From: darkshot@rock.concert.net (Michael B Garrett -- Chudys)
Subject: Re: prejudice
Organization: Not a hell of a lot...
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 07:00:59 GMT


Darkshot looks up from his beer; the messages he's received are weighing
heavily on the ledger he uses in place of his conscience.  He nods at Jason,
Damien, DJ, Splash and Didi- and adds an uncharacteristic wink for the
Sprite.
He picks out by eye Castellan and Kitten, and smiles. He  nods formally to
Blammor, the Dark man.

His left hand reaches into a pouch at his belt. Removing it, he drops a pile of 
silver coins on the bar- a pile containing Eisenhower dollars, US Trade Units,
and other oddly-shaped coins bearing strike dates that are not yet.

He rumbles at Mike, who watches him carefully: 
"In case my friends need a drink."

Darkshot eyes the line......

He stands and approaches.

"It's a hell of a thing, when having searched for the Place for so long,
I find I don't have the time to be fully up-to-date on the goings-on.
This is the problem. I will leave here for now- but I will certainly be
back. I thank all of you who gave me a warm welcome.

Darkshot raises his glass as he toes the line.

"When I stumbled on the Place, the topic was "prejudice". I _would_ like to
comment: I don't think that most people are prejudiced _against_ things so
much as they are prejudiced _for_ other things; I fall into this category
myself. The conflict seems to lie in the fear that Other People's Prejudices,
if somehow brought to fruition, will damage or destroy the things we're
prejudiced _for_. The Exalted Kleagle cowering under his sheet may not realize
this- but I believe it to be true, and provable. As for myself, I have done
my best to uproot my negative prejudices, and in doing so I've rarefied my
positive prejudices.

"I found that I have really strong prejudices for Rickenbacker bass guitars,
Gibson Hummingbirds, old Cadillacs, beer, Celtic women, Springfield rifles,
chihuahua puppies, all cats, Credence Clearwater Revival, UNIX, Ruger automatic
pistols, Turkish swords, The Wall Street Journal, Robert A. Heinlein and
Tennyson. I also think that the 327 Chevrolet engine is the finest engineering
feat of the century, and that anyone that believes American Craftmanship has
declined hasn't seen a recent Disney movie, and that Tesla was robbed.

"Most of all, I like "my kind of people". Until recently, I figured that there
was only 5 or 6 of us. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled in _here_.....

"Although I can't stay long, or take part in much discussion, I feel as if
I belong here. For that I thank you all.

Darkshot surveys the room, drains his glass and states formally:

"Next time, you must all come to my house."

The crash of the glass in the fireplace surprises most of the crowd- 
and Darkshot turns to leave. He stops by the blackboard, finds an unused
corner and writes:

Michael Garrett- "Darkshot"
Born: May 22, 1956
Home: Creedmoor, North Carolina USA
Occupations: Curb boy, Mill rat, Musician, Information synthesist.
Current bias: Philosopher/Rakehell/Poet/Rogue

Reasons for continued existence:
Dad (soon to be elected) 
Senior partner -  Chudys, Inc. (Unix internetworking)
CEO - CDIS  (Castle Darkshot Information Synthesis- hard case consultants)
CEO - The Darkshot Foundation (Education R&D)

Quote: (to an Entertainment Editor who asked my opinion of rap)

"I don't know. I play bass. I drive a Cadillac. I'm conservative; I vote
Republican. I don't think any of this shit applies to me. Sorry about you."

After scribbling the above, Darkshot pauses by the door. He turns, winks,
and states: By the way- the next round is on me!

As before, only his eyes give him away.