Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!sunfs3!geoff From: geoff@sunfs3.camex.uucp (Geoffrey Knauth) Newsgroups: comp.misc Subject: Re: USSR International Computer Club (was: Information on the ICC) Message-ID: <307@sunfs3.camex.uucp> Date: 21 Jan 89 22:28:13 GMT References: <10127@well.UUCP> <1315@orion.cf.uci.edu> <810@afit-ab.arpa> <10870@umn-cs.CS.UMN.EDU> <824@afit-ab.arpa> <1560@cps3xx.UUCP> <825@afit-ab.arpa> <1346@orion.cf.uci.edu> <834@afit-ab.arpa> Reply-To: geoff@sunfs3.UUCP (Geoffrey Knauth) Distribution: na Organization: Camex, Inc., Boston, Mass USA Lines: 37 I don't know what to make of William Bralick's hard nosed attitude toward adding the Soviets to Usenet. I'd like to see the discussion de-politicized. I can think of reasons both for and against having the Soviets on the net. PRO: Communicating with the occasional ordinary Soviet on the net might give him a window on the West, reducing tensions. It might also loosen up the KGB-types who will always be on the net. The important thing is for Americans to control themselves and not give away the store. In the end, no matter what the medium of technology, do we or do we not have to trust and watch over ourselves, if we are Americans? Are we that uneducated? (Perhaps!) Not communicating is a form of isolationism. I believe isolation is not a good thing for the security or spirit of the United States. If we are to lead the world, we have to watch that a united Europe and Japan do not end up investing in and rebuilding the Soviet Union at the expense of United States capital. CON: Most Russians I know (here and there) have a deep distrust or fear of the Soviet government. I profoundly respect their feelings and opinions, which are based on life experiences. For example, I am friends with a poet who spent 10 years in Siberia for writing a poem (under Stalin). Yet he just returned to the USSR for the first time for an extended visit. I can't realistically think of what the Soviets would give us to make adding them to the net worthwhile. I'd really like to see them ante up. -- Geoffrey S. Knauth ARPA: geoff%lloyd@hcsfvax.harvard.edu Camex, Inc. UUCP: geoff@lloyd.uucp or hcsfvax!lloyd!geoff 75 Kneeland St., Boston, MA 02111 Tel: (617)426-3577 Fax: 426-9285 I do not speak for Camex.