Re: Vote NO on white-power usenet group (fwd)
Jon Epstein (epstein@wfu.edu)
Wed, 13 Mar 1996 18:41:13 -0500
>Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 18:40:18
>To: RL
>From: Jon Epstein <epstein@wfu.edu>
>Subject: Re: Vote NO on white-power usenet group (fwd)
>
>I received this post on the IASPM list. My reply to it follows below.
>I thought I would pass it along to everyone so they could
>at least be aware of the topic. my response was sent
>as a personal note, and has nothing what-so-ever to do with
>Rocklist. Everyone should, of course, follow their own conscious.
>I would think that this issue would make a good topic for discussion here,
though.
>Jon
>
>>Um. I hate to be picky here but I hardly see how we can "vote" on this issue.
>>Either EVERYONE get's a voice on the Net, or EVERYONE will be censored.
>>We can't pick specific groups to target because we disagree with their
>>politics. If the IASPM takes the position that we support
>>net censorship please let me know so I can
>>cancel my membership.
>>
>>Of course there is a big difference between trying to block this group
>>from the Net, and speaking out against their idiotic, racist bullshit, which
>>I have always done and will continue to do.
>>
>>Before you decide that I'm a "bad person"
>>notice the last name. I was Bar Mitzvahed in Jerusalem.
>>
>>As appalling as I find the whole White Power/Aryan Nation thing,
>>I will defend their right to be here just as I would expect others to
defend me.
>>As a point of interest, they are already here. The Aryan Nations has
>>a homepage, as does Resistance Records (Imagine Rock music
>>that tries to deny it's African roots and you get a pretty
>>good idea of how bad their "product" is).
>>
>>Just my two cents.
>>Jon "I need no burning crosses
>> to illuminate my nights."
>> Motorhead
>>>>
>
>>>>I rec'd this information about an internet ballot regarding the
>>>>establishment of a neo-nazi/white-power music news group.
>>>>
>>>>As internet users we all have a vote, and I urge you all to vote NO!
>>>>
>>>>Nazi organizing around racist music is a prime recruitment method --
>>>>and contributes directly to racist and homophobic violence.
>>>>
>>>>To vote No, send a message to: music-vote@sub-rosa.com
>>>>
>>>>The content of the message should read:
>>>>
>>>>I vote NO on rec.music.white-power
>>>>
>>>>Your vote should be forwarded to the address: music-vote@sub-rosa.com
>>>>Do *not* vote twice, as that would constitute voting fraud.
>>>>Anonymous votes will not be counted.
>>>>
>>>>You might also want to pass this message on to others who might be
>>>>interested.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>FORWARDED MESSAGE:
>>>>>
>>>>>In essence, there is a vote being taken right now to form
>>>>>another neo-nazi USENET group. You have the right to vote NO. The set-up
>>>>>process is open to all people who have e-mail accounts, as they are
>>>>>potential subscribers to any USENET group.
>>>>>Votes must be recieved by midnight, March 18, 1996.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Here's what Canada's George Burdi, of the neo-Nazi Heritage
>>>>>>Front, had to say about this vote, on February 21, on his
>>>>>>RESISTANCE mailing list:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "There is a call for votes
>>>>>> coming on rec.music.white-power in the next week
>>>>>> or so, and you will be notified in a special issue of
>>>>>> RREN exactly what to do. FOLLOW THE
>>>>>> INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LETTER. Let me be
>>>>>> perfectly blunt and state that we have more than
>>>>>> enough "net-nazis" to win this thing hands-down.
>>>>>> But every one of you must vote YES! And just
>>>>>> voting yes means nothing unless you do it properly.
>>>>>> So you have been forewarned. The instructions
>>>>>> are coming to your email box soon, and they
>>>>>> are not complicated. Just follow them as told,
>>>>>> and we will have a WP music newsgroup finally!"
>>>>>>
>>>>>>If Mr. Burdi's confidence disturbs you, please give this
>>>>>>letter the _widest_ possible distribution, and help us deliver
>>>>>>the largest NO vote in the history of UseNet.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The creation of the group rec.music.white-power, proposed by
>>>>>>noted net-nazi Milton Kleim, has provoked some interesting,
>>>>>>and sometimes insulting, arguments in news.groups, the forum
>>>>>>for the discussion of such new group proposals.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The attempt to establish a foothold within mainstream UseNet
>>>>>>should be viewed as precisely what it is: an attempt to
>>>>>>validate a political agenda, and a genre of "music," which
>>>>>>promote hatred based purely on religious and cultural grounds.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Although the standard procedure for proposing a new music
>>>>>>group would mandate posting the Request For Discussion (RFD)
>>>>>>to UseNet's music groups, Mr. Kleim quote deliberately did not
>>>>>>do this. That is the first pointer we have to his real
>>>>>>intention: mainstream validation of his political agenda.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The second pointer offered by Mr. Kleim is this: that he _did_
>>>>>>post the RFD to the so-called "white power" newsgroups, and
>>>>>>other venues relating to politics. That clearly established
>>>>>>his purpose, which had nothing whatsoever to do with music.
