The Twilight of Liberty: The Legacy of the ACLU

Following his book, The Politics of the American Civil Liberties Union , which argued that the group was not, as professed, above politics, LaRoche College (Pittsburgh) sociologist Donohue offers a flawed but provocative critique of what he calls the ACLU's ``statism and libertinism.'' He acknowledges that the ACLU has honorably battled violations of individual rights, but he maintains that the group's fetishization of those rights degrades institutions that help build responsibility and community. Donohue raises worthwhile questions about ACLU positions against ``contact tracing'' for HIV, metal detectors in schools and public expressions of religion. He contends that the organization's own practices don't match its support for affirmative action, and finds inconsistency in ACLU views on sexual harassment and campus free speech. He blames the ACLU participation in the deinstitutionalization movement for increasing the numbers of mentally ill homeless people and suggests that the group's defense of teenagers' constitutional rights ignores the claim of inner-city residents that curfews can make their communities safer. Though Donohue argues from the right, many of his contentions echo those of communitarian centrists, and his critique is in many instances appropriate. (Jan.)