If ham radio becomes a part of the "norm" how is it any different from cb radio?
If we're making it a part of the "norm" as a giveaway or some such why bother
with the licensing requirements at all?  Personally I'm proud of the fact that I
earned my extra license code and all but if it was just out there for anyone to
grab it would become pretty meaningless like these buy-it-and-go degrees on the
internet.  People just want it for no work and that's where its headed.
Advocating a giveaway is one thing but advocating that amateur radio should
become the "norm" is a slap in the fact to all amateirs.  Its a sad day when
people with more earned knowledge than others are seen as being on a "high
horse".

Tom


Tom Brennan  KD5VIJ, CCC-A/SLP
web page http://titan.sfasu.edu/~g_brennantg/sonicpage.html

On Sun, 17 Dec 2006, Colin McDonald wrote:

> Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2006 09:02:53 -0700
> From: Colin McDonald <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: For blind ham radio operators <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Fw: [WestMichiganHams] FCC Eliminates Morse Code Requirement
>     (Finally!!)
> 
> hold on, are ham operators supposed to be some closed cult? or click that
> only special privallaged persons can hope to be apart of?
> Why can it not become a part of the norm instead of an odity?
> Isn't that the whole idea behind amateur radio is to allow it to be
> availible to anyone taking an interest at an amateur level?
> I think there are way too many professional amateurs on HF who take the
> whole thing way to seriously, and who also get bent out of shape when they
> happen to find someone not up to their high horsed standards.
> That is precisely the kind of operators that keep beginners away, or scare
> them away quickly.
> Perhaps amateur radio on HF is very much similar to an NFB type of
> organization in its ideals.
> Maybe we can begin to change that by allowing more normal everyday people on
> there.
> 73
> Colin, CFA6BKX
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2006 8:53 AM
> Subject: Re: Fw: [WestMichiganHams] FCC Eliminates Morse Code Requirement
> (Finally!!)
> 
> 
> > Howard, I agree.  Hams used to be set apart from other folks and with the
> > dumbing down of requirements there is less and less difference between a
> ham and
> > anyone else.  The tech test is pretty simple and the general isn't much
> harder
> > in terms of accademics.
> >
> > Tom
> >
> >
> > Tom Brennan  KD5VIJ, CCC-A/SLP
> > web page http://titan.sfasu.edu/~g_brennantg/sonicpage.html
>