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On the contrary: the ACLU was founded as a peace organization but
was tamed to the uses of Cold War Liberalism - the mindless
orthodoxy that establishes the limits of allowable debate in our
contemporary politics. <br>
<br>
Roger Nash Baldwin became head of the National Civil Liberties
Bureau (NCLB) in 1917. An independent outgrowth of the American
Union Against Militarism, the Bureau opposed American intervention
in World War I. The NCLB provided legal advice and aid for
conscientious objectors and those being prosecuted under the
Espionage Act of 1917 or the Sedition Act of 1918 - (Democratic)
President Woodrow Wilson's largely successful attempts to suppress
opposition to US war policy. In 1920, the NCLB changed its name to
the American Civil Liberties Union, with Baldwin continuing as its
director. The admirable Jeannette Rankin (the only person to vote
against the US entry to WWI and WWII), Jane Addams, and the
socialist Helen Keller were founding members of the ACLU.<br>
<br>
The ACLU was formed to protect aliens threatened with deportation,
along with U.S. nationals threatened with criminal charges by
Wilson's Attorney General Palmer - the eponym of the Palmer Raids -
for their socialist activities and agendas. It also opposed
government attacks on the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and
other labor unions.<br>
<br>
In 1940, under pressure from the Roosevelt administration, Baldwin
barred communists from leadership or staff positions. The purge
began with the ouster of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, a member of both
the CPUSA and the IWW. The ACLU's chairman since its founding, Harry
F. Ward, resigned to protest Baldwin's action.<br>
<br>
In spite of its hobbling by liberal politics, the ACLU continues to
support some admirable positions, including opposition to the death
penalty, opposition to campaign finance laws like McCain-Feingold
(which restrict freedom of speech), and opposition to "anti-spam
legislation." <br>
<br>
On that last point - of interest perhaps to some on this list - the
current ACLU has argued that proposed anti-spam legislation
infringed on free speech. They assert the radical view that "It's
relatively simple to click and delete." As early as 1997 the ACLU
had taken a strong position that nearly all spam legislation was
improper. <br>
<br>
The ACLU has also, properly it seems to me, supported the Citizens
United decision, altho' they are perhaps wavering a bit. --CGE<br>
<br>
<br>
On 11/20/10 11:31 AM, Karen Medina wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:AANLkTikjtEJBotzUGumqEz3trECsdcgokhoLBTgA98sA@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:
medium;">The ACLU doesn't take a stand on political issues
unless rights are violated, and it isn't a peace organization,</span>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br>
</span>
</div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:
sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">I just want to point out the
contradiction of this. War is a violation of certain civil
liberties, namely the right to life and freedom from torture. </span></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="sans-serif"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br>
</span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="sans-serif"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I am a
member of ACLU. Do I wish it were anti-war? Heck yes. </span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="sans-serif"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br>
</span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="sans-serif"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I find
it interesting when groups say they are protecting civil
liberties or providing humanitarian aid but call war a
political issue. I see why they do -- the Red Cross or the
Red Crescent would be unable to enter places where they do
their most valuable work. </span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="sans-serif"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br>
</span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="sans-serif"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I just
have troubles seeing how war is a political issue alone. </span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="sans-serif"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br>
</span></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="sans-serif"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">-karen
medina</span></font></div>
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