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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!houxm!ihnp4!bentley!dxa
From: dxa@bentley.UUCP (DR Anolick)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Flame on "DEATH TO ALL ZAEON PIGS!"
Message-ID: <479@bentley.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 19-Sep-84 08:28:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: bentley.479
Posted: Wed Sep 19 08:28:51 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Sep-84 08:59:05 EDT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Piscataway
Lines: 45





       I've been reading the net for about a month now, but this is
       my  first  posting,  so  I hope I don't break any netiquette
       rules.

       I have been disturbed by Michael N. Washington's  signature.
       This  is  not  a  personal  attack  on Michael, I've enjoyed
       reading his postings.  However, I believe that  the  phrase,
       "DEATH TO ALL ZAEON PIGS!" is inappropriate for this net.

       The phrase in question comes from the episode which examines
       the  Nazi  Regime,  and  the  message of the episode is that
       absolute power corrupts absolutely.  The  phrase  shows  the
       negative effect of that absolute power.

       The episode was a good one, maybe the problem is  that  when
       the  phrase is taken out of context, you lose the message of
       the episode.  When reading the phrase, my perception is that
       it  is  glorifying  a bigoted ideal.  (Again, I don't accuse
       Michael of being a  bigot, I'm  just  stating  what  my  gut
       reaction is when I read the phrase.) It  seems  to  me  that
       since  this  net  celebrates  the  positive attitude of Star
       Trek, that a negative statement such as this phrase  is  not
       appropriate.   Let  me  add,  that  I  am not unbiased in my
       feelings.  Being a Jew, the ideal behind this phrase has  an
       added significance to me.

       I'd like to see some discussion of this on the net.   Again,
       I  am not attacking Michael, I doubt that he means to offend
       anyone with his signature.  Because of human diversity,  and
       since  the  net  is so large, I'm sure every posting offends
       someone, somewhere.  But I'd like to see some discussion  of
       this  signature.  Am I over sensative due to my bias?  Or do
       others agree, that when taken out of context, this phrase is
       not a positive Star Trek statement?  

       Thanks in advance for any _thoughtful_ responses.


                       DROYAN                  ..ihnp4!bentley!dxa
                       (David ROY ANolick)