The Right to Privacy
I was listening to the radio this morning and I heard that Carolyn Kennedy has been nominated to the role of Ambassador to Japan. I find this interesting as her grandfather was Ambassador to England in the FDR administration, and if you are a history buff, you know how that worked out.
I am aware of Ms. Kennedy's prolific writing career and I returned to one of her books (The Right to Privacy), which I read a while ago that will probably be "revised" again after yesterday's congressional vote on NSA's ability to listen in to our private conversations. It was approved by the House 217-205, but civil liberties supporters claim that this close vote sends clear signals to the Obama administration to watch their step. I guess many of us, including Congress, are a bit conflicted about this.
I've had friends say, "I don't care about this, I'm not saying anything that I couldn't repeat." And some of my other friends say, "I can't remember if I've said anything that is prejudicial." And yet still other friends say, "Where does it all stop? What will they be doing next?" Or, even better, what are they already doing that we are going to find out about next week?
Amazon's description of Kennedy's book says, "Can the police strip-search a woman who has been arrested for a minor traffic violation? Can a magazine publish an embarrassing photo of you without your permission? Does your boss have the right to read your email? Can a company monitor its employees' off-the-job lifestyles--and fire those who drink, smoke, or live with a partner of the same sex? Although the word privacy does not appear in the Constitution, most of us believe that we have an inalienable right to be left alone. Yet in arenas that range from the battlefield of abortion to the information highway, privacy is under siege. In this eye-opening and sometimes hair-raising book, Alderman and Kennedy survey hundreds of recent cases in which ordinary citizens have come up against the intrusions of government, businesses, the news media, and their own neighbors. At once shocking and instructive, up-to-date and rich in historical perspective, The Right to Privacy is an invaluable guide to one of the most charged issues of our time."
I must say that this was an amazing read. But I have the older version and so I may actually re-read the newer revision to see what she has added. But I have to say, knowing what I do and what has happened, and yesterday's Congressional vote — a newer version of this book needs to be written. But if she gets the appointment, we may have to wait for that.
I am aware of Ms. Kennedy's prolific writing career and I returned to one of her books (The Right to Privacy), which I read a while ago that will probably be "revised" again after yesterday's congressional vote on NSA's ability to listen in to our private conversations. It was approved by the House 217-205, but civil liberties supporters claim that this close vote sends clear signals to the Obama administration to watch their step. I guess many of us, including Congress, are a bit conflicted about this.
Amazon's description of Kennedy's book says, "Can the police strip-search a woman who has been arrested for a minor traffic violation? Can a magazine publish an embarrassing photo of you without your permission? Does your boss have the right to read your email? Can a company monitor its employees' off-the-job lifestyles--and fire those who drink, smoke, or live with a partner of the same sex? Although the word privacy does not appear in the Constitution, most of us believe that we have an inalienable right to be left alone. Yet in arenas that range from the battlefield of abortion to the information highway, privacy is under siege. In this eye-opening and sometimes hair-raising book, Alderman and Kennedy survey hundreds of recent cases in which ordinary citizens have come up against the intrusions of government, businesses, the news media, and their own neighbors. At once shocking and instructive, up-to-date and rich in historical perspective, The Right to Privacy is an invaluable guide to one of the most charged issues of our time."
I must say that this was an amazing read. But I have the older version and so I may actually re-read the newer revision to see what she has added. But I have to say, knowing what I do and what has happened, and yesterday's Congressional vote — a newer version of this book needs to be written. But if she gets the appointment, we may have to wait for that.
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