[Fists] CW Activity

[ATanner283 at aol.com]

Interesting stuff as usual Fred. I guess that everything that can be said  
about the removal of CW has been said many times over. I never looked at it as a 
 filter or anything of the sort. I looked at it as a requirement that I had 
to  pass to become a ham radio operator. "Back when" I don't seem to recall 
folks  always trying to find the "easier, softer path" to everything. FISTS 
really  missed the boat the first time around when the decision was made to remain  
silent on the Morse issue. At that time we were more of a "force" and should  
have used our clout. Later,when it was decided to enter the fracas, the horse 
 had not only left the barn, but was in the glue factory. I believe that a 
lot of  this stuff started when novices were given the added privileges. When 
you were  75 watts INPUT limited, xtal control, one year up or out, you were 
either  motivated to get going, or GET going. I couldn't WAIT to dump those dang 
xtals.  It also meant that when a feller shed his novice accent, he could 
access the HF  bands knowing he was able to operate in a somewhat professional 
manner, and had  SOME skills before being turned loose on the ham population at 
large. Many many  hams hated the Morse requirement. For some, it was the 
hardest of all, but for  just as many, the theory was hard. This idea that Morse 
"blocks" individuals  from being hams is pure B.S. If you wanna ticket, you will 
study and get one.  Many of the ops who hated Morse found they actually loved 
it after they became  proficient at it. Now, many will never know the joy of 
code, because they will  NOT be motivated to try it. Even 5 WPM is not code, 
nor is it a test of  proficiency. And, I guess, in this day and age, we probably 
don't need the 20  WPM stuff, but we do need the 5 WPM testing. We will loose 
it of course, but in  years to come, when the bands have all become emptier 
than they are now, I  wonder if the "gimmee's" of this hobby will look back and 
point to the moment  they lost it.  Phone and digital comm becomes very 
boring and sterile  indeed after awhile. Take a look at the repeater activity. It's 
zilch here  around Dayton now. Well unuff for now..........I put up an 
inverted "L" for 160  this week, and think I will go see what's happening on that 
band this morning.  Time will tell whether history will applaud our decision to 
dumbify our treasure  of ham radio, or look back on us as folks who gave into 
instant gratification,  political correctness, and the idea that no one should 
fail, so lets do away  with the test. We shall  
see....................Al/W8FAX/2192