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Chess and Politics An Anti-Politic Rant, by David Surratt The world of chess contains plenty of politics. Just from the last couple of decades we have the first Karpov-Kasparov match and related shenanigans, the schism between Kasparov & FIDE, the PCA, the GMA, the ABCs (wait, was that kindergarten?), and more recently Yasser Seirawan's efforts to unify the World Chess Championship, the "interview" with young Ruslan Ponomariov, and so on. I accept these things as an integral part of the chess world. Recently though, I have become more aware of politics from the "outside" world creeping into the chess world. At Pakistan Chess Player Lev Khariton's 200 Words for March 31st, 2003, urged chess sponsors and organizers to boycott Garry Kasparov's participation in chess events because of a non-chess article he wrote in the Wall Street Journal supporting a war against Saddam Hussein's regime. Lev takes the position that any moneys paid to Kasparov "will be a token of support for crimes and murders, genocide and another Holocaust in human history." (By the way Lev, where are your 200 Words decrying the gassing of entire Kurdish villages, or the rape, torture, and mutilation of so many other citizens of Iraq? Come on, let's not be so selective in our opposition to violence!) At Chess Sector - Ukrainian Chess Online Mikhail Golubev took things one step further, advocating the "boycott not only [of] Garry Kasparov (who is hardly able to be objective, writing about the Middle East), but everyone, who publicly supported the invasion." and calling Americans "Aggressive, fundamentalistic, anti-democratic, non-humanistic. Often insufficiently educated, limited both intellectually and culturally. Invariably self-satisfied and increasingly mad." Eric Schiller announced his intentions to "take part in protests against the war criminal Bush and his cronies" ... "fighting against Bush's genocidal oil war", by way of explaining why he wouldn't be producing much chess content for a while. Unsurprisingly, his remarks provoked several very pointed exchanges before order was restored and that particular group returned to discussing chess.Well I have an opinion on this war too. Want to hear it? Too bad - you won't hear me espousing it here. Everywhere I turn, I get these political pronouncements: television, print journalism, even my email inbox fills up with these things. If you are conscious, and don't have your head in the ground, you simply can't avoid hearing or reading about the politics of this war, or most other political targets, for that matter. The economy, abortion, sex-fiends, judicial appointments held hostage in retaliation for previous judicial nominations held hostage, the list is seemingly endless. I can easily get all of that I want in other venues. Chess, for me, is a recreation. I have no aspirations to chess greatness, nor am I ever figuring to get rich running a chess website (I'd be happy just to pay the bills!) For me, chess is an escape, a "place" I can go to and get away from all of the everyday cares of life. I don't want to read about the war in Iraq, the stagnant economy, or any of the other issues of real life, when I am recreating. That's why I recreate! That's why you won't find any of this sort of reasoned debate (or iconoclastic diatribe) on Chessville. The only place you'll see it is in the Off-Topic folder at Chessville's Discussion Forum, where it is easily avoided if you, like me, care not to read such things while enjoying chess. I have to agree with Davide Rozzoni, owner of the Unorthodox Chess Openings list, who said "I understand that the subject causes strong feelings and emotions in this days. As this is a Unorthodox Chess Openings list, I agree with those who said to keep the messages chess related. And I'd add UCO related. I have my ideas on this war. I've even written a brief column on a free Italian newspaper but....I'm not discussing them here." Dan Triplett, of Chess Chat, puts it another way, "It's so obvious that the two, chess and politics, shouldn't mix. People come to ChessChat to discuss chess. Occasionally there are topics that get folks red, but for the most part, topics are tame. Politics and religious discussion don't belong anywhere in chess. ... ChessChat is "chat." Casual and friendly and I hope to keep it that way." What do you think? Stop by Chessville's Discussion Forum and participate in our poll: Chess and Politics: Chess websites and magazines should... a)
discuss politics & war, and take stands on issues.
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