"Jerry" wrote in message
...

snip

I don't really like it that CW is going away, but it WILL go away so far
as
necessity goes same way we don't commute to work in our '56 Fairlane. So
we
ADAPT to change instead of vainly clinging to the way WE think it should
stay forever and a day. When we are dead and gone, the world will be
vastly
different than we would've remembered it!

It isn't going away any more than tubes are going away or crystal-controlled
oscillators are going away. Those of us who wish to use them are free to do
so (and this freedom will probably continue for a long time).

Railroad fans admire steam locomotives, car buffs fawn over a Model T and
old men love their old wives. But in each case, the object of their
affection is, like Morse Code, past its peak of popularity and practicality.
Yes, learn Morse, use Morse, even love Morse -- but for crying out loud,
stop pretending it's the be-all-end-all of ham radio -- because it isn't.

Yes, yes, yes -- I know Morse Code will get through when other modes fail.
I've heard it a hundred times, so it must be true. However, this doleful
situation almost never presents itself. If this were a practical view of
the world, then we should all buy Army tanks, the better to navigate the
rubble of a natural disaster when all other means of transportation are
unavailable. (Not a perfect metaphor; work with me, OK?)

Although I have no objection to YOU using Morse Code, I personally resent it
because I can't learn it. I've wasted countless hours trying and it just
doesn't happen for me. Too bad, so sad. But there are rays of sunshine.
The FCC may just lift the requirement off my shoulders before another year
passes and in the meantime, maybe I'll rack up more club FD points on
UHF/VHF voice than the HF guys on all modes combined. I did it in both 2004
and 2005.

"Sal"
(KD6VKW)