麦卡锡时代的美国军团与“美国主义”的转向

The American Legion and the Turn of “Americanism” in the Mc Carthy Era

20世纪50年代初,麦卡锡主义在不断蔓延的冷战恐慌气氛中乘势而起,渗透到美国社会的各个角落。因为共同的反共思想主张,美国军团与约瑟夫·麦卡锡保持着良好的关系并展开了密切的合作,成为麦卡锡主义实施政治迫害的协同者。美国军团利用自身的组织和人员优势在全国范围内参与了清除共产主义文化的运动,在思想文化和公立教育领域打压自由派知识分子,全方位否定共产主义。20世纪50年代同时也是美国现代保守主义形成的关键时期,正是反共的共识为保守力量的凝聚提供了基石,美国军团在这一过程中起到了重要的引领和推动作用。冷战时期的反共运动促使美国军团在政治上迅速转向,以捍卫它所理解的传统美国文化,并将"美国主义"的理念与实践推向保守主义的方向。

In the beginning of the 1950s,McCarthyism arose under the sprawling and intense atmosphere of the Cold War,infiltrating every public sphere of American society.The American Legion shared the same belief of anti-communism and intimately cooperated with Senator Joseph McCarthy,associating with the political persecution in the McCarthy era.With its strong organization,large membership,and extensive political and business relations,the Legion was active in suppressing liberal intellectuals in terms of ideology and public education,thus disavowing communism.Meanwhile the 1950s was a crucial time for the formation of modern conservative thought,which was based on the common view of anti-communism.The Legion was an important public opinion leader and an active propellant in the process.The anti-communism practices during the Cold War pushed the Legion into politics to uphold their interpretation of traditional American culture and bring together Americanism and Conservatism.