Saturday, January 21, 2006
LOOK AT ME BUT KEEP IT A SECRET!
The 2005 Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award, to be awarded at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting January 21 in San Antonio, will be given to an unidentified recipient: "John Doe" of the court case John Doe v. Gonzales, a legal challenge to a National Security Letter requesting library patron records. The award is presented by the faculty of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. "It takes courage to defend the principles of intellectual freedom in libraries—to insist that every person has the right to read, think and inquire without fear," said Leigh Estabrook, director of the Library Research Center and Professor at GSLIS. "This year we honor an unnamed individual for his or her courage in defending intellectual freedom when it was not even possible to talk to friends, family or other professionals. This person not only stood alone at the moment of upholding principle; but has to remain isolated because of the gag order under the USA PATRIOT Act."
Though the award will be accepted by a third party—accepting it would violate the gag order—the identity of John Doe is an open secret. The Washington Post has identified the plaintiff as George Christian of Library Connection Inc., a Windsor, CT-based consortium. However, neither the Library Connection nor the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents the plaintiff, has commented publicly. ALA and other groups have supported "John Doe," saying it was important to speak out on these issues during the debate about reauthorizing the USA PATRIOT Act.
---libraryjournal.com
--Only the American left could come up with an award going to an unidentified recipient who, of course, everyone can identify. What's the point of having a bleeding heart if no one can see the blood? Ironically, Leigh Estabrook points out the totally identified unidentifiable "john doe" stands alone not even being able to speak to friends or family............but they can speak to the Washington Post... So congrats to Mr GEORGE CHRISTIAN! Even tho we don't even know who you are. wink, wink, nudge, nudge. George Bush and the big bad Patriot Act have given you more publicity than you could have ever hoped for or deserved. But it will be our little "secret". I only have one question. Will you look as "fab" in a scarf and sunglasses as the "undercover" Plame chick?
Though the award will be accepted by a third party—accepting it would violate the gag order—the identity of John Doe is an open secret. The Washington Post has identified the plaintiff as George Christian of Library Connection Inc., a Windsor, CT-based consortium. However, neither the Library Connection nor the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents the plaintiff, has commented publicly. ALA and other groups have supported "John Doe," saying it was important to speak out on these issues during the debate about reauthorizing the USA PATRIOT Act.
---libraryjournal.com
--Only the American left could come up with an award going to an unidentified recipient who, of course, everyone can identify. What's the point of having a bleeding heart if no one can see the blood? Ironically, Leigh Estabrook points out the totally identified unidentifiable "john doe" stands alone not even being able to speak to friends or family............but they can speak to the Washington Post... So congrats to Mr GEORGE CHRISTIAN! Even tho we don't even know who you are. wink, wink, nudge, nudge. George Bush and the big bad Patriot Act have given you more publicity than you could have ever hoped for or deserved. But it will be our little "secret". I only have one question. Will you look as "fab" in a scarf and sunglasses as the "undercover" Plame chick?
