I am solely addressing the ALA's actions in jumping on board yet another non-library issue and its actions in joining an organization such as CAIR in seeking to prevent the disclosure of national security-related information. This from the self-arrogated freedom of speech people. Suddenly, freedom of speech is no longer of interest to the ALA.
The ACLU's letter says, "Holding hearings ... will ... chill ... free speech." So does opposing the hearings. The ALA opposing the hearings despite its claimed support for free speech is ironic. Apparently, its political interests outweigh its claimed interest in First Amendment rights. It is yet another ALA double standard.
Even librarians abhor the ALA when it takes on non-library issues:
* "The ALA Alienates Librarians Because It is Politicized, Elitist, Group Think Oriented, Not Very Professional, and Generally Does Not Serve the Needs of Librarians"
* "ALA Personally Attacks ALA Councilor Who As a Conservative Christian Sometimes Stood Alone Against 180 ALA Councilors Debating Non-Library Issues; Young ALA Members Urged to Stand Against the ALA When It Takes on World Issues Having Nothing To Do with Librarianship"
And yes, the National Coalition Against Censorship [NCAC] is joining the ALA and CAIR in seeking to censor the hearings. Like the ALA, the NCAC is another organization that tells local communities to keep their children reading inappropriate material.
I believe American citizens need to consider whether they wish the ALA to have the influence it does in local public libraries. The ALA may have political interests that communities may oppose. Such interests may shed light on existing ALA-inspired local library policies. Whose interests is the ALA actually promoting?
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