Make Mine Freedom - 1948

Make Mine Freedom (1948) is a simplistic cartoon warning about the evils of communism, without saying the word, and interestingly, in its depiction of the evils of various "isms" we can easily lump fascism, isolationism, and racism, among the basketful of "isms" that threaten to destroy America.

It was produced by John Sutherland Productions for the Extension Department of Harding College, now Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. It was the first in a series of short films produced for Harding.  

At the start of the Cold War, we were worried about the expansion of communist rivals across the globe, and while concerned about the bleak future that might mean, we were still looking over our shoulders at the horrors of the fascism we had just defeated in World War II.  It seemed like we were between a rock and a hard place -- and we clung, perhaps innocently, but with faith, to the idea that authoritarianism in any form -- from politicians, from big business, from foreign governments -- was not the path to freedom.  It still isn't.

Vote accordingly.

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Jacqueline T. Lynch is the author of Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. and Movies in Our Time - Hollywood Mirrors and Mimics the Twentieth Century and Hollywood Fights Fascism and Christmas in Classic Films. TO JOIN HER READERS' GROUP - follow this link for a free book as a thank-you for joining.

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My new non-fiction book, CHILDREN'S WARTIME ADVENTURE NOVELS - The Silent Generation's Vicarious Experience of World War II -- is now available in eBook here at Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, and a wide variety of other online shops.

And it is here in eBook, paperback print, and soon, hardcover, from Amazon.

From Cherry Ames, to Meet the Malones, from Dave Dawson to Kitty Carter - Canteen Girl, the Silent Generation spent their childhood immersed in geopolitical events through the prism of their middle grade and young adult books.  From the home front to the battlefield, these books are a window on their world, and influenced their hard-working, conformity-loving generation.