We understand that you read chapter 17 twice, and quite possibly enjoyed it. We'd like to have a word with you...
Posted on 12/18/2005 12:13:41 AM PST by Deek1969
What do you get when you try to check out Mao Tse-Tung's infamous "The Little Red Book" from the library?
A visit from Homeland Security agents.
At least that's what happened to a senior at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, according to the Standard-Times newspaper of New Bedford, Mass.
The college student was visited by federal agents two months ago, after he requested a copy of Mao's tome on communism. Two history professors at UMass Dartmouth, Brian Glyn Williams and Robert Pontbriand, said the student told them he requested the book through the college library's interlibrary loan program. The student, who was completing a research paper on Communism for Pontbriand's class on fascism and totalitarianism, filled out a form for the request, leaving his name, address, phone number and Social Security number.
He was later visited at his parents' home in New Bedford by two agents of the Department of Homeland Security, the professors told the Standard-Times. The professors said the student was told by the agents that the book is on a "watch list," and that his background, which included significant time abroad, triggered them to investigate the student further.
Although the Standard-Times knows the name of the student, the paper declined to name him because he is not coming forward because he fears repercussions should his name become public. He has not spoken to The Standard-Times.
The student told Pontbriand and Williams that the Homeland Security agents told him the book was on a "watch list." They brought the book with them, but did not leave it with the student, the professors said. Williams said in his research, he regularly contacts people in Afghanistan, Chechnya and other Muslim hot spots, and suspects that some of his calls are monitored. "My instinct is that there is a lot more monitoring than we think," he said. Williams said he had been planning to offer a course on terrorism next semester, but is reconsidering, because it might put his students at risk.
If the dems attain power we'll all be incinerated so being hypocritical wouldnt' really matter now, would it?
Somewhere, in what feels like another life ago, back when I was a smarmy 15 year old about 1970, I had to have that book for a social studies class (we were comparing communism to capitalism, with Capitalism being shown the winner), and I would occasionally take the book with me on the bus as I went cross town just to see if I could shock anyone.
I
Don't
Buy
This
For
One
Effing
Nanosecond.
"Student didn't come forward"? "Professors report"?
Smelly, stinking pile of male-bovine-derived roadapples!
So I have to ask, since the "student" didn't come forward, did the prof, have his permission to do so? IF this happened, there are so many holes in this story, it sounds custom crafted to fit the template of the moment,(see, they're watching you, watching what you read, what you say, see, nobody is safe,)
Also, this bit, " They brought the book with them, but did not leave it with the student, the professors said. Williams said in his research, he regularly contacts people in Afghanistan, Chechnya and other Muslim hot spots, and suspects that some of his calls are monitored.", seems odd, why do we need to know they kept the book? Gratuitous crap to show how evil agents won't even let the poor guy get his info for his lousey little term paper? IOW, if this were the case, perhaps they were visiting other students who had requested this book, or it may be entirely false. Seems like the prof, (who "told" the paper, that a student "told" him, that the agents "told" him....) might actually be more in the sights of this investigation (if there is one) than the students. The book itself is not rare or hard to find. Given the prof's background, it seems most likely. But the student also has some interesting things in his background. And yeah, just who is the student afraid of? Hmmmmm?
Did the student (he is so afraid) tell the professor, because the visit was about the professor? Or did he tell him something like, "we are so busted." Inquiring minds want to know. This smacks of lies by the prof. Getting his spin out first. I am as nervous as anyone about giving the gov't rights to monitor private activities without a good reason. But the good reason might be here.
I remember college professors being very anal about citing sources. I think citing a book with a certain publisher and publication date would be considered more authoritative than "I found it on this website".
So... if I am to believe this story, I have to believe that the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth DIDN'T HAVE A COPY of Mao's Little Red book, and had to order a loaner from another college...
I had to pause for a few minutes after typing the above paragraph. My keyboard was refusing to accept any more input. Something about "input buffer full of s*&%"...
We understand that you read chapter 17 twice, and quite possibly enjoyed it. We'd like to have a word with you...
They are. A creative student could the page number and the publishing info off the internet and cite the material as a pamphlet or a book. Just a thought. Not that I've ever done that or anything.
Okay, so it wasn't just the book request, it was that along with the students background. That background info is necessary for anyone to make any sort of conclusion re. this article. Might not fit in the reporter's agenda, though.
Years ago when my eldest son was 7, he was into ham radio and spoke with someone in Cuba. Before long they sent him Mao's little red book. I joked that he'd be on the FBI's watch list.
I can't imagine the book wasn't on the shelves at a University.
If the report is true it seems the book had little to do with the visit and more to do with the phone calls to nations where there are large groups of Muslim terrorists.
If I remember correctly it is due to the Echelon program...
I don't believe the story at all.
Riiight. I do that all the time.
Actually, the wall will be going up here, not over there..., but I get what you mean.
We are, if nothing is done to change the direction of things, changing places with Russia. We are continually going socialist, with our social programs. We sympathize with the dead wood of society and the down trodden. However, the ultra rich, want the middle class to be taxed for it, not themselves.
The Kennedys paid a pittance when the old man died on the estate they should have paid several millions for. (just one example.
Kerry, Gore, and others are another example. He and Gore want all of us to drive smaller cars while they drive whatever they darn well want, or their chauffeurs taxi them around in.
Different standards, equal the wealth, but NOT FOR THEM. Only for us. (the middle class).
I find this almost laughable. Do you really think that a prominent Ivy League college woulnd't have some copies of Mao's works in their library?
I've found them in our college library (a subsidiary of Houston University) and checked them out without any fuss.
Perhaps there are other, more meaningful, reasons why this gentleman has been talked to by the authorities.?
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