Turning Point

Racism! Terrorism! Evil does not get much worse than this. But over at the USCF, this kind to name-calling has become just another item in the chess-politician’s bag of tricks. But for those with a larger view, a turning point has been reached. People can now see USCF politics for themselves: Racism! Terrorism! Evil does not get much worse than this.

Before now, USCF politics vs. Paul Truong, has been a confusing story of internet hacking, legalisms, conflicting experts, and lawsuits. This month, two events threw spotlights on the stage. They enabled a confused audience to see the context, the larger action of the story.

First, the big meeting in Texas. The USCF’s lawyer saved Paul Truong from removal. With all the behind the scenes machinations, Susan and Paul could not have won by themselves. The EB Majority’s strategy was to remove Paul on narrow grounds; their lawyer stepped all over this strategy and gave a broad-grounds argumentation. He further confused an already confused Board of Delegates. When all the dust settled, even Bill Goichberg decried the lawyer’s performance.

So, how reliable is this expert’s judgment? Shouldn’t a seasoned litigator have been able to size up a situation better than this guy did? How reliable are the other experts this guy hired on behalf of the USCF?

No definite conclusion is warranted because of this but, because of this, blind faith is no longer warranted, either. A turning point.

Second, the racism and terrorism talk. This popped up on a USCF Forum thread called, “Chess Discussion Forum Is Heavily Censored”. Interesting title, that. When I disagreed with the premise of this thread, that’s when the racism and terrorism stuff came up. This is how they argue over there.

I made the mistake of answering back. Guess what? The Moderator got on ME! Their rules prohibit labeling statements as “lies”. Oh, well.

What is striking, is how these kinds of smears are just taken as a matter of course. Everyone wants to mount the bandwagon and run the victim over. This, too, is revealing about the basic nature of USCF politics.

On the surface, this is a tempest in a teapot. I’ve got hurt feelings but I’ll get over them. What is significant is the brutal nature of the attacks. Terrorism! Racism! Evil does not get much worse than this. If this kind of piling on can happen to a nobody like me, then what lies behind the campaign against Paul and Susan?

Conclusion. In World War II, Stalingrad and El Alamein were turning points. One destroyed a major German army in Russia; the other shattered Rommel’s Panzerarmee Africa. As the Allies advanced, there was still a long war ahead of them. D-Day and Berlin lurked years in the future. The events of 1942 were turning points, not ending points.

Thus here. In the campaign to destroy Paul and Susan, the events of August 2008 are turning points. Accusations of internet hacking may be confusing; terrorism and racism are not.