Author: Marc van Hal
Date: 17:53:50 04/02/03
Go up one level in this thread
On April 01, 2003 at 13:35:55, Vincent Diepeveen wrote: >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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