Author: Vincent Diepeveen
Date: 10:35:55 04/01/03
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On April 01, 2003 at 13:02:54, Bruce Moreland wrote: This post has some political content, but much of it involves a major computer chess event, so I am posting it here rather than in CTF. The poster of that email, i received that email too, already knew that i was very happy that they started the war. In fact a previous attempt of the person in question to get my signature for some anti war thing, i had shipped the answer back that i hoped the war would start soon, and as i have some relationships here and there and because i'm not exactly dumb, i already used the word 'inevitable' in my wording too. In contradiction to the person shipping all this anti-war crap, i live in between muslims. There is many here. Some of them were celebrating at 11 september 2001. This where i fully support the anti-terrorrism campaign and so does the Dutch Government. There is several Iraqi's here too. They had to flee for the terror of Saddam. Comparisions with WWII dictators come to mind when hearing about that terror. These guys are the biggest supporters of the war. Everyone has the right to his own political thought and i don't mind getting emailed sometimes political stuff. I have my own political interests and try to promote them. They their own. We must live with that. Despite all that i of course go to Graz. If outside politics gets into the game of computerchess then we will never be able to play a worldchampionship ever. Some persons only go to a worldchampionship if a 5 star hotel gets paid by the government. That's their decision. Mine is simply that the fight should be fought on the board, that's why i go! I would regret it a lot if you do not show up there, because Ferret is by far USA's strongest chessprogram and would form the only possible competition to commercial programs from europe (israel counted to europe, especially because most of the money earned with that program i guess flows to germany). It is very sure that in Graz i will drink with the sender of the emails a beer in several cafe's. In Graz all politics will be forgotten sure. It is a big ICGA event where more than just chess gets played. Namely all kind of games. But no world politics. And i'm sure definitely no anti-american politics will be shown at the entire tournament. I would personally start a war there if that would happen! Trivially i would win that fight. Austria has no army. Actually as a matter of fact, some have given up the chance of ever beating me on the chessboard. As usually my words were interpreted as: "I'll beat you at any game". So i'll go try to beat an organizer there at table tennis! He's weekly practicing now. I didn't play table tennis for 8 years now or so. But i'll beat him and after that we will have a good peaceful drink in the cafe! Best regards, Vincent >On March 23rd, I received an email with the subject "Good Americans", containing >the text "Unfortunately there are yet no good pics of real good Yankees on the >net. But the guy on the enclosed picture is at least on the best way to become a >good one." > >Attached was a picture of an American POW in Iraq. > >I responded to this email, asking the sender why he sent this to me, and he >responded with general anger about the war, which led me to believe that this >was sent intentionally. My initial thought had been that it might have been one >of these forged virus email things that are so common now. > >On the 26th, I got another email, subject "I like Americans", containing the >text, "At least these ones." > >Attached was a graphic picture of two dead American soldiers. > >The sender of both of these emails is a well-known computer chess figure, who is >associated with the Graz event, presumably as a host. I know for a fact the >same emails, or very similar emails, were sent to other American computer chess >programmers. This leads me to believe that I was targeted due to my >nationality, rather than because of anything I have said publicly about the war. >I sent email to the ICGA officers asking them what they thought of this, and >telling them how I felt about this. I received a variety of replies, assuring >me that the ICGA is not political, that I will be welcome in Graz, etc. None of >this offends me, and I have little or no complaint about how the ICGA has handle >this. I've also had a running discussion with the person I'm referring to, who >steadfastly defends his decision to send these pictures to me. I have much >complaint about that. > >After some reflection, I have decided that I can't accept the hospitality of >this person under these circumstances, so I will not be going to Graz. > >I have carefully considered whether to make any of this public. I am doing this >now in order to: > >1) Respond in advance to inevitable questions as to why I am not going. > >2) Alert other Americans to possible problems in advance. It is possible that >you may meet with personally directed hostility in Graz, from someone connected >with the event, and you have a right to know this before making travel plans. >If you have concerns that you think the ICGA can address, I expect that they >would be happy to hear from you. > >I'm not calling for anyone else to pass on the event. By all means make that >choice for yourself. > >bruce
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