From: venugop@athena.cs.uga.edu (ABDUL PETER IYENGAR)
Subject: Re: SINCERE APOLOGY TO SCI READERS
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 03:15:22 GMT

In article <1992Nov20.001019.22102@news2.cis.umn.edu> crick@htlv.med.umn.edu (Ed Crick (CD)) writes:
>
>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
>
>===============================================================================
>
>

IF you could translate the last portion of your posting into
LATIN it could very well pass off for Milton's  AREOPAGITICA.
bye
gopa


PS hope SREE SREEE has read this ED's posting.