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Department of Homeland Security opens Kansas professor's mail

The Progressive reports that Grant Goodman, an 81-year-old professor emeritus of Asian history at the University of Kansas, writes regularly to his colleague, a former professor history at the University of the Philippines. Last month, Goodman received from his friend a letter that had already been "Opened by Border Protection," and which displayed the seal of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The other professor, also in her 80's, according to Goodman, "hasn't written about anything in years."

Goodman, who was very upset by the government's opening his private correspondence, was also surprised by the crudeness of the letter-opening. The letter had been slashed open and then secured with heavy green tape. Unlike other prying government agencies, Homeland Security wants you to know it is watching you.

Posted by Diane E. Dees on 01/09/06 at 1:55 PM | E-mail | Print

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I wish I found this surprising: The Progressive reports that Grant Goodman, an 81-year-old professor emeritus of Asian history at the University of Kansas, writes regularly to his colleague, a former professor history at the University of the Philippin... [Read More]

Tracked on January 9, 2006 6:35 PM

Comments

Dear Mojo,

Regarding the government opening the mail of an old Professor, I left my position as a professor in the US ten years ago to move to Amsterdam after a decade or so of involvement in the attempt to legalize marijuana for personal and medicinal use. I have always assumed that the US government opens the mail that I send to people from Amsterdam, and a number of the letters I have sent have been slashed open and placed in a sealed bag by the Drug Enforcement Administration prior to being sent on for delivery. This is yet another government agency who has (for years!) been wanting people to know that their mail is opened.

It shouldn't surprise the American public that the rights that they allowed to be taken away from users of currently illegal drugs are also now taken away from otherwise law abiding citizen.

Yours,

Art Leccese

Posted by: Art Leccese on 01/10/06 at 12:58 AM

That what is most apparent is what always slips by unnoticed. Any good spy can tell you that. Like hiding something in plain site.

Obviously 9/11, and the terrorists behind it, are still winning. If the United States government believes that they are winning the war then they should look at their own actions and despair.

This type of action is not winning. Opening mail secrectly, listenly to phone conversations secrectly, intercepting email secrectly. These are the acts of losers.

I would suggest that the plan the terrorists started with the 9/11 act is perpetuating and succeeding. What we actually have here is a clear understanding of how THE US treats other countries. What disrespect we actually have for other peoples, cultures. and countries. And why foreign governments hate us so much. Now, not only do they have no respect for the United States of America, but the citizens themselves, living here in this once free country, have no respect for it either. And with good reason.

Posted by: uncle_alien on 01/10/06 at 4:40 AM