Defending democracy begins at the library, as Rod at Proof Through The Night points out. (I had to scroll a ways to get to the content)

The Whatcom County, Washington librarians are as much patriots as the Minutemen at Lexington and Concord.

I propose an action to wake up our government.

Here’s how to contact its Director:

Director

Contact for: general library issues, intellectual freedom, legal issues,
concerns, and suggestions for the library.

Joan Airoldi
jairoldi[AT]wcls[DOT]org

I think it’s time we, as US citizens, start doing more to make our government notice that we strongly support amending the Patriot Act. As it currently reads, if they cite the Patriot Act, the feds can force the library to comply and the library can’t take the matter to court or even discuss the issue publicly.

Can anyone out there construct a theoretical situation where the FBI will ever catch a terrorist this way? More importantly, before the Patriot Act, the Feds could go to court and get a search warrant to obtain the same records. The only difference now is there will be no court oversight if the Feds press this issue.

Are they worried a judge would tip off the terrorist? Apparently they are; otherwise, why grant this non-oversight? How does it strengthen the quest to root out terrorists?

I propose a way to tell our government how STRONGLY we want the Patriot Act reviewed and amended to get rid of needless intrusive provisions like this. Consider this, from the library’s latest minutes:

Ms. Barbagallo welcomed the Board to the Deming Library and described the library’s building project. The building will grow from about 2500 square feet to almost 6,900 square feet. The collection will expand somewhat, but most of the space is allocated for people, both staff and borrowers, and includes meeting room space.

Fund raising will take approximately 18 months. So far, several endorsements have been solicited and received. Endorsements add legitimacy to the project when requesting funds.

Recent fundraising activities have included an auction. Since April, $52,000 has been raised and the serious fundraising including grant- writing, is still beginning. Leaf Schumann has recently volunteered to join the grantwriting team.

The estimated cost for the whole building project is $500,000 everything included. However, there are possibilities for cost savings including the Nooksack Tribe’s construction company which may offer to do the job at cost. This would help considerably.

At the very least, please email Joan Airoldi and let her know you appreciate the library’s stand. A better course of action: send a donation for the construction of the new Deming Library expansion, and tell them why you think their action represents the true spirit of American patriotism:

Whatcom County Library System
5205 Northwest Road
Bellingham WA 98226-9092
phone: 360-384-3150 … fax: 360-384-4947

If Howard Dean can raise $800,000 in a day, how much do you think we can raise to help this library out to raise the $448,000 they still need? I’m setting a target of $112,000, a quarter of their need.

Believe me, if we respond like this, every member of Congress will start paying attention. Americans should demand common sense in the war on terror, and refuse to surrender our freedoms to the FBI without court oversight and remedy.

Giving to the Deming Library will send that message loud and clear.

Please feel free to copy this post completely and post it on your website or blog. No attribution to me is necessary because the important thing is LET’S WAKE UP OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES BY SHOWING THEM WE’RE PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTHS ARE !

(Note: I have no affiliation with this library or community. I simply feel a response like this is a strong and patriotic political act, outside of the standard lobbying system, and completely non-partisan.)