The Importance Of The Salem Witch Trials And The Cold War

What would you do in order to protect yourself, your family, and your country? How would you feel if you lost a loved one through a tragedy that could have been prevented? Throughout history, the necessity of witch-hunts has been questioned; to answer this question, we must ask ourselves how these hunts have kept us safe. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller describes the â€Å"perverse manifestations of panic† in Salem, MA, as Puritans accuse their neighbors of practicing witchcraft (Miller 5). Miller sarcastically reveals the true motives of Salem’s judicial system and accusers, creating an allegory between the Salem witch trials and the Cold War â€Å"red scare†. Although Miller mocks the idea of witch-hunts, are they completely unwarranted? There are†¦show more content†¦and millions of lives could have been lost. On the day of September 11, 2001, the United States faced one of the most massive terrorist attacks in history, and responded with immediate act ion. After the attack on the Twin Towers, President George W. Bush passed the Patriot Act, which gave the government more opportunities to pursue terrorists through the use of technology, such as computer-enabled device-tracking systems (â€Å"The USA Patriot†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). President Bush stated, â€Å"This legislation is essential not only to pursuing and punishing terrorists, but also preventing more atrocities in the hands of the evil ones. This government will enforce this law with all the urgency of a nation at war† (â€Å"President Bush†¦Ã¢â‚¬  4). In America, at this time, many were traumatized by the loss of fellow Americans, and were counting on the government to reassure their safety. If Bush had not intensified cybersecurity, there is a chance that another massive terror attack could have taken place and put the lives of men, women, and children in jeopardy. Bush claims that America has â€Å"seen the horrors terrorists can inflict† and that the cou ntry â€Å"may never know what horrors our country was spared by the diligent and determined work of our police forces, the FBI, ATF agents, federal marshals, Custom officers, Secret Service, intelligence professionals and local law enforcementShow MoreRelatedHysteria And Fear In Arthur Millers The Crucible970 Words   |  4 Pagescitizens of Salem, Massachusetts experienced this phenomenon in 1692 when the witch trials arose. Arthur Miller portrays this occurrence in his play The Crucible in which he accurately displays the effects that hysteria and fear have on Salem and subsequently how it affects the citizens who are accused without substantial evidence. 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