[AAACE-NLA]free and open discussion

[Eileen Eckert]

I think we need to check that our responses are based on an accurate 
reading--Debbie specifically said the censorship applies ONLY to NIFL lists 
subscribed to through the LINCS website, not to this policy-related list 
sponsored by AAACE. The censorship that's happening is indefensible in any 
case, not just because one can make the argument that general government 
policy is related to adult literacy policy.

If someone posting to a NIFL list can state how their message fits the 
guidelines for the list (even if others don't agree), then it seems to me 
the message is appropriate. If not, isn't that one of the roles of a 
moderator, to navigate that unmarked territory, or to help subscribers 
navigate it? It's NEVER appropriate, or even legal, for an outsider to order 
messages be blocked or deleted from the archives. It is especially 
disturbing when, in a democracy, someone uses their direct or indirect 
influence over someone else's continued employment to coerce them into 
breaking the law. I'm assuming the censorship is carried out under orders by 
people afraid for their jobs; maybe that assumption is not correct.

The Bill of Rights was written in a time when the United States was fragile 
and new, and many could argue persuasively that free speech would jeopardize 
its very existence--the framers of the Constitution still had the foresight 
to include it as an ideal and a fundamental part of law (even if they never 
lived up to all of the Constitution). Can anyone seriously argue that 
blocking or deleting messages to a listserv is legal or necessary? We don't 
need to make the case for the appropriateness of the discussions to the list 
on which they appear--they're legal, no one has the right to even take the 
argument into the realm of "appropriateness". I think we weaken our argument 
for the basic principle of free speech when we make our case based on 
appropriateness of specific discussions or messages.

Eileen








From: Janet Isserlis <Janet_Isserlis at Brown.edu>
Reply-To: aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org
To: aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org
Subject: [AAACE-NLA]free and open discussion
Date: Wed, 14 May 2003 17:24:28 -0400

This is astonishing.

HR 1261?

I'm wondering if the silence comes from messages now not being posted, or if 
others are as stunned as I am?

We can't discuss legislation on a list devoted to policy?  We're not able to 
communicate about issues that impact the lives of our learners and our 
communities?

Who is making these decisions?

Janet Isserlis

>The following has come to my attention.  Members of this list will be
>interested. This is from NIFL, and concerns only the lists subscribed to
>through the LINCS website.  I assume NIFL was required to do this.
>
>"Messages sent to the discussion lists containing the following terms and
>phrases are currently not being allowed to post to their destined lists.
>
>Urge Congress
>Your action can make the difference
>Chopping block
>Please make your views known
>Iraq
>War
>Action alert
>H.R. 1261"
>
>Debbie Yoho
>
>
>
>
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