[WEB4LIB] Disturbing News

[Raymond Wood]

On Mon, Nov 19, 2001 at 09:05:33AM -0800, Daniel Messer remarked:
> Hey all...
> 
>     I found an article on Slashdot (www.slashdot.org) which points to an
> LA Times article detailing a disturbing trend since the 9/11 attacks.
> Libraries are being ordered by the Federal Government to destroy
> information held in federal repositories in the interests of "homeland
> security." From the article:
> 
> "Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft said that, while 'a well informed citizenry'
> is essential to government accountability, national security should be a
> priority."
> 
> http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-111801inform.story
> 
>     Folks, in my opinion, what that says is that the government is going
> to carry out acts in the name of "national security" and using that
> guise, may be held unaccountable for their actions. If the trend is now
> to order the destruction of freely obtainable information, then the
> terrorists have won. We have thus given up the FOIA and indeed our
> Constitutional rights.
> 
> Dan

I saw this also - glad you took the time to post to the list :)

I too am disturbed by this - it is a very slippery slope IMHO.
It indicates to me that citizens need to keep in mind the
possibility that 'terrorism' (however one defines that rather
vague term) may originate not only from external, but also from
internal, sources.

The enemies of freedom come in different shapes and colours...

=)

My $0.02,
Raymond