice on Thursdays.
P.P.S. I'd also like to add that, on the list of things which are "emasculated", the subservient attitude that one must behave a certain way around authoritah or expect to be shot, has to be entry #1. That attitude make great subjects. Free men who stand tall.... not so much.
