An Appeal to Pathos Through Mutual American Loathing of Communism

Every piece of writing from the era of the Second Red Scare contains some sort of appeal to pathos. There was a fear inherent in every good American's heart that their seemingly kindly next door neighbor could be a Soviet spy. They were kept awake at night by the though that maybe that nice old woman they helped across the street was actually a Bolshevik in disguise. But, I digress. As far  as pathetic appeals, fear was the most common emotion played upon and Timken Company's propaganda "How and What to Tell a Communist" is no exception. 

The first of many demands, not suggestions, mind you, the author makes is to trust no one because anyone, no matter race, gender, or age, could be a Bolshevik. This spreads feelings of mistrust and panic in the reader, having no one to confide in. 

The next states that the communist in question believes in, not merely lives under, the Russian government that "controls all the activities of all the people." The reader feels a sense of potential oppression by the domineering Soviet government and incredulity towards the communists who they now believe enjoy harsh rule and subjugation.

The next stresses the communists' loyalty to the Soviet government and the Soviet government alone. The author further states that this is "throughout the world," causing the reader to fear that they will attempt to bring communism to their sweet 1960s suburbia.

The next, once again, stirs a sense of mistrust for those around the reader, as it states that a Bolshevik will usually deny that they are a communist. Therefore, anyone could potentially belong to the communist party.

The next gives the reader feelings of foreboding, as it describes the "second kind" of communist, one who spends his time searching out good, innocent American people in key positions to turn to the dark side. Examples of where these key positions may be include in the schools and churches. What say "appeal to pathos" like "think of the children!" and the image of your unsuspecting elderly mother in her Sunday best unwittingly conspiring with a commie.

The next three stanzas are a call to action for the reader, as if to say "okay, I just told you all of the horrible things Bolsheviks do, not go and be inspired to turn in some Soviet spies!" The author wraps up their argument against the communists with a few select words, including "lying, cheating, betrayal, ruin, and even murder" and the much used phrase "world domination." If that doesn't stir some anti-Communist feelings in your 50s/60s American heart, I don't know what will.