From: crick@htlv.med.umn.edu (Ed Crick (CD))
Subject: SINCERE APOLOGY TO SCI READERS
Organization: University of Minnesota
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 00:10:19 GMT


An open message to all readers of soc.culture.indian.
I have been informed that several readers of SCI have been offended by my
recent posts, viv-a-vis my participation in certain flame wars.  My system
administrator has informed me of these complaints, and I would like to make
the following comments:

To those who took umbrage at my remarks as personal affronts, I extend a
sincere apology.

To those who read my posts and were offended at the suitability of their
content, I apologize.

To those who considered my opinions an attack on the nation and culture
of India, I apologize.

However, to those who sought to restrict my freedom of speech and silence
my opinions, I extend neither regrets nor apologies.  Freedom of speech is
an asset of great value in the world, and should never be restricted solely
on the basis of one's disagreement with the opinion.  What we say may not
always be a melody to our audience, but we should oppose any attempt to
curtail our *right* to that opinion.

Hearing comments that one may disagree with, or may find distasteful can be
quite unsettling.  Even more unsettling is living with the fear that one's
comments are tethered by an act of an oppressive government.  There are
governments which ban individuals for their sayings, or ban books for their
contents.  That is a grave injustice which should be vehemently opposed by
every free-thinker in the world.

Those who have chosen to come to the United States for the benefit of the
education and opportunity provided here have a responsibility to ensure
that *all* of the freedoms that have made this country able to support your
progress and prosperity are maintained for everyone regardless of gender or
ethnicity.  It is these freedoms which have made the US more tolerant
than any of her neighbors on this planet.  It is these freedoms that have
opened the doors to dissidents, those fleeing demonstrable persecution in
their own lands.  And it is these freedoms that have fueled the engines
of progress in the US at times when the rest of the world was struggling
to recover from wars and other tragedies.

Therefore you, from the country of Mohandas K. Gandhi, who inspired all
peaceful civil disobedience in the late 20th century because the freedoms
of his people were restricted, it is you who are entrusted with his sacred
torch: To illuminate the darkness of ignorance, to dispell the shadows
of intolerance and hatred, and to light the fire of freedom on SCI, a fire
that will rage so brightly that all readers of darkened groups whose speech is
muted by fear will see its burning, and be inspired to light their own
matches and incinerate the demons of oppression.

Sincerely,

Ed Crick

===============================================================================

I am writing to inform you that after six years, four months, seventeen days
in prison, I am free.  I walked out of the prison gate with my shoulders unbent,
my head unbowed.  I can touch the green leaves of the trees.  I can smell the
sweet scent of flowers.  I can share smiles and laughter with the women and
children.

Surely there is nothing so sweet, so beautiful, so precious as freedom and
liberty.

-- Professor Maina Wa Kinyatti
   Former Prisoner of Conscience
   Kenya

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Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian