Fischer's rants should not be forgiven. They are not forgiveable. They can only be understood in the context of mental illness. I do believe that many of his apologists exist because he was American. It is difficult to see a national icon fall as Fischer did. We can only treasure his early brilliance and pity his subsequent madness. Sadly, not everyone we place on a pedestal can remain there.
Bobby Fischer was a Russian...any difference?
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...for those who are not familiar with "Godwin's Law"-
Godwin's law (also known as Godwin's Rule of Nazi Analogies or Godwin's Law of Nazi Analogies)[1][2] is a humorous observation made by Mike Godwin in 1990[2]which has become an Internet adage. It states: "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1."[3][2] In other words, Godwin put forth the hyperbolic observation that, given enough time, in any online discussion—regardless of topic or scope— someone inevitably criticizes some point made in the discussion by comparing it to beliefs held by Hitler and the Nazis.
Godwin's law is often cited in online discussions as a deterrent against the use of arguments in the widespread Reductio ad Hitlerum form. The rule does not make any statement about whether any particular reference or comparison to Adolf Hitler or the Nazis might be appropriate, but only asserts that the likelihood of such a reference or comparison arising increases as the discussion progresses. It is precisely because such a comparison or reference may sometimes be appropriate, Godwin has argued[4] that overuse of Nazi and Hitler comparisons should be avoided, because it robs the valid comparisons of their impact.
Although in one of its early forms Godwin's law referred specifically to Usenet newsgroup discussions,[5]the law is now often applied to any threaded online discussion, such as forums, chat rooms and blogcomment threads, and has been invoked for the inappropriate use of Nazi analogies in articles or speeches.[6]
I've don't know any people who, knowing the things he said, happily overlook Fischer's nasty and outrageous comments, although they were not widely publicized in the U.S. and many Americans are not well informed on this topic.
It has been noted before that many famous people throughout history had a very nasty side to their personality but this is usually forgotten as time goes by. It is consistant and reasonable when held up to this historical standard to admire the brilliant chess of Fischer while disliking his dark private side.
If Fischer had been something else and not American, his statements would have been widely publicized and squarely condemned, and everyone would be outright hating him. As it is, the statements were kept hush as far as possible, there wasn't much condemnation, and the people are ambivalent about him.
Have a read "Jebcc"-
Antisemitism (also spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism) isprejudice against or hostility towards Jews often rooted in hatred of their ethnic background, culture, and/or religion. In its extreme form, it "attributes to the Jews an exceptional position among all other civilizations, defames them as an inferior group and denies their being part of the nation[s]" in which they reside.[1] A person who holds such views is called an "antisemite".
Antisemitism may be manifested in many ways, ranging from individual expressions of hatred and discrimination against individual Jews to organized violent attacks by mobs, or even state police, or military attacks on entire Jewish communities. Extreme instances ofpersecution include the First Crusade of 1096, the expulsion from England in 1290, the Spanish Inquisition, the expulsion from Spain in 1492, the expulsion from Portugal in 1497, various pogroms, theDreyfus Affair, and the Holocaust by Nazi Germany.
While the term's etymology might suggest that antisemitism is directed against all Semitic peoples, the term was coined in the late 19th century in Germany as a more scientific-sounding term forJudenhass ("Jew-hatred"),[2] and that has been its normal use since then.[3]
We have happened onto a flood. Is it that fisher is still being a damn? If so then it is that focused stability that has set him apart, and that which we focus on. It seems like here is still something there that we can discuss.
If Bobby fisher weren't American his game would be different I'm sure. But his skill, if it were still invested in the game, would bring some different play. I wonder if his personality would be so strong as to find the same positions. It's questions like these that bring the game into perspective, and show us of it's limitedness.
"A lovers quarrel with the world" -Robert Frost. I think that we would have to look into the other aspects of this 'insanity' and speak in clinical terms. If we shouldn't prove to be able to do so, then it might become a jest. And one that is very intellectual in its dissolution capabilities. Just as what is broken cant be made whole, only mended.
It may however, become something entirely new. Hmmm
Thanks for all your input...
Wow...Godwin's law got invoked pretty early here.