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Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!emory!hubcap!hstroma
From: hstroma@hubcap.clemson.edu (hepburn m stroman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Racism on the Net
Message-ID: <9532@hubcap.clemson.edu>
Date: 2 Jul 90 12:49:35 GMT
References: <1412@madnix.UUCP>
Organization: Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Lines: 37

Damn, I swore I wouldn't post on this again, but these
overgeneralizations really bug me. Here goes...

From article <1412@madnix.UUCP>, by robert@madnix.UUCP (Robert Moldenhauer):
> I've tired of reading racist statements on the Net.  Do we have to put
> upt with this outflow of biggotry against Iranians?  What if someone had
> said "All Blacks are xxxxxx" or "Jews are yyyyy"?  Why don't all these 
> folks who are responding to the misplaced appeal for aid for earthquake
> victims just go to their KKK meetings and leave us alone.
	I don't agree with those statements either, but to label all who
	oppose aid to Iran as KKK bigots is unfair and inaccurate.  
>  Better, shouldn't
> there be rules against making racist statements on the Net?
	_NO_. You can't legislate (in this case regulate) what people
	think.  The majority will recogonize racist drivel for what it
	is.  The first amendment (USA) guarantees the right to free
	speech.  If we try to limit it to "politically correct" speech,
	we start down a dangerous path.
> Racism doesn't help the murdered folks on Iran Air or Pan Am or KAL, it 
> just adds to the possibility that these tragedies will be repeated.
	can you support this claim?
> 
> -- 
> Robert Moldenhauer                              One People
> U.S. Snail: 30 Lathrop St.,                     One Planet
>             Madison, Wis 53705 USA              Please!
> BITNET: rmoldenhauer@WISCMACC      INTERNET: rmoldenhauer@VMS.MACC.WISC.EDU

disclaimer: I support aid to Iran (cf previous post) and therefore am
	    not one of the "racists" Robert is objecting to

Now, if anyone feels the need to respond to this, let's do it thru email
or in soc.culture.iran.  This discussion does not belong here. (Yes, I
know I am breaking my own rule, but this is _the last_ post I shall make
on the subject).

Hepburn M Stroman aka hstroma@hubcap.clemson.edu