[Qcwa] CW - One last to put a cap on it (I hope)

[Robert Harvey]

Bruce, WB7RHT and the rest of the group:

	First, let's not make the attacks personal.  Reasoned debate on
the reflector seems appropriate;  personal "flaming" is petty.  My beef
was with the tenor of some of the notes, i.e., because you don't feel CW
is worth using you believe it is not worth having.  This is lousy logic,
and bad for Amateur Radio as well.  We are on a rather slippery slope
here in regards to licensing, and I feel a duty to stand up and say
something.

	40 years ago, things that are considered "rights" today were not
even given consideration.  A few laws here and there, some legislation,
and a very slick PR campaign and now we have a plethora of found
"rights" which allow just about any activity, regardless of the
consequences to society.  I see Ham Radio heading down the same path.

	Just because someone has not yet brought suit to ensure all Ham
Exams are offered by the Examiners in every possible language doesn't
mean it won't happen.  Just because someone has not yet claimed the
exams are culturally biased doesn't mean they won't ever do so.  When
you come from a culture in which Electricity itself is a luxury, it's
going to be hard to convince the courts the suit has no merit.  And
they'll win.  Mark my words.  I hesitate to point out all the possible
scenarios for fear of putting a bug in someone's ear, but the fact
remains;  we reduce standards at our peril, in Ham Radio as in every
other facet of our society.  Ok, Ok, not multiple choice, but
"fill-in-the blanks".  A difference that makes no difference at all
really, but you got me.

	I personally enjoy CW, very much.  I also enjoy the various RTTY
modes and am less inclined to SSB operation.  Do I rail against the
outmoded carrier-suppressed voice modes, and demand we move forward into
digital speech now?  No, of course not.  I have zero, nada, zilch, skill
with some other aspects of electronics and ham radio.  The exam
questions on some of these still exist;  I don't demand they be removed
because I either don't enjoy them or find them personally irritating.

	I AM proud I took the exam back before the exams were changed.
Does that make you less worthy of your license class?  It does if you
don't feel some remorse that you weren't tested against more stringent
requirements and overcame them.  I certainly have felt that way about
many things in my life;  "gimme's" always made me feel like I
accomplished much less.  Back in the heyday of Amateur Radio, every
amateur designed his own rig, had to draw schematics of their station
for the Radio Inspector, and generally do much more "hands on" than I
did when first licensed.  I do feel I was shortchanged somewhat; whether
by the march of technology or just by being born in the current "modern
era".  Life was simpler in the early days of Amateur Radio, but someone
with a Ham license applying for a technical job was hired on the spot,
because the interviewer absolutely knew what minimum skills the Ham had.
Not so today.

	Now before I get slammed for hating modern technology, please
refrain.  I am someone who devours it;  I have 3 computers, 3 PDA's, MP3
Players, GPS's, and of course all that Ham gear overflowing my house.  I
love it, but I can't build it.  There's the rub;  A Ham of 50 years ago
most likely understood and could build all the consumer electronics
around him, providing he had the parts.  Those days are over.

	I have not previously ever discussed the 13 WPM change in the
Extra exam with anyone, off or on the air.  But several notes I saw
seemed to have a flavor of, let's say "gloating", that the previous
testees were somehow suckers for having to take a harder exam, while the
currently examined don't.  I didn't like that tone, because it missed
the whole reason the test was changed;  to bring those who were having
difficulty with CW into the fold.  It seems rather ungrateful to now
mock those whose support for the change, active or passive, brought it
about.

	As a final note, I too am 41, and have also been licensed since
1977.  And I did my military service in the Marine Corps, boot camp at
Parris Island.  As I remember back 20 years ago to that time, I recall
it was kind of hard.

	I am currently working for the US State Dept. and have served in
several war zones, including Chad and Cambodia (2 long years apiece).  I
don't think I need to establish my bona fides any further.

73, Bob Harvey
K2PI