[Air-l] Saturday, September 11

[david silver]

Hello folks,

Interrupting the important conference hotel thread for the following update!  Please consider getting involved.  

The September Project (www.theseptemberproject.org) is a local, national, and
international effort to encourage people to gather in public spaces like
libraries on Saturday, September 11.  There, we will talk about, perform,
and share ideas on issues like democracy, citizenship, and patriotism.
All events, except those taking place in juvenile halls and military
bases, are free and open to the people.

First, an update:

As of today, August 10, 234 libraries, schools, and universities in 40
states are participating.  Most of the hosts are public libraries, the
only national institutions that offer free and open access to information
for everyone.  Others include schools, colleges, community colleges,
universities, community centers, mediation centers, town squares,
seminaries, and farmer's markets.  Voter registration will accompany as
many events as possible.  Events are also planned in 7 countries.
Similar projects exist in Spain (http://septiembre.ciberpunk.org) and
Portugal (http://setembro.ciberpunk.org). For a map of participating
hosts, please visit: http://www.com.washington.edu/september/map.asp

Second, some flavor of the events:

Marine Corps Air Station
Iwakuni, Japan
www.iwakuni.usmc.mil/

A librarian at the Marine Corps Air Station will be reading the
Declaration of Independence to Marine Corps personnel and their families
at an information fair on base. She will also issue disposable cameras to
25 people, including children, to take pictures of events and happenings
on the base that day. They will burn a CD-ROM of the photos to create a
memento of the day called, "A Day In The Life of Iwakuni."

Way Public Library
Perrysburg, Ohio,
http://www.way.lib.oh.us/

Panel Discussion for adults: "How has the world changed since 9/11?"
Panelists include Nancy Kelley, Way Library director, who will briefly
discuss the Patriot Act and Libraries; Perrysburg Police Chief Rick Gilts
and Sgt. Mark Wasylyshyn, who will be sworn in as Wood County Sheriff in
2005; Mary Thom Williams, Way Library board member who is a lieutenant
colonel in the Ohio Air National Guard; and Dr. Walter Edinger, associate
professor of clinical ethics at the Medical College of Ohio. The League
of Women Voters of the Perrysburg Area (LWVPA) is helping with voter
registration and other events.

Salt Lake County Library System
Salt Lake City, UT
www.slco.lib.ut.us/

At the Sandy Library of the Salt Lake County Library System, we are
focusing on understanding 9-11: understanding what happened, why it
happened, and understanding Islamic society.  We will have a university
professor discuss the history of terrorism, US foreign policy issues, and
Islamic culture and thought with members of the community.  Book and
related displays will be organized in conjunction with this event.  To
learn more about Islam and related resources for collection development,
the Imam from the local mosque spoke with library staff.

Seattle Public Library: Ballard Branch
Seattle, WA
www.spl.org

Ballard Library will feature Ian Spiers of www.brownequalsterrorist.com
and his representative from the ACLU as speakers. Mr Spiers was one of
scores of people taking photos at the Ballard Locks on May 26, but the
only one to be interrogated by eight police and federal agents for doing
it. Spiers, who is half black and half Scottish, believes he was singled
out because of his skin color. The ACLU is investigating the incident on
his behalf. What are our civil rights in post-9/11 America?

Third, a plea for participation:

Thus far, LIBRARIANS have been the most active organizers of events, and
librarians are teaming with groups like AARP, ACLU, American Legion, Book
stores, Church choirs, Firefighters, Friends of the Library, League of
Women Voters, Mounted color guard, Peace and human rights organizations,
Police, Professors, Red Cross, Religious organizations, Rescue personnel,
Rock the Vote, Boy and Girl Scouts, Student groups, Teachers, Theater
groups, Think tanks, TV/radio personalities, and US Military personnel.
Groups like the Families of September 11
(http://www.familiesofseptember11.org/) are helping to spread the
word.

Which begs the question: what are ACADEMICS doing on Saturday, September
11?

I am writing to ask all of you to please consider getting involved.
Please consider doing the following:

1. distribute this message to your colleagues, to departmental and
academic lists, and to STUDENTS;

2. distribute this message to your local public library and
college/community college/university library;

3. consider giving a talk, partaking in a performance, and/or moderating
a discussion in a public place on Saturday, September 11;

4. if you think we are missing something, or believe that the project can
be improved, please contact us (info at theseptemberproject.org) or, better
yet, post a message to this list.

In the US, September 11 is now called Patriot Day.  We believe academics
can and should have a voice in what that means.  Please consider getting
involved.

Thank you for your time,

david silver
www.theseptemberproject.org

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