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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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To: Sir Gawain

If the dems attain power we'll all be incinerated so being hypocritical wouldnt' really matter now, would it?


41 posted on 12/18/2005 4:37:29 AM PST by OldFriend (The Dems enABLEd DANGER and 3,000 Americans died.)
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To: Deek1969

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.


42 posted on 12/18/2005 4:40:56 AM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Deek1969

I
Don't
Buy
This
For
One
Effing
Nanosecond.

"Student didn't come forward"? "Professors report"?

Smelly, stinking pile of male-bovine-derived roadapples!


43 posted on 12/18/2005 5:14:16 AM PST by Appalled but Not Surprised
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To: Deek1969
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.

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.

44 posted on 12/18/2005 5:17:47 AM PST by Kay Syrah
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To: LibWhacker
Isn't that pamphlet online? Why would a university senior need to get it from the library?

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".

45 posted on 12/18/2005 5:35:00 AM PST by KarlInOhio (In memory of Alvin Owen, Thsai-Shai Yang, Yen-I Yang and Yee Chen Lin:the victims of Tookie Williams)
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To: Bon mots
The "We're going to take things away from you for the common good" needs to be posted early and often. Talk about someone who needs to be on a watch list.
46 posted on 12/18/2005 5:39:05 AM PST by Uncle Vlad
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To: Deek1969
...at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth...

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*&%"...

47 posted on 12/18/2005 5:54:27 AM PST by wyattearp (The best weapon to have in a gunfight is a shotgun - preferably from ambush.)
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To: Gribbles141
I checked out Revenge of the Sith, hardcover, and about 2 days later got a little visit from homeland security and Mace Windu.

We understand that you read chapter 17 twice, and quite possibly enjoyed it. We'd like to have a word with you...

48 posted on 12/18/2005 6:13:07 AM PST by Caipirabob (Democrats.. Socialists..Commies..Traitors...Who can tell the difference?)
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To: KarlInOhio
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".

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.

49 posted on 12/18/2005 6:13:11 AM PST by didi
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To: Deek1969

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.


50 posted on 12/18/2005 6:16:31 AM PST by Flightdeck (Longhorns+January=Rose Bowl Repeat)
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To: Deek1969

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.


51 posted on 12/18/2005 6:17:35 AM PST by hershey
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Comment #52 Removed by Moderator

To: Deek1969

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.


53 posted on 12/18/2005 7:35:23 AM PST by em2vn
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To: FreedomCalls
"Or posted comments here?"

In answer to your question, please remember that when a Dr. Ken Meyers, an ornithologist working for Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP) and a Debbe Jansen, also from BCNP decided they didn't like my research, they forced their way into the research blinds.

When I returned, I found "WE ARE WATCHING YOU" scrawled on the wall.

All too many goobers in the gooberment feel that they can do no wrong AND that they are on some sort of a mission.

For those of you who wonder just how far these bachelor's children will go, go to www.evergladesinstitute.org, and carefully listen to the 'crats attacking a property owner.

The audio of ParcPerson Jansen is also an eye opener in that she admits (on camera) to subjecting citizens to predator risks with no thought of their well being whatsoever.

Then she admits to providing "protection" for a government site but not for the public or the Indians.

The leaked interagency documents at the same site are also an eye opener as the Chief of that tribe hits a home run - right between the ParcPerson's eyes.

I'd be curious as to what any Freeper who visits that site thinks.
54 posted on 12/18/2005 7:50:10 AM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon Liberty, it is essential to examine principle)
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To: television is just wrong

If I remember correctly it is due to the Echelon program...


55 posted on 12/18/2005 7:56:00 AM PST by Born in a Rage
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To: Deek1969

I don't believe the story at all.


56 posted on 12/18/2005 7:57:00 AM PST by toddlintown (Lennon takes six bullets to the chest, Yoko is standing right next to him and not one f'ing bullet?)
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To: Deek1969
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. [emphasis added]

Riiight. I do that all the time.

57 posted on 12/18/2005 8:00:21 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: T.L.Sink
I'm on the staff of a public library in Southern California, and I saw to it that Mao: The Untold Story was added to our collection.
58 posted on 12/18/2005 8:14:25 AM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: quefstar

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).


59 posted on 12/18/2005 9:39:54 AM PST by television is just wrong (Our sympathies are misguided with illegal aliens...)
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To: Deek1969

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.?


60 posted on 12/18/2005 10:37:25 AM PST by wildbill
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