America 1982-Chapter 198 - 73: Angels and Demons_4
"As a practitioner, is your perspective on industry standards merely to plagiarize and learn from similar products?"
"I have no opinions on industry standards, Mr. Chairman; I’m just a small company director, insignificant within the industry. It’s up to you to tell me what the industry standards are. For example, whether you decide to use the Lotus 1-2-3 vs OSS lawsuit as a reference and hastily establish related standards, or take time to deeply understand the evolution of this industry and carefully set a series of standards. It’s not about what I or other companies think; it’s about us waiting for you to tell us what to do. The industry certainly can’t grow wildly without regulation, but there’s an issue, both Actor and Lotus should be regulated, no one can be above all, and if you use this lawsuit to set standards, it would be rather harsh for Actor Corporation or me personally, because I would not accept that. Lotus did the same thing in the past, so why can they now be sanctimonious and accuse Actor of merely emulating them? This is extremely unfair to Actor Corporation."
The audience erupted into a commotion again.
Van Stan stiffened his face and slowed his speech, "Mr. Tommy Hawk, your recent remarks might be considered undocumented slander."
Tommy looked unflinchingly into Van Stan’s wrinkled face, each crease moving like a venomous snake whenever he spoke, and said, "Dan Brooklyn, the CEO of Software Arts Company is willing to testify for what I just said. If permitted, he’s right outside, ready to attend this hearing and cooperate with your questioning. He can submit the development logs from Software Arts Company as evidence. He and the software development logs can prove that before Lotus 1-2-3 was launched, Mr. Mitch Kapor had visited Software Arts Company multiple times under the guise of exchanging computer technology with classmates. Soon after, Lotus 1-2-3 was released, including many convenient features ready to stun the industry that were from Software Arts Company’s PC version of VisiCalc, causing a rapid decline in VisiCalc sales. Moreover, when VisiCalc sales plummeted, Lotus Corporation attempted to acquire Software Arts Company. Mr. Dan Brooklyn believed that Lotus Corporation intended to completely cover up the scandal of plagiarism, so he declined the acquisition. However, due to the absence of legal references and the company’s tight finances, unable to afford expensive legal consulting fees, Software Arts Company did not initiate a lawsuit. But now, Software Arts Company has officially filed a lawsuit against Lotus Corporation. They, like Actor Corporation, firmly believe that sunlight will always shine into the computer software industry, bringing light here."
...
A dissatisfied voice said, "Are you implying you’re willing to burn a black man right now to prove your innocence? Tommy Hawk, we don’t need such a bloody and legally questionable act that would bring a negative impression to SSD. Black people can live in this country, we’re just..."
"You’re just fooling yourselves, the increasing number of black people is beyond your control, you dare not burn black people, you only scold your white brothers who dare to smile at them, right?" Tommy cut off the other person’s words and stated.
A voice spoke with dissatisfaction, "Watch your attitude, Tommy."
Tommy’s lips curled into a smirk at that voice he was so familiar with—it belonged to Charles Salmon, the leader of his local Stanford Chapter. Salmon had been silent until Tommy rudely interrupted the questioner; the interjection wasn’t out of real dissatisfaction but rather a reminder for Tommy to watch his manners, as these people were deciding his fate in SSD.
Tommy exhaled, "Let me tell you how to publicly burn a black man in front of everyone. I’m planning to establish a TV station, a black people’s TV station. I think black people need equal treatment. There should be channels and programs that cater to their interests—hip-hop singers, black directors, producers, sports players, and so on. Perhaps you’re wondering what the hell this has to do with burning black people. Let me tell you! A TV station can broadcast the image of black people to other races. I want to engrave a stereotype of black people in the minds of whites and other races through the programs of the black people’s TV station and its stars. I’m going to delve deep into and showcase the negative aspects of black people, so everyone develops an inner disdain for black people, creating resistance to those organizations promoting racial equality and allowing racism to persist, with always someone willing to defend it. If you still don’t understand, I can put it more simply—it’s about presenting and amplifying the bad aspects of some black people and making Americans think these black people represent the entire black community. Then we roast the black community over the fire, while we’re at it, we earn subscription fees from the black community and donate the money to SSD or some other organization, making profit off blacks while simultaneously smearing them. So how could you suspect that I sympathize with black people? Back in the country, not a single black man gave me a damn bowl of rice to eat."
"Maybe it’s because your grandfather killed all the black people, so there was no one left to offer you a bowl of rice," another voice said, now laced with laughter, obviously understanding Tommy’s plan.
However, not everyone in SSD was bright—some fool curiously asked, "...Broadcast negative content about black people on TV? Are you sure black people are willing to do that?"
"Let a white person curse, and just wait for black people to cause trouble, but the louder and more vicious black people curse themselves, the happier they are. They’re just a garbage group that treats their past sufferings as today’s glory," Tommy said with certainty.
