[Kenwood] Curious

Tue, 29 Jul 2003 18:10:26 -0500

I have ALWAYS opposed the abolishment of the code. I think I have a few
valid reasons particularly in the context of the 3rd world. Then again, I
could be just a sentimentalist!  HOWEVER, I would never stoop so low as to
call anyone who is a no code ham the names you just did. As many OT's have
stated, I am ashamed and suddenly realize that knowing code does not make a
gentleman of a ham. The easiest way of losing an argument is to resort to
name calling and personal attacks.

I passed a 22WPM code test, worked for years as a Radio Officer aboard
Merchant ships, have an XYL who copies as fast as I can copy and my teenage
nephews learned the code from me. Today, I feel ashamed that old timers can
get on here and behave worse than CBers! For the first time in my life, I
begin to wonder if it is just the code that determines if one is a good ham
or a bad ham!

BTW, I had long hair and wore jeans when my ship went down (1982) and I sent
an SOS which saved the lives of 24 people aboard a freighter!

73,
Ron, 4S7RO/6Y5

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Manuel" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 5:49 PM
Subject: RE: [Kenwood] Curious

> --- "William J. Diamond" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Hay guys,
> > You can flame and argue the no code thing all day but myself and a ton
> > of other old timers like me will agree as follows.
> > A no code license holder is not a real ham.
> > They are appliance operators.
>
> Sir, you make me ashamed to be a 20 WPM extra.
> I wondered why so many newcomers put us down.
> I thought we got on and showed them how it should be done, by example.
> I thought we did what we could to get them interested in upgrading, so
> that our old traditional idea of ham radio would endure.
> I was under the impression that we answered their questions and steered
> them in the right way, realizing that if no-code existed when we started,
> of course we would have gotten our license as soon as we could.
>
> I have read that spark people ridiculed CW people, and the spark guys are
> gone.
> The old, old timers who had to actually draw schematics looked down on the
> multiple-choice tests, 5 WPM, and volunteer examining, and they are mostly
> gone.
> Now many of us who enjoy CW and stay mostly on HF are ridiculing the new
> people. This, too, shall pass. I just hope we are able to keep the amateur
> tradition from passing with us.
> And I can't help but think that you, sir, are not exactly helping things.
> 73,
> Paul K4PDM
>
>
>
>
>
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