From: kurt@eskimo.celestial.com (Kurt Cockrm 762-6417)
Subject: Re: Tell me about Seattle
Organization: Cores 'R Us
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 19:53:56 GMT

In article <80qj7vd.peterh@netcom.com> peterh@netcom.com (Peter John Harrison) writes:
>I've been reading this thread, from down here in San Francisco.  Yes,
>mygawddon'ttellmeit'sa *Californian*!   Eeeeekkkkk!
>
>Gimme a break.  Even if I have lived in this state, on and off, for 
>about 2/3 of my 30 years, does that mean I fit in with the stereotype
>you hace me set up for?

Well, I can't tell, so far.  Do you have plans to move up here?  Do you
believe that humans were put on this earth to dominate it, and to use its
resources as they see fit, without regard for the consequences?  If you
moved up here, would you then feel homesick and try to transform your
surroundings into a replica of where you are from? After discovering that
the replica is no more livable than the original, would you then move on?
If you give answers to these questions, I can better assess whether you fit
the stereotypes.

Hint: pretend I'm an Ecotopian border guard :)

>What if I was black?  Hispanic?  A woman?  Rich?  Poor?

What if, indeed.  Well, if they had the attitudes described above, and
were rejected, can you imagine them going around saying, "I was rejected
because of my crummy attitude"?  Of course not!  Shades of Clarence Thomas!

>I can see holding predjudice against an individual, say a politician,
>because you know something about him and don't like it,

I'm the guy who started all this foofaraw, by indicating my prejudice against
a clueless individual who fitted all the stereotypes.  The things I knew about
this poster were deduced from the posting.  I'm glad you have no problems with
my prejudice.

>                                                        but suggesting
>all Californians are filth and shouldn't be allowed to move to your
>neighborhood?

Just the ones who believe in unlimited growth, and believe that the world
is their oyster.  In any case, I'm not saying that these people should be
*prohibited* from moving to my neighborhood;  I'm not in favor of *prohibiting*
anything.  But if being criticized for their crummy attitudes and habits
makes Californians uncomfortable enough to not want to move here, I have
no problem with that.  It is *not* a constitutional right to be free of
criticism of one's attitudes or beliefs.  If the fire's too hot, get out
of the kitchen.

>               Shall we send all Jews and Japaneese back to detainment,
>too?  Take the vote away from blacks, women, and people who don't own 
>property (one of the original requirements to vote in many states)?

Well, no, I don't think that is necessary.

>Shall we issue little I.D. cards and set up toilets: "Californians"
>"Good People"   ?????

We all know how brain-damaged Californians are; they would just *lose*
the "little I. D. cards" that we had thoughtfully invested $500 million
in, thinking we were going to be swamped;  all those ID cards would become
just part of the general litter and ground duff.  So we are not going to use
them; instead we made a big pile of 'em near Everett and are now figuring on
using `em for mulch for all of our collective farms and reeducation camps.
Instead, we will just tattoo "666" on the foreheads of all entering
Californians, and "999" on the butts of all the Ecotopians.  Any Californian
who can walk on their hands becomes an honorary Ecotopian! (chortle, snurk!)

>If you really feel that way, please feel free to join the Nazis or 
>other political party of your choice.  But don't bother telling me 
>you have an open mind about sex, race, and religion.

I never claimed to have an "open mind" about anything.  I happen to have
very strong opinions and prejudices.  What separates me from the bigots is
that my opinions can be changed by facts, and I am willing to examine my
prejudices to see if they check with reality.  However, I am not easily
swayed by appeals to emotion, or the opinions of others.

>                                                      You can't even 
>get past where a guy lives.

Correction: where a guy *used to* live.

>peterh@netcom.com       This opinion is mine, but make it yours if you like.

I have a better idea: Californians should adopt Ecotopian opinions and
attitudes.

kurt@grogatch.celestial.com (Kurt Cockrum)