466 How the American Library Association responded to September 11

Greg over at Shush has taken a nostalgic stroll through American Libraries, November 2001, the house organ of American Library Association. The article is not online--for all ALA says about freedom of information, its own archives are only available for subscribers, even though many professional and commercial journals allow readers to see non-current issues.

Greg points out the paucity of information on the terrorist attacks, and the immediate launch into warnings about anti-terrorism bills being proposed in Washington.

Another anniversary piece is at Victor Davis Hanson's site:

Chechen Islamicists burn up Russian airliners and shoot schoolgirls . . . Beheaders in Iraq decapitate Americans, Pakistanis, Koreans, Japanese, and Nepalese . . . Italian humanitarians and charity workers are kidnapped by Islamicists. In the "holy" city of Najaf, religious extremists bomb innocents . . . Islamic terrorists kidnap French journalists and threaten them with execution . . . Hamas "freedom fighters" blow up buses inside Israel and call the dead children Zionists who belong in the sea . . . Islamic fascists incinerate dozens in Madrid. . . Australians in Bali are engulfed in flame by car bombers for the felony of being Western visitors in an Islamic enclave . . ." and so forth.

Meanwhile, back in the United States, it is business as usual for the ALA. Even if it kills you, no government official will ever see your library record. Especially if you are a terrorist.

Thanks Greg, for reminding so many of us why we never joined.