There is an online petition started by the Icelandic Chess Federation urging President Bush is pardon Bobby Fischer. It is at http://www.freebobby and there is a link to it from Chessbase. I urge everyone to at least read it and make up their own minds. Even if you believe the Executive Order authorizing sanctions against Yugoslavia was justified (I don't but we've hashed that out in another thread), I believe the petition puts forth compelling reasons why the Fish should be pardoned despite his recent reprehensible statements.
Please check it out.
I'm still enjoying trolling for famous names in this petition. Hey, now Pete Sampras signed it! And so did Willard Scott!
Of course, some of the names I'm not so sure about-- "Shemp Howard" sounds a little fishy for example. And so does Milton Berle-- I was under the impression he was dead.
Personally, I think the petition's focus on Fischer's chess greatness is a little misguided. I don't see how his genius as a chessplayer makes him more worthy of a pardon.
By the way, read in the paper today that Fischer is considering becoming a German citizen to avoid deportation.
Bobby has become a national emabarrassment, it's really very sad. But he should not be punished for having done nothing more serious than playing a chess tournament in Yugoslavia 12 years ago. The world was electrified at his reappearance and the new display of his genius, and is a better place for it. More good was done than harm by the act and he should be pardoned and allowed to go back into seclusion. I signed the petition and sent e-mails to Bush and Cheney.
Originally posted by KneverKnightJust curious, what do you think Fischer has to offer the chess world?
I hope Fischer walks away from this, I see no point in prosecuting him except spite. Nigel Short published an article stating that he believes Fischer sometimes plays blitz online and is unbeatable. True or not, Fischer still has plenty to offer the chess world.
Originally posted by jgvaccaroIf you don't mind me answering this:
Just curious, what do you think Fischer has to offer the chess world?
Chess is one of the few art forms (yes, it's an art form) to have a mostly world-wide agreement on who their greatest "artist" is, and that is Bobby Fischer. For music, mostly everyone agrees that The Beatles are the greatest. Poetry, most consider Poe to be the greatest. Besides that, not many other forms have a definite favorite (there's no absolute greatest filmmaker, painter, novelist, etc). For you to say that Fischer has nothing to offer us is ludacris. He offers us history and a name that we all owe a gratitude to, if not that then at least our name on a petition to free him from prison. It's the least we can all do, I think.
-Kev
Originally posted by seraphimvultureFischer might have been the greatest chess artist once, but he clearly isn't any more. His skills have almost certainly deteriorated, and his personality is frightening and depressing.
If you don't mind me answering this:
Chess is one of the few art forms (yes, it's an art form) to have a mostly world-wide agreement on who their greatest "artist" is, and that is Bobby Fischer. For music, mostly everyone agrees that The Beatles are the greatest. Poetry, most consider Poe to be the greatest. Besides that, not many other forms ...[text shortened]... ur name on a petition to free him from prison. It's the least we can all do, I think.
-Kev
He's a sad, crazy man with a lot of past and (it would appear) very little future. His great games have a lot to offer chess players, just as the great games of other past champions do. But as far as I can tell he personally has very little to offer but disillusionment.
I hope he gets some help and finds some inner peace. I think his fame and the adulation of the chess world will probably not assist him in this-- they certainly haven't done much good for him so far.
(On another subject, I'm startled by your contention that Poe is generally held to be the greatest poet. That's quite untrue to say the least.)
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Originally posted by no1marauderIf he was the average Joe on the street there wouldnt even be a footnote here about what this clown deserves. Smoke him....
There is an online petition started by the Icelandic Chess Federation urging President Bush is pardon Bobby Fischer. It is at http://www.freebobby and there is a link to it from Chessbase. I urge everyone to at least read it and make up their own minds. Even if you believe the Executive Order authorizing sanctions against Yugoslavia was justifi ...[text shortened]... h should be pardoned despite his recent reprehensible statements.
Please check it out.