The student, an unnamed senior at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, requested an interlibrary copy of an unabridged version of Mao Tse-Tung's The Little Red Book. I wonder what triggered the alarm which led to an unexpected visit at his parents' house, where he lives, from the Department of Homeland Security? Was it that the student had travelled to South America?
The student ordered Mao's book to do research for a paper for a history class taught by Brian Glyn Williams, a professor who specializes on Islamic studies. Williams' class focused on fascism and totalitarianism. No need to look too far in the historical past to learn about those topics. Apparently the Big Brother Bush regime, which has admitted to and stridently defends its practice of spying upon domestic citizens, is intent upon transforming the United States into a privatized police state.
Chilling, truly chilling.
Will Congress please impeach this president before its too late.
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4 comments:
It's a hoax, apparently. (Via The Commissar.) The editors of Inside Higher Ed were had.
It's to be hoped that this story will not now join the Tawana Brawley hoax, the Superbowl wife-battering hoax, and the plastic turkey for Thanksgiving in Iraq hoax in the mythology of cherished Leftist memes. The exposure of the hoax ought to be a good example of the self-correcting nature of the blogosphere--if everyone is equally interested in truth over stereotypes, that is.
Australian blogger Tim Blair has a good round-up of the hoax's spread through the 'sphere.
I'd received some e-mails indicating that the story was probably unsubstantiated and am relieved to learn that it was indeed false. The whole thing sounded a bit bizarre, but these are strange times. For example, I never thought I'd find top U.S. Government officials condoning torture. While I don't think the 9/11 attacks have "changed everything" as so many commentators from across the political spectrum have suggested, the balance of power has shifted in the federal government. Will the executive branch continue to dominate or will congress and the courts reign in what has become, I think, an imperial presidency?
I'm somewhat curious about the student's motives. If he was trying to make a political point - either about government surveillance or the media's willingness to report sensationalistic stories without adequate backup - I think his tactics were misguided. Spreading more misinformation does no good. Enough of that circulating already.
I myself have fallen for similar hoaxes in the past, because they dovetailed so neatly with my own conservative political predispositions. It happens to everyone, sooner or later.
Merry Christmas!
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