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From: moynihan_r@apollo.HP.COM (Robert Moynihan)
Newsgroups: news.groups
Subject: Re: Skinhead newsgroup
Message-ID: <483f1f78.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM>
Date: 25 Jan 90 14:10:00 GMT
References: <1231@rsiatl.UUCP> <48215758.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM> <4316@vanuata.cs.glasgow.ac.uk>
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Reply-To: moynihan_r@klingon.UUCP (Robert Moynihan)
Organization: Apollo Computer, Chelmsford, MA
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=

Dave Morash wrote me, regarding my postings about
skinheads in the media.  The quoted part of his letter
is used with his permission.

===============================

Hi Dave,

> Could it just be possible that the media is only showing you what you
> want to see? Maybe you shouldn't believe everything you're told by the
> media. 

You know, this did occur to me.  Remember, all I had ever heard of was
the neo-nazi skinheads.  When I saw them on TV or read of them in the
paper, they were quite clearly articulating their viewpoint.  There was
no way it was due to a media slant of things.  However, I realize that
it's possible that the only reason they got air time and/or ink was that
the stories were apt to cause an uproar.  As the saying goes, you never
hear about the 210 million people that make it home safely from work, 
just the ones that crashed and burned.  Likewise, love-thy-neighbor
skinheads aren't newsworthy.  

The skinheads I saw on television were in my mind, unquestionably vile.  
I would've thought the same if I heard them articulate their views in 
person.  In that respect, I could believe what I was told, because it 
wasn't "the media" that told me.  More important is what the media 
doesn't tell us, namely that these might not be a representative sample 
of the skinheads.

Anyway, my initial reaction was towards the only skinheads I ever heard
about.  I could not comprehend how anyone could defend such a group.  I
do find it interesting that as yet, John G. DeArmond has not re-posted
to clarify exactly which group he was writing about.  I hope he does so
soon.

I believe in the right of free speech.  However, speech on Usenet is not
free.  Each company or school pays for storing and transporting the
messages that are sent out.  I don't want HP lowering its profits by so
much as one cent by handling the racist and anti-semetic slurs that 
groups such as the KKK,  the american Nazis, or the latter skinheads
espouse.  Therefore, I will resist any attempt to get them their own
newsgroups to spread their propaganda.  I would, however support a group
for the original skinheads, but there will have to be some pretty 
convincing evidence that those are the people that the group would be for. 

You made a very good point in your letter to me, and I welcome your input.
Thank you for writing.  

 
============================///====================================
moynihan_r@apollo.hp.com   /// "Winners are losers who got up and 
Plink: Moynihan        \\\///  gave it just one more try." 
Hewlett-Packard/Apollo  \XX/                        -Dennis DeYoung