Diffused Illumination

For some reason this came along and really whomped me upside the head, and I wanted to write it down before I forgot about it.

"There is no deeper form of trust than to be excited by someone else's dream." Michael McGirr, Things You Get For Free

Some déjà vu moments while reading The library book : a good book for a rainy day

Regarding our new extremist smoking law (is anyone really enforcing the 25 foot rule?):

"Here in the land of the free, you can't smoke anywhere. You can't smoke in picture palaces. In trains, you must smoke in a horrible little den in the back of a car... It is inconceivable to me that, in times of depression - times of enforced leisure - American library budgets are reduced. In England, on the contrary and, may I add, quite logically, library budgets are increased with economic downturns. Now where must I go to smoke my pipe?" ~ James D. Stewart, head of Bermondsey Library of London, during a speech at the Seattle Public Library in 1936. (page 48)

Regarding the Bill of Rights, my disgust with the USA PATRIOT act's effect on civil liberties, and why I want to be a radical militant librarian kicking the FBI around:

"In 1951 [McCarthy era], all Seattle city employees were required by state law to sign a loyalty oath. Library employee Jean Huot refused. 'I am unhesitating in my loyalty to the United States,' she said, 'but I believe that 'loyalty' by coercion is a menace to the freedom it purports to protect.' Miss Huot was fired."

"[In 1971], an FBI agent walked into the Central Branch with a list of books, and asked for access to the Library's circulation records. Head of Circulation Mrs. Verda Hansberry refused, citing legalities that require the Seattle Public Library to safeguard the privacy and personal freedom of its patrons." (page 52)

"If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas from more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all except the censor. We must know all the facts and have all the alternatives and listen to all the criticism. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty." ~ John F. Kennedy, 1960 (page 66)