Date: 04/25/2003 08:53 AM
From: John E.A. Dunn ([email protected])
Subject: Pale Riders Who Wear Black Hats
Perhaps Hollywood is prejudiced against albinos – heck, it's not as if they're the world's most numerous group and might declare war on you ("Pale Riders Who Wear Black Hats," April 25, 2003).
But what about the more common and equally ridiculous piece of ethnic stereotyping: the bad guy is always English (or, failing that, continental European)?
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Date: 04/25/2003 07:37 AM
From: Donald Dunnam ([email protected])
Subject: DNA Fingerprinting for All!
Sounds like a first step toward the movie Gattaca ("DNA Fingerprinting for All!," April 23, 2003). The problem with such databases is the probability for abuse. Given enough information on someone, that person easily could be framed. Humans have had a long history of doing the wrong thing, especially when it comes to governing bodies. Power corrupts, and total power corrupts totally. Do we really want to give those in power an easy way to control everyone? Why should we believe they will act with integrity?
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Date: 04/25/2003 07:25 AM
From: Travis ([email protected])
Subject: Pale Riders Who Wear Black Hats
And what about Edward Scissorhands ("Pale Riders Who Wear Black Hats," April 25, 2003)? Sure, he was a freak, but he had more sensitivity and caring than you could shake a pair of scissors at.
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Date: 04/24/2003 08:00 PM
From: D.L. Rucknagel ([email protected])
Subject: Embattled Lab Unveils New Nukes
This administration is teaching the world that countries must have nukes in order to prevail or even survive ("Embattled Lab Unveils New Nukes," April 23, 2003). As a result, we will all be less secure than ever before. Our generation may receive credit for blowing the last opportunity to outlaw nuclear weapons.
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Date: 04/25/2003 07:43 AM
From: Dominique Selvon ([email protected])
Subject: Pale Riders Who Wear Black Hats
What about Milky from Me, Myself & Irene ("Pale Riders Who Wear Black Hats," April 25, 2003). He was initially portrayed as a poor, suffering kid who got picked on. Then he became this psychotic parent murderer and then he helped out the hero in the end. Seems like he went through the whole gamut of stereotypes ending up with being the hero.
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Date: 04/25/2003 12:34 AM
From: Thomas Shaddack ([email protected])
Subject: Futurist Fears End of Innovation
We the technologists maybe don't make laws, but we make the code – which is the highest law ("Futurist Fears End of Innovation," April 24, 2003).
Make it impossible for the vendors themselves to limit potential technology use by releasing full documentation for hardware. Then vendors can comply with any kind of stupid law while not limiting the users. The hackers will then help themselves in the way natural to them – creative, collaborative anarchy.
Trying to out-lobby the deep-pocketed interest groups is a quite futile effort. If we shift the fight to purely technological means, we will win. We can't prevent them from making bad laws – but maintaining unenforceability is our key to freedom.
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Date: 04/25/2003 08:49 AM
From: Christopher ([email protected])
Subject: Pale Riders Who Wear Black Hats
I don't get it, either ("Pale Riders Who Wear Black Hats," April 25, 2003). No, I'm not referring to the alleged portrayal of albinos as evil in movies. What I don't get is why some people have to take offense any time they see someone that reminds them of themselves portraying a villain.
Here's a clue folks: These are simply characters in pieces of fiction. I don't expect every albino I meet to be a psychopathic villain any more than I expect every person who wears a red shirt to die a violent death. Come on, people: Lighten up – it's not real!
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