Student gets visit from Homeland Security over "Red" library book - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

photon · 12-19-2005, 07:53 AM

Quote:

A senior at UMass Dartmouth was visited by federal agents two months ago, after he requested a copy of Mao Tse-Tung's tome on Communism called "The Little Red Book."
...
The student, who was completing a research paper on Communism for Professor 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 said.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily...5/a09lo650.htm

Something tells me there's a bit more to the story, but if true that's pretty scary.

kermitology · 12-19-2005, 08:34 AM

If it's not the terrorists it's the communists right?

Land of the free my ass.. land of the free as long as you follow everyone else.

Cowperson · 12-19-2005, 08:56 AM

Sounds like it has everything to do with the activities of the professor and not much to do with the student.

The University President should be taken to task for authorizing surveilance.

Cowperson

CaramonLS · 12-19-2005, 11:12 AM

I think it is more disturbing that the Department of homeland security has that book flagged.

RougeUnderoos · 12-19-2005, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowperson

The University President should be taken to task for authorizing surveilance.

I don't know, do you think he'd be in a position to authorize this kind of thing? If it's on the "watch list" then I don't think he'd have much of a say in the matter. Maybe though, but this seems to be coming from higher up than the president of the university.

Anyhow, if anyone's interested you can get your mitts on this book at the Calgary Public Library. Of course I can't guarantee that you won't get a visit from the Book Police. You can also get the Communist Manifesto,Mein Kampf, The Origin of the Species, Tropic of Cancer, Finnegan's Wake.

What a place!

I can't remember if you have to provide your SIS number on the application form though.

calgARI · 12-20-2005, 12:44 AM

Not the first instance of Homeland Security/Patriot Act being blatantly unconstitutional.

Resolute 14 · 12-30-2005, 02:21 PM

Turns out the kid was lying the entire time.

http://insidehighered.com/news/2005/12/28/newmao

FlamesAddiction · 12-30-2005, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

Turns out the kid was lying the entire time.

http://insidehighered.com/news/2005/12/28/newmao

What an idiot.

evman150 · 12-30-2005, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

Turns out the kid was lying the entire time.

http://insidehighered.com/news/2005/12/28/newmao

"I didn't mean I'd take a salary cap. My comments were taken out of context."

Perhaps the case here?

Displaced Flames fan · 12-30-2005, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermitology

If it's not the terrorists it's the communists right?

Land of the free my ass.. land of the free as long as you follow everyone else.

I love how that gets thrown back at us all the time...."Land of the Free my ass...." Can't tell you how many times I've read that on this board. In 1812 when the song was written the US was most certainly the Land of the Free. Forgive us for not updating the song to reflect the various restictions that have been placed on American citizens since.

Vulcan · 12-30-2005, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I love how that gets thrown back at us all the time...."Land of the Free my ass...." Can't tell you how many times I've read that on this board. In 1812 when the song was written the US was most certainly the Land of the Free. Forgive us for not updating the song to reflect the various restictions that have been placed on American citizens since.

I can't tell if you are serious or not but in 1812 in the USof A you had black slavery and the invasion and extermination of Indians and wanted to expand from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Pole as evidenced by your invasion of Canada.

FlamesAddiction · 12-30-2005, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I can't tell if you are serious or not but in 1812 in the USof A you had black slavery and the invasion and extermination of Indians and wanted to expand from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Pole as evidenced by your invasion of Canada.

I think he means that relative to most places in the world, it would have been considered the land of the free, even if it was really just economic freedom for white people. Something still rare in those days.

It doesn't really bother me if the U.S. has laws that limit certain freedoms. They do deal with unique security issues. The only thing I have a hard time wrapping my head around are the priorities. There is a very strong faction protecting the rights for people to bear arms, but people seem to be less worried about other civil liberties that are sacrificed in the name of security.

No matter. Nowhere in this world are people totally 100% free. The U.S.A and Canada are not exceptions.

kermitology · 12-31-2005, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I love how that gets thrown back at us all the time...."Land of the Free my ass...." Can't tell you how many times I've read that on this board. In 1812 when the song was written the US was most certainly the Land of the Free. Forgive us for not updating the song to reflect the various restictions that have been placed on American citizens since.

Is the United States of America not supposed to be the poster child nation of freedom of speech?

Blah blah blah all you want Dis but the US is NOT that free. If you have a dissenting opinion you are tarred and feathered until you stop talking.

Believe what the masses do and you're A okay!

Cowperson · 12-31-2005, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermitology

Blah blah blah all you want Dis but the US is NOT that free.

Relative to what?

Cowperson

arsenal · 12-31-2005, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermitology

I
Blah blah blah all you want Dis but the US is NOT that free. If you have a dissenting opinion you are tarred and feathered until you stop talking.

There is more freedom in the US than there is Canada. The Canadian government wants to control what we see and hear, and what we do. They attempt to protect us from ourselves.

As far as freedoms go, the US is more free than Canada.

Displaced Flames fan · 12-31-2005, 05:58 PM

Great points Vulcan and believe me, those aspects of our history sicken me a hell of a lot more than most. However, when someone today says we are the land of the free (a line extracted directly from Mr. Key's composition of 1812) I don't think they are very far off, do you? We are not the only free country (a fact that is lost on too many of our less intelligent citizens), but we are indeed free.

"Land of the free my ass" is nothing more than bitterness.

I don't agree with the masses most of the time kermitology and I have never been tarred and feathered....nor have I ever heard of a dissident opinion resulting in being tarred and feathered (metaphorically of course). Perhaps you could offer an example?

Flame On · 12-31-2005, 06:18 PM

You probably hear things like that on this board far less Dis than Canadians hear things from US media about how free and noble the US is. MOST times followed by statements like "we're the free-est people in the world" or some such. Land of the free my ass I don't think is bitterness at all, I think some people genuinely have differences of opinion about the US and their level of freedom relative to the amount it's gone on about, in comparison with other countries. And why would someone be "bitter"? I guess it's annoying both ways.

Flame On · 12-31-2005, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arsenal

There is more freedom in the US than there is Canada. The Canadian government wants to control what we see and hear, and what we do. They attempt to protect us from ourselves.

As far as freedoms go, the US is more free than Canada.

What an assinine post!

Displaced Flames fan · 12-31-2005, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flame On

You probably hear things like that on this board far less Dis than Canadians hear things from US media about how free and noble the US is. MOST times followed by statements like "we're the free-est people in the world" or some such. Land of the free my ass I don't think is bitterness at all, I think some people genuinely have differences of opinion about the US and their level of freedom relative to the amount it's gone on about, in comparison with other countries. And why would someone be "bitter"? I guess it's annoying both ways.

Can't really argue with any of that Flame On. I remember growing up it was really drilled into us that we were "The greatest country on earth" etc, etc, etc. I don't see that as much now days. Definitely annoying to non-Americans and understandably so.

Fact remains, kermitology went off about it based on a lie that he was gullable enough to believe based on his opinion of American freedom. That says it all IMO.

Vulcan · 12-31-2005, 08:11 PM

The side of this whole affair that bothers me is that the jerk involved was believed showing that maybe American rights are being compromised. The other side showing Americans were outraged at this censorship shows that there is still hope for our friends to the south.
Canada still can't be called the poster boys for democracy or freedom though. One point is we still have our senators appointed by our benevolent leaders.