oaf@mit-vax.UUCP (Oded Feingold) (09/16/85)
In article <767@mit-vax.UUCP> oaf@mit-vax.UUCP (Oded Feingold) writes: >> It is unclear whether Mr. Black is more dangerous in public or >>private. Those wishing his "silence" would be well advised to adopt the >>methods he himself espouses. Those require courage and dedication not >>evident in the silly postings we have seen recently. >> >> I have no doubt he knows whereof he speaks. Details to follow. Details follow. I am writing of the methods Mr. Black espouses. Consider the following sequence of postings: > 08/15/85 19:18:11 GMT > As far as not convincing men of influence, sorry Chief, > you're too late. The cat's out of the proverbial bag. > Remember what happened to Congressman Larry McDonald? And > WHY? [Donald Black] ------------------------------ Well, the claim was that the USSR shot down KAL 007 in order to kill Larry McDonald, D-Georgia, and president of the John Birch Society. The society, if I recall correctly, swore to avenge itself. But all the comedians were poking jokes that SAMANTHA SMITH should have been on that plane, or good thing she wasn't, or whatever. Even the most conservative columnists noted that "apologists for the Soviet position are lucky that Samantha Smith was not on the plane." App 1 week later than: 08/10/85 12:41:11 hence approximately 08/17/85 > What's really dangerous is that there's of couple of million > people just like me, doing the same thing, only many of them > are far more professional and far more dedicated. > > Sure I draw lightening. I would be more dangerous if I sat > back and said nothing. Right now you know where I stand. > If I were silent, you wouldn't know what anybody was up to. ------------------------------ When westerners tell secrets, they hide behind thick walls and locked doors. When Japanese tell secrets, they open the doors and windows of their paper houses - they can see who approaches to listen in, and whoever observes them "knows" they can't be saying things he shouldn't hear. I don't doubt Donald Black would feel safe committing an outrage while publicly proclaiming the virtues of doing so. What a fine alibi, being "too obvious." By the way, claims that others are far more professional and dedicated than himself, I take with a certain grain of salt. > Date: Monday, 19 Aug 1985 05:34:52-PDT > I don't really intend to convince anybody of who I am, > WHERE I'VE BEEN, or my religious/political beliefs. To each > his own. ------------------------------ Indeed, Mr. Black. You claim to be from Cow Hampshire, but your postings show GMT, PDT and of course EDT datelines. Tracking where you've been might be an interesting task. > 08/22/85 06:06:45-PDT > Have a good week. I'm on vacation until after Labor Day, > and I've temporarily de-subscribed from the net because I > don't have the disk space to store the net postings. ------------------------------ Three or four days later, poor Samantha Smith was killed on that little commuter plane. Don Black is conveniently "on vacation," off the net, having recently fulminated about Larry McDonald, for no apparent proximate reason. Coincident? Consider the context: By itselt, the death of the young woman who wrote a peace message to Andropov, received a favorable reply, and was lionized on a sponsored tour of the USSR in 1972, makes little sense and deserves scant attention. But what else is going on in the world? The Geneva disarmament talks are due to begin soon, and Gorbachev is about to set out the agenda (and initial bargaining positions) for his upcoming summit with Reagan. Among other things, he would like to portray himself as the man of peace, Reagan as the man of war. What better publicity coup than 1 Samantha Smith dies, 2 Pravda runs glowing eulogies 3 of the "Little girl with the big heart," 4 and Gorbachev personally sends a letter of condolence. 5 While Reagan threatens Nicaragua 6 and prepares for an ASAT test. 7 Now who looks good? Working vacation? What better time for your opportune absence, Comrade Black? What better use for Samantha Smith, that her death serve your masters in the Kremlin as much as her life? Someone still seems to have what it takes - we haven't yet found out what got the port engine. [Bomb? Strela? A sawn-through component? What else are you good at?] I can't say we weren't warned: Remember the closing paragraph of Don Black's memorial day posting. ------------------------------ > [Date: 05/31/85] > Those of us who survived the Viet Nam era have learned the > lessons of warmaking all too well, lessons we will not > easily forget. We will be more than happy to use our skills > one more time to keep our Nation and People free. ------------------------------ Pardon me while I wonder which Nation, which People, how to define "free." Just for confirmation, and in anticipation of violent acts paralleling violent words, I sent e-mail asking if the man was serious. The reply? ------------------------------ > 06/11/85 04:36:23-PDT > Surely "Comrade" Black jests not. > Just wait until the manure strikes the rotating ventilator. ------------------------------ Well, I can't say I was disappointed. -- Oded Feingold MIT AI Lab. 545 Tech Square Cambridge, Mass. 02139 OAF%OZ@MIT-MC.ARPA {harvard, ihnp4!mit-eddie}!mitvax!oaf 617-253-8598