THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT

But in our present day you would be wrong. This little story from the Standard-Times should show you just how vulnerable you are.

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."
Two history professors at UMass Dartmouth, Brian Glyn Williams and Robert Pontbriand, said the student told them he requested the 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.

So a student, doing research for his studies, receives an intimidating visit from a pair of RackMaster Chertoffs boys. But wait, you say, they were not intimidating, they were just inquiring of his purpose. And again you would be wrong.

Although The Standard-Times knows the name of the student, he is not coming forward because he fears repercussions should his name become public....

....The student told Professor Pontbriand and Dr. 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.

What a curious move and not at all friendly. Still it could have been worse.

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. "Mao Tse-Tung is completely harmless."

Are you feeling safer yet?