Chess -- Bobby Fischer in jail

[Claverhouse]

Not being interested in chess, because I was never very good at it, Bobby Fischer is only a name to me: but he seems to be in very bad trouble. Anyone who's interested can check out this site

Free Bobby (http://www.freebobby.org/)

Where petitioners seek

We urge Mr. George W. Bush, the President of the United States of America, and the United States Government, to pardon Mr. Robert James Fischer of any charges for having violated sanctions against the former state of Yugoslavia, by playing a chess match there with Boris Spassky in 1992.

Bobby now may face a $250,000 fine, ten years in prison, or both. In this whole drama, however, not a single person involved in the 1992 Fischer-Spassky Match has been indicted or even criticized for their participation; no one except Fischer.

This is apart from earlier having had his goods stolen in the US, and apart from the fact that the US Government, perhaps because of his having played chess in ex-Yugoslavia, revoked his passport without warning or process, and on 15 July 2004 he was arrested in Japan.

Weird people.

Note the link to the events in Japan is offensively anti-jewish. However, no matter what his supporters are like, the persecution of this gentleman is rather dispiriting.



Claverhouse :ph34r:

[Melody]

I hope he burns in hell.

[int]

I hope he burns in hell.

:rofl:

[Johnny]

I enjoyed Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess when I read it a long time ago.

From http://www.rnw.nl/hotspots/html/jap040722.html:



Bobby Fischer is said to have received some three million dollars in prize money from the 1992 match in Montenegro, then part of Yugoslavia, but became a wanted man back home. His reputation in the US suffered further in 2001 after he reportedly welcomed the 11 September terrorist attacks on Washington and New York.

"The US State Department told him that he may not do this. They sent him an indictment and a cease-and-desist order, which he ignored, in fact he spat on it in public, and he played."

Of course, I don't mean to suggest this reveals the whole story either, but it does shed additional light on the matter.

[Claverhouse]

As implied, I know scarcely anything about him, but his ( alleged ) spitting scarcely seems to account for such penalties; and certainly not for devalidating his passport without what Americans (* but not us, I think ) call due process.

Anyway I don't believe in sanctions much at the best of times, and certainly not applying to individuals. ( FAIK he may be a communist or something, which could account for his going to Yugoslavia, but last time I checked, people have that option :D ).



Claverhouse :ph34r:

[paladinoflunaria]

I will say that the "transformation" is suspiciously surprising. Nevertheless, I admire his abilities. I'm glad to here someone with obvious brain-power bash the US.

[Johnny]

The story goes further to suggest that Japan is offering Fischer in exchange for the withdrawal of a deportation request by the US on another matter.

I'm not sure that Fischer's actions deserve the consequences he has received either. But for him to enter Yugoslavia as an American to play an international competition in an environment of war and genocide, especially as an American of such accomplishment, was not very well thought out. What do I mean here? I mean let's give Fischer a chess board now, and then let us see how interested he is in accepting responsibility for his own actions...

[Claverhouse]

I'm not quite sure what you're suggesting here ? Surely you don't mean he should dress up in chain-mail and go forth onto a lonely Swedish hill-top and play for his soul against that fell sergeant, the Grim Reaper, do you ?

To Mr. Fischer's defence I would say, on this cursory reading, that he probably doesn't consider himself as having 'nationality', save for mundane purposes. Probably thinks himself sui generis and an Overman.

Still, 10 years jail for playing a chess game seems a trifle steep when the old thugs who ordered the events at abu Grarib will no doubt end their careers full of honours and get excellent funerals at Arlington.


:ph34r: :D B)



Rupert :ph34r:

[Johnny]

I did suggest that Bobby Fischer's claim that "chess is life" deserves to be lived - but by him, not you or me. Your illustration is very much to the point, sans chain-mail.

However, I agree with you that Fischer does not consider America to be his home and that he feels no allegiance to that country. But Fischer has taken actions that he still knew full well would not be supported by the US Government. It is sad to see the Japanese use Fischer as a diplomatic bargaining chip when they should not have to, and I am likely being overly harsh towards a man who likely has suffered mentally and emotionally for much of his life. It is ironic to see his disregard for the suffering of others turn around to face him, a turn that he was warned to avoid.

Can we at least offer him a chessboard now to defend himself? I understand the reaper is not very sympathetic to Anti-Semitism...

[Claverhouse]

I understand the reaper is not very sympathetic to Anti-Semitism...

By God, Johnny: Death just loves anti-semitism... It's given him some of his best work. :devil:



Claverhouse :ph34r:


[ Not that I believe everything I'm taught, but that's not for here. :ph34r: :devil: B) ]

[paladinoflunaria]

I love the reaper. He always wins drinking contests though.

[Johnny]

By God, Johnny: Death just loves anti-semitism... It's given him some of his best work. :devil:

Yes, that certainly is the dark aspect of the reaper, isn't it?

[Johnny]

Yes, it is a sad story and the question of Bobby Fischer's mental health is important. However, your post got me thinking about Myers-Briggs and Jung again, about the "shadow".

I know we're talking about imprisonment here and that Fischer's life is not currently a physically pleasant one, and I do not mean to diminish this fact. But could it be said that Fischer is in the grips of his shadow, his inferior function?

[Johnny]

Asperger syndrome? Possibly. It would certainly offer a more credible defense than Myers-Briggs typology and shadow function speculation.

[candela]

Note the link to the events in Japan is offensively anti-jewish. However, no matter what his supporters are likeAfter reading the links on there, you should see he is anti-jewish too..

[Claverhouse]

Note the link to the events in Japan is offensively anti-jewish. However, no matter what his supporters are likeAfter reading the links on there, you should see he is anti-jewish too..

Who cares ?

I don't give a flying **** if someone hates jews, whites, protestants, Bulgarians or me. Everyone is entitled to believe exactly what they believe because no-one should interfere with another's mind.

Besides which, I ignore most people's beliefs.


Claverhouse :ph34r: