I am honestly puzzled as to why you are going to the mattresses on this issue. Are you personal friends with an ALA leader?

The politics of the ALA or its suborganizations does not reflect on you. I think we would find universal agreement here that not only are you not sympathetic to Marxism or regimes like Castro's, but that you are, certified or not, an exceptionally skilled and motivated member of your profession.

However, the fact that you are not a leftist whacko does not invalidate the concept that some--not all--of the people who represent your profession at the political level in Washington and elsewhere are leftist whackos. I believe that the references I have posted in the past--from these people, not just from their enemies--speak for themselves in this.

I went through this all before when I constantly faced the argument that just because a vast majority of the anti-war protestors were not Marxist, or even radical leftists, that this somehow made it impossible or at least irrelevant that the largest protests were organized, funded, and carried out at the top levels by people who were, in fact, radical Marxists.

The politics of professional organizations at the highest levels often have little to do with the politics of the average member of the professions. Look at many unions for examples.

As to Cuba and its libraries:

When Castro dies, it is entirely possible it will make no difference. Stalin died. So did Kruschev. The totalitarian system went on. The Cuban Marxist regime may fall for some reason one day. The U.S.S.R. did. And then, I guess we will have the truth about what it is like to live in such a place rubbed in our faces one more time. Some Leftists will learn something. Most won't.

The fact that a librarian is not certified in Cuba does not invalidate them as librarians. In a nation like Cuba that requires complete political obedience, if not willing cooperation, from people who are considered official librarians, the only choice for free minds is to work outside the system. The fact that these people are rabidly opposed to Castro's regime, or ally themselves with other such people, does not invalidate their work.

As for people like Marta Terry, head of the ASCUBI: it is utterly impossible for someone holding this position in a totalitarian nation and able to travel freely to be anything other than a trusted tool of the Castro regime. This applies to many professions other than librarians. Please don't take my word for it. Ask anyone who has lived under such a system anywhere in the world. The Soviet Union, where many top officials in libraries were Communist Party officials, is a great example of how such things are run, and the truth about that nation is now available.

I have no idea if the requirements of your job include some form of licensing, accreditation, or certification from your state, locality, or the ALA. But, if, for example, some expansion of the Patriot Act required you to violate your principles as a librarian, or face losing whatever certification may be required for you to work at your job, I dare say you would be the sort of person who would be soon be loaning books out from her basement, or volunteering in other ways to do what you do best despite the State. This would not make you any less of a "librarian." In fact, in my opinion, it would make you even more of one.