From: John Smith I on Mon, Jan 22 2007 2:03 pm

To Whom It May Concern:

For decades now amateur radio has been a closed club. It has been
relegated to the technical minded and the religious minded (ARRL, brass
pounders, good-ole-boys, etc.) This has been no less than a crime
against humanity and shows a base, self-serving and
progress-holding-back-mentality of the individuals who have perpetrated
this "crime" upon humanity. They smack of lack to the right to even be
called human.

John, go easy on those vitamin supplements...don't OD...

Now, you might ask, "How can you substantiate the above?"

My reply would be, "EASY!"

Now, let me explain, we here all know the power of the internet. We
know the importance of the internet. I think few will dispute that the
internet will change humanity (you might also dispute if all the changes
will be for the better.) We communicate here in a free, uncontrolled,
idea-sharing and democratic way--owing to its' creation and proper
development.

The Internet went public in 1991. In just 15 1/2 years it
has already impacted the lives of most Americans, doing
business or just doing communications with others. It's
now one of the fabrics of our society.

Now, compare the internet to amateur radio. I think amateur radio could
and SHOULD have made such changes decades ago. Amateur radio has the
power to allow humanity to communicate worldwide. Amateur radio could
have allowed members who where math inclined and could have made the
same contributions to data encryption, data compaction, and data
transfer that the internet did.

Not allowed in the 1930s time-frame mentality of
the Rulers of amateur radio, John. One MUST be a
skilled radio operator of the 1930s period, even
in 2007. Beep, beep.

So, what is the real difference between amateur radio and the internet?
It is the people, that was and still is the major difference. Small,
self-centered, self-serving, protectionist, criminally-minded and
just-generally-unsavory individuals seized control of amateur radio and
controlled its' destiny.

You mean the ARRL, right? :-)

Geez, John, the ARRL started out as a small club busy
trying to hack the commercial telegram services. Then
they lost it when they found out it could MAKE MONEY
for them (through publishing).

Now I say, "Let us remember the names and calls of these individuals
well who have so greatly influenced amateur radio, where amateur radio
has gone and what amateur radio has become. Let us recognized their
vast damage, lack of intelligence, lack of caliber, lack of integrity
and just-general-small-man-mentality which they have so well demonstrated."

I disagree a bit there, John. I put them in the Selfish
Control-Freak category who ODed on POWER. It's "1984"
in redux. "They know what is best for amateur radio"
was their ultimate condescension. Say that over and over
and over and over and over again, especially in printed
media, and one begets believers. It did. The Al-Codah.
Fundamentalism hammered out in Brass.

Yes, let these men now go down in history for what they were, what they
did and what they still remain ...

Open any ARRL publication and you will see them all...but
done up in the League's own descriptions. There is no
limit on their self-praise and honors heaped upon honors
of their League brethren. Others, the REAL pioneers of
radio, are simply omitted. Those never existed. Poof.

Beware! They still lurk amongst us. BEWARE! They now attempt to
"shape-shift" and change into "little helpers" which appear to be
"angels-of-light", let us hope the rein of their damage will finally end
and men finally see them for what they have been, are now and will
continue to be in the future--LIARS and CHARLATANS!

Ooopsie, a tad over the top there, John. :-)

While that is true one is not - EVER - supposed to
criticize those "who know what is best for amateur
radio!" You may face ex-communication!

Sigh. It's either 'Animal Farm' or 'Animal House.'
Getting hard to tell them apart. Especially with
all the "news" about Spark Gap transmitter
experiments lately. Real cutting-edge technical
radio stuff...

Irreverently,

LA