Machismo

[Seth Ackerman]

Oh, no it's not. As an intern for the Harper's "Readings" section, I came
across this hoary old legend more than once. Having thoroughly applied the
meticulous fact-checking methods of America's oldest