Homeland Security visits student who ordered Mao book

international | rights, freedoms and repression | other press

Tuesday December 20, 2005 19:31

by Coilín ÓhAiseadha

Máigh Nuad, Co. Cill Dara

Lecturers fear to invite students to study Al-Qaeda

A well-travelled student at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth was interrogated by agents of the Department of Homeland Security in October because he had ordered a copy of Mao Tse-Tung's book on Communism, The Little Red Book, while researching a paper on totalitarianism.
One of the student's lecturers is considering cancelling a course on terrorism planned for next semester, because it might put his students at risk.
Reported in The Standard-Times on December 17, 2005.

The following is an excerpt from an article on the website of SouthCoastToday.com:

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Agents' visit chills UMass Dartmouth senior
By AARON NICODEMUS, Standard-Times staff writer

NEW BEDFORD -- 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."
... through the UMass Dartmouth library's interlibrary loan program.
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.
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.
...
Dr. 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.
"I shudder to think of all the students I've had monitoring al-Qaeda Web sites, what the government must think of that," he said. ...

Contact Aaron Nicodemus at anicodemus@s-t.com

This story appeared on Page A9 of The Standard-Times on December 17, 2005.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/12-05/12-17-05/a09lo650.htm

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The above excerpt must be considered to be copyright Aaron Nicodemus and/or The Standard-Times 2005.

Comments:
I see a couple of profound paradoxes in this story:
1. What kind of state monitors the study of totalitarianism and treats it with suspicion? Big Brother is watching you!
2. How can America deal with Islamism if its citizens are afraid to study it?

Best,
Coilín.