>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Here is the complete CFV:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> FIRST CALL FOR VOTES (of 2)
>>>>>> unmoderated group rec.music.white-power
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Newsgroups line:
>>>>>>rec.music.white-power Lyrics, albums, performers, enjoyment of the genre.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Votes must be received by 23:59:59 UTC, 18 Mar 1996.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>This vote is being conducted by a neutral third party. Please address any
>>>>>>questions about the proposal to the proponent.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Proponent: Milton John Kleim, Jr <bb748@FreeNet.Carleton.CA>
>>>>>>Votetaker: Michael Handler <handler@sub-rosa.com>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>RATIONALE: rec.music.white-power
>>>>>>
>>>>>>There is no appropriate newsgroup for discussion of White Power music, a
>>>>>>phenomenon which is international in scope. Persons who have an interest
>>>>>>in this genre of music have no appropriate venue on USENET in which to
>>>>>>discuss this controversial topic. Other rec.music groups' topics are too
>>>>>>dissimilar, and many of their participants are in no way receptive of
>>>>>>posts about this heated topic. Some discussion of White Power music
>>>>>>occurs on alt.skinheads and alt.politics.white-power, but is inappropriate
>>>>>>there due to the former's mostly lifestyle-oriented matters, and the
>>>>>>latter's largely political nature. Rec.music.white-power will prevent the
>>>>>>"intrusion" of fans into other, more vaguely-defined, newsgroups, where
>>>>>>they will not be welcomed. Discussions would necessarily be free and
>>>>>>open, due to the topic's controversial nature. This group should be
>>>>>>unmoderated because a moderator could exercise undue control over one
>>>>>>viewpoint's postings.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>CHARTER: rec.music.white-power
>>>>>>
>>>>>>All issues relating to the genre known as White Power music, since it's
>>>>>>inception until the present, covering all languages and nationalities of
>>>>>>performers, and all themes of pieces.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Rec.music.white-power is an unmoderated newsgroup for the entertaining
>>>>>>and enlightening discussion of revolutionary new forms of rock, country,
>>>>>>and other sub-genres having racist/nationalist themes. Both supporters
>>>>>>and opponents will find the group educational and intriguing.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Potential topics will relate to the origin, development, and
>>>>>>dissemination of White Power music; to the artistic composition and
>>>>>>performance of the music; and to the personal opinions and perceptions of
>>>>>>those who enjoy particular bands and performers, and pieces.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>END CHARTER.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>IMPORTANT VOTING PROCEDURE NOTES:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Standard Guidelines for voting apply. One person, one vote. Votes
>>>>>>must be mailed directly from the voter to the votetaker. Anonymous,
>>>>>>forwarded or proxy votes are not valid. Votes mailed by WWW/HTML/CGI
>>>>>>forms are considered to be anonymous votes.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Vote counting is automated. Failure to follow these directions may
>>>>>>mean that your vote does not get counted. If you do not receive an
>>>>>>acknowledgment of your vote within three days contact the votetaker
>>>>>>about the problem. It's your responsibility to make sure your vote
>>>>>>is registered correctly. Duplicate votes are resolved in favor of
>>>>>>the most recent valid vote. Addresses and votes of all voters will
>>>>>>be published in the final voting results post.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The purpose of a Usenet vote is to determine the genuine interest of
>>>>>>persons who would read a proposed newsgroup. Soliciting votes from
>>>>>>disinterested parties defeats this purpose. Please do not distribute
>>>>>>this CFV. If you must, direct people to the official CFV as posted
>>>>>>to news.announce.newgroups. Distributing pre-marked or otherwise
>>>>>>edited copies of this CFV is generally considered to be vote fraud.
>>>>>>When in doubt, ask the votetaker.
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
Jonathon S. Epstein "I realize
Department of Sociology I hold the key
Wake Forest University to freedom, I
Winston Salem, N.C. 27109 cannot let my
(910)-759-5447 life be ruled
epstein@wfu.edu by threads."
Rocklist@sun.soci.niu.edu Marillion
"Will work for tenure"!!!
http://www.soci.niu.edu/~rocklist/jepstein/jepstein.html