when did your political awakening happen?

[wnylib]

157. McCarthy hearings

I was much too young for an explanation of the hearings. Wasn't in kindergsrten yet. The event stayed in my memory bc mom was usually so mild mannered but was very outraged that day.

Re: Germany, Nazis, WW2

My mother's parents came to US from German Empire as young children b4 1st world war. Kept in touch with relatives in Germany b4 & between wars. Lost touch after WW2 bc relatives were in communist East. Wrote to us to stop contacting them. Too dangerous to have American contacts during Cold War. My grandmother's sister lived with us in my childhood. She & mom closely watched Eichmann trial on TV. Wouldn't let me watch. Said I was too young. I remember my great aunt crying over what het homeland had become under Nazis.

We had neighbors who were Italian immigrants after the war. They had been partisans. Like my family they had very strong anti fascist views.

So I was exposed to politics at early age.