K4YZ wrote:
Hello One and All,

Our Resident Antagonist (Lennie "I Am Not A Liar" Anderson) is a
bit miffed becasue there's no thread to discuss the "Morse Code Exam
Issue". Personally, I think the subject has been beaten until every
last bit of life has been beaten from it, but just to prove him
wrong,
here's a thread, JUST for him.

So...Does anyone have anything NEW to discuss about the "Morse
Code Exam" issue? Does anyone care to engage Lennie in yet another
"debate" on the issue? He sure is sore because we've tired of it and
won't play his game any more, but his one track mind is still raring
to
go.

Betya I can sum up a lot of his "arguments" right now and save
some bandwidth:

(1) He "keyed up" some Army transmitters (not Amateur Radio) as
a
radio repairman in the 50's without the benefit of a Morse Code exam,
ergo no one should have to take any exam.

(2) He spent a lifelong career as a bench technician, ergo he
shouldn't have to take another written exam. Afterall, he spent 14
years in night school to get a 4 year BSEE degree, so that was ALL
the
work he should ever have to do again, ever!

(3) He has a GROL that he claims allows him to transmit
anywhere.
But he keeps omitting the part where his license also requires a
duly
authorized Station License or authorization for the "station" he is
"operating". That station license will dictate what discreet
frequency
he MUST use, what specific power limits he must observe, and in many
cases even specifies the antenna system to be used right down to
field
strengths and ERP.

(4) He knows a few licensed Amateurs, a couple of them Extras,
ergo he can say anything mean and despicable he cares to say about
Amateurs in general or Extras in particular. Even moreso if the
Extra
is a 20WPM era one. Double that if they are actually proficient in
Morse at or above 20WPM.

(5) He'll "argue" that since the physics of radio wave
propagation are the same for "commercial" radio as opposed to
"Amateur"
radio, that there is no difference in the two. He continually tries
to
compare one to the other. They're not the same. Any referal to the
Basis and Purpose of Part 97 will be dismissed as "administrative
language" that doesn't mean what it says.

(6) He'll "argue" that Amateur Radio is "just a hobby", despite
the fact that the enabling regulations for Amateur Radio say nothing
of
the sort. Any suggestion of volunteerism, civic duty, emergency
service or other educational or philanthropic use of Amateur Radio
will
be dismissed as "patriotic buffoonery".

(7) He'll "argue" that Amateurs, especially the aforementioned
Amateur Extras, are mired in 1930's era policy and practices despite
the fact that every one of the regular posters of this NG has made
comments to the FCC promoting significant changes to Amateur
regulations, including Morse examinations and relevency. And after
berating Amateurs for thier alleged stonewalling, he'll treat us all
to
yet another "...there I was at ADA in Japan in 1953..." war story
that
has absolutely no relevence to Amateur Radio policy in 2005, let
alone
anything to do with Morse Code at ANY time!

So...my opinion on what's most likely to transpire having been
stated, let's get on with a spirited debate on the Morse Code Exam
issue!

Remember...Morse Code Exam issues ONLY! Lennie Says So!

73

Steve, K4YZ

Heck Steve, there's no debate...the Morse code exam doesn't exclude
anybody.

73 de Bert
WA2SI
FISTS #9384
QRP ARCI #11782