Talk:Dalton Trumbo

Thanks. This article is so much more neutral and factual now that it's all about Communist infiltration.

You're welcome. Before the article suggested that Trumbo was mistakenly harassed because he wrote an anti-war book. That is incorrect. He really was a Communist, and he really did withhold crucial info, and he really was a criminal traitor to America. The article now sticks to facts, and avoids speculation. RSchlafly 10:40, 30 March 2007 (EDT)

Czolgolz inserted this:

During the Second World War, Trumbo allowed the book to go out of print, fearing that its anti-war message would hurt American morale.

This seems unlikely to me, and hard to confirm. Is there any tangible evidence for this statement? At what date did the book go out of print? How does anyone know? RSchlafly 11:48, 30 March 2007 (EDT)

In the introduction of Johnny got his Gun (which I dont' have on me at the moment), as well as his imdb biography (see link), and wikipedia, (though I know that that's a bad word here), it states that he let it go out of print in 1941, right after Germany invaded the USSR. He requested that the publisher recall unsold copies, and informed the FBI when anyone wrote to him requesting a copy. When I get home tonight, I'll find the exact quote and circumstances. Czolgolz 11:51, 30 March 2007 (EDT)

Thanks. I don't know anything about it, but 2 things seem odd. First, going out of print is nearly always a publisher decision that the author has no say about. Second, I am suspicious about the self-serving statement of motive, "fearing that its anti-war message would hurt American morale". We know that he was a disloyal commie scumbag acting on orders from Moscow, so why believe such a story? It seems more likely that the USSR changed its orders, and switched from being against American involvement in WWII to being in favor of it. RSchlafly 12:13, 30 March 2007 (EDT)

Er, all I know what what whoever wrote the introduction wrote. Second, wouldn't a Communist be pretty mad about Germany invading the USSR? Thirdly, during world war II a lot of the rules were bent, it's possible the publisher could have refused him, but didn't. Fourthly, if we're going to have a discussion, could we leave out such invicitive names like 'disloyal commie scumbag'? Remember that the Russians were our allies during World War II. Maybe that's why Trumbo didn't testify, he knew that as a Communist sympathizer it didn't much matter what he had to say, he was already guilty. At any rate, tonight I'll look at my copy of 'Johnny' and see what the intro said. It was written long after Trumbo's death. Czolgolz 12:30, 30 March 2007 (EDT)

Wait a minute, you said that "he let it go out of print in 1941, right after Germany invaded the USSR". Germany invaded USSR in June 1941, and the USA didn't enter the war until Dec. 1941. How could Trumbo have possibly been concerned about hurting American morale?

Let's just stick to facts. Trumbo had his chance to testify under oath, and he refused. We don't know what he feared. Just say, "he let it go out of print in 1941, right after Germany invaded the USSR", and skip the clause "fearing that its anti-war message would hurt American morale." RSchlafly 13:07, 30 March 2007 (EDT)

Again, I'll have to check the book and wait until I've looked at it to make a decision. Czolgolz 13:46, 30 March 2007 (EDT)

Okay, reading Trumbo's own introduction, he merely says the book was allowed to go out of print, a decision he claims to have supported. So I'll change that. Czolgolz 17:46, 30 March 2007 (EDT)

I am guess that his publisher was infiltrated by commie agents and was acting on orders from Moscow. (g) RSchlafly 18:19, 30 March 2007 (EDT)

Are you serious? Infiltrated by communists? There was no possible way they just didn't want the bad publicity? Czolgolz 18:54, 30 March 2007 (EDT)

Just joking. No, I was not serious. I put a "(g)" for "grin", but that was too subtle. RSchlafly 19:06, 30 March 2007 (EDT)

I got to bone up on my blog shorthand. Sorry to be so knee jerk. Nice discussing this with you. Czolgolz 19:33, 30 March 2007 (EDT)