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Student Gets Surprise From Mao's Book
Newsmax ^ | NewsMax

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.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: communism; govwatch; hoax; hoaxes; homelandsecurity; libmyths; littleredbook; maotsetung; mass; myth; newbedford; standardtimes; thelittleredbook
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1 posted on 12/18/2005 12:13:41 AM PST by Deek1969
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To: Deek1969

If a student had requested a book entitled "Why Homosexuality is Unnatural" then the professor would turn the student in to the thought police.


2 posted on 12/18/2005 12:17:17 AM PST by feedback doctor (Liberalism is like a religion - islam)
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To: Deek1969

enemy within


3 posted on 12/18/2005 12:17:34 AM PST by iPod Shuffle
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To: Deek1969
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.

LOL!!!!!!!

"I swear! They came about Mao's book!! But, sure, they asked me about calling Muslim terrorist occupied areas too."

4 posted on 12/18/2005 12:17:43 AM PST by VeniVidiVici (What? Me worry?)
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To: Deek1969

This nation needs to protect itself. Since we refuse to control any form of immigration, the next thing is to monitor suspicious people inside and outside of our borders. Suspicious activity sends up a red flag, well, then you will be watched. That is the very reason we have intelligence gathering. If you don't set yourself up for it, it, (surveillance) won't be looking over your shoulder without cause.


5 posted on 12/18/2005 12:17:49 AM PST by television is just wrong (Our sympathies are misguided with illegal aliens...)
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To: VeniVidiVici
"I swear! They came about Mao's book!! But, sure, they asked me about calling Muslim terrorist occupied areas too."

You've gotten the quotes mangled. The feds visited the student after he requested the book. The student is not the one calling those areas, that's the professor, Brian Glyn Williams who is doing that.

6 posted on 12/18/2005 12:20:21 AM PST by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: television is just wrong
Is reading certain books "suspicious activity" now? Would I go on a watch list if I ordered a book from Paladin Press? Or posted comments here?
7 posted on 12/18/2005 12:23:13 AM PST by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: Deek1969

NOBODY EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISTION!


8 posted on 12/18/2005 12:25:35 AM PST by John Will
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To: Deek1969

Any freepers that defend this action better keep their hypocrital mouths shut when Democrats abuse this power against conservatives.


9 posted on 12/18/2005 12:26:06 AM PST by Sir Gawain
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To: FreedomCalls

You're right. Then the entire article is a crock. The student went to the professors who then squeeled to the local rag about it. And then the newspaper published the article without naming the student. Plus the article was entirely written on hearsay.

Wish I could get a job that easy.


10 posted on 12/18/2005 12:27:56 AM PST by VeniVidiVici (What? Me worry?)
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To: Sir Gawain

I checked out Revenge of the Sith, hardcover, and about 2 days later got a little visit from homeland security and Mace Windu. It was nice to meet Sammy J.


11 posted on 12/18/2005 12:28:03 AM PST by Gribbles141
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To: John Will

(D*am! You beat me to it!)

ROTFLMAO anyrate!


12 posted on 12/18/2005 12:29:09 AM PST by DieHard the Hunter (I am the Chieftain of my Clan. I bow to nobody. Get out of my way.)
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To: Sir Gawain

You honestly believe that the govt spared a few DHS agents to go interview a kid about checking out Mao's Red Book?

They must be really busy in college towns. Plus, they must have a huge contingent in Berkeley just to do this!


13 posted on 12/18/2005 12:29:53 AM PST by VeniVidiVici (What? Me worry?)
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To: Deek1969
Isn't that pamphlet online? Why would a university senior need to get it from the library? Sorry, something is fishy in Denmark. (Rotten, fishy, who cares?)
14 posted on 12/18/2005 12:30:09 AM PST by LibWhacker
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To: FreedomCalls

I was told over 30 years ago. You do not use certain words on the phone. Certain words trigger recording devices. Such as assasinate, etc.

I don't know how true that is, but this govt, needs ways of looking for problematic situations.


15 posted on 12/18/2005 12:30:23 AM PST by television is just wrong (Our sympathies are misguided with illegal aliens...)
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To: LibWhacker
(Rotten, fishy, who cares?)

Posting hidden messages here? You are under arrest! ;^)

16 posted on 12/18/2005 12:34:23 AM PST by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
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To: Deek1969

You could always pick one up at the A.N.S.W.E.R. table at any peace rally.

17 posted on 12/18/2005 12:35:50 AM PST by dancusa (Appeasement, high taxes and regulation collects in the diapers of bed wetting liberals.)
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To: Deek1969
The college student was visited by federal agents two months ago, after he requested a copy of Mao's tome on communism.


18 posted on 12/18/2005 12:36:24 AM PST by Slings and Arrows ("MOO...BANG...MOOO!")
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To: Sir Gawain

But didn't we see this kind of thing during the Clintons stay in the White House? The only difference, the Clintons were protecting themselves.

I believe someone should be informed if people want to learn how to fly but not land planes. Or whether an individual is buying components for bombs.

When other's privacy depends on my freedom to live there seems to be a great concern there.


19 posted on 12/18/2005 12:43:54 AM PST by swheats
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To: CarrotAndStick

Hehehehe... I actually made that mistake once and my girlfriend laughed at me and made fun of me. It was horrible! So now I always say 'fishy' on purpose, but always try to give myself an out, lol. :-)


20 posted on 12/18/2005 12:46:27 AM PST by LibWhacker
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