Even knowing that, I could not resist the headlining, since Wicca is collaterally a subject in litigation against the city of Salem, Missouri, and its library administration.
The plaintiff's complaint is online as a pdf, here. The case is basically about curbing censorship, by a public library financed primarily from local property taxes, brought by a resident-taxpayer, using the library and having internet access constrained and censored in ways claimed to infringe upon minority views of spirituality.
It is being litigated by the ACLU, it being, Hunter v. City of Salem, et al., with the opening page of the complaint speaking clearly, per this screen capture (second page image, p.4 of 15, bearing the first mention of Wicca/Wiccan):
For reporting, Ars Technica (where I first read of the litigation), here. It is semi-widely reported. The ACLU of Eastern Missouri's report, here.
A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER: Can you imagine Michele Bachmann, or a clone or acolyte, having her biased and frenetic fingers on a keyboard typing away as her mind directs, using library blocklist software? Imposing her views of appropriate and inappropriate viewpoints of "spirituality." Or selecting proper content on Israel or Iran?
Or about herself?
Dump Bachmann need not apply.
Can you imagine that? I can.
Worse perhaps, Sarah Palin? All she'd let through is her Dominionism, Alaskan hunting, and snow-mobiling sites. And child care. But not all child care. Not childbirth prevention topics. Some, but not all content on abortion. Her likes, dislikes, and understandings preemptive; it is a most horrible thought.
Or, would you want the very Reverend Mr. James Dobson dictating to a host of censorial followers, employed at libraries, all intent upon imposing Dobson's own personal standards of what is or is not to be proper public internet access?
The kind of stuff Ms. Hunter experienced at her local public tax-funded library, because of the potentialities, has to be nipped in the bud. Decisively. We should be most thankful the ACLU is there to help a lone individual, facing government arbitrariness regarding free access to ideas and information regarding alternative conduct or beliefs. The ACLU opposed Red-baiting during McCarthy times, and this current case is little different, and saddening in that it even needs to be filed and litigated in the 21st century, in our nation.
______________FURTHER UPDATE______________
The firm making the censoring software at issue in the case is a Canadian firm, the software is called "Netsweeper" and it is used in ways with the firm making money in ways that make me puke. This screen capture, from here:
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| click image to enlarge and read |
So, they make malware and are evil, and whoever could love that?
Come on, try a guess. Then check out this screen capture.
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| this link |
Who else? The repressive regimes that use this infernal product to keep their citizens from thinking, they probably don't "love" the firm, but they like the outcome.
Further info, here, here.
Isn't it proper, the chief executive officer of the firm making this infernal censorship tool is named ROACH?
I kid you not.
See, e.g., here, one of the firm's about-us pages, stating in relevant part:
Management
Perry J. Roach
Chief Executive Officer
As one of the original founders of Netsweeper and a primary shareholder, Perry Roach has led the business through a decade of growth and maturity. Bringing over 25 years of experience in operations, sales and management to Netsweeper, Perry's entrepreneurial leadership and spirit has positioned Netsweeper as a technological leader of Internet Content Filtering solutions. Under Perry's leadership, Netsweeper has developed a team of internationally qualified professionals that continue to drive the business forward with a customer first attitude.
Today, Perry is the driving force behind his management team as he focuses on building a tactical road map for the business while developing strategic partnerships in the pursuit of new business opportunities. [...]
[image added, not in original] Now, finally, doesn't this homepage capability assertion make you goosepimply, all over, over how fast and smart the roach's product is? I've never seen a roach that fast! Fastest damned roach in Canada, I'd bet.