I do want to explain that I used the word "thoughtful" to refer to the
Senator's reaching out to the Maine library world, and not as an endorsement
of her position(s). She contacted the State library about this critical
issue; we did not approach her. As I said earlier, if any other
Congressperson does so, I'll pass their messages along also. I'm proud of
the discussion her message provoked and hope all sentiments/reactions are
going directly to her and not just to MELIBS. Thanks to all for your
thoughtfulness, caring, and concerns. Linda
Linda H. Lord
Director of Library Development
Maine State Library
64 State House Station
Augusta, ME
04333
Telephone 207-287-5620
FAX 207-287-5624
e-mail [log in to unmask]
www.state.me.us/msl/
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Fenster [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2001 5:22 PM
To: Maine Libraries Discussion List
Cc: Lord, Linda
Subject: The Senator's letter
Linda Lord wrote on the MEINFO-L forum:
> I received this thoughtful note from Senator Collins
> today and want to share it with the library community.
I must respectfully disagree with the proposition that Senator
Collins's reply was a "thoughtful" one. It was political and
cowardly.
Those are strong words, but the stakes are no less than the
Constitution and the entire system of American democratic values.
The Senator says she knows provisions of the anti-terrorism law are
wrong but voted for it anyway. Implicit is the fear of acting with
conviction because the crowd is restless. Her claimed desire to
maintain the Constitution while striking down its content is a
total contradiction.
The proof of the wrongness of the Senator's acquiescence action is
that it only encouraged further abuse. Mr. Bush has since blatantly
repudiated the Sixth Amendment and other articles of the
Constitution he swore to preserve, protect and defend by raping the
judicial branch of government without even a pretense of
consultation with the legislative one.
For anybody who has not recently read the Amendment's text, it
says: "In ALL criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the
right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the
state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed,
which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and
to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be
confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory
process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the
assistance of counsel for his defense." Note also Article III,
Section 2 ("The trial of ALL crimes, except in cases of
impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the
state where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when not
committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or
places as the Congress may by law have directed.").
Thus the Pandora's Box has been opened by legislators following and
encouraging the mob.
It is worth recalling Benjamin Franklin's injunction that those who
buy security by sacrificing liberty deserve neither security nor
liberty.
Eric Fenster
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Eric Fenster [log in to unmask]
http://efenster.home.igc.org [no www]
Moscow Study Trips in 2002: May 18 & mid-June departures
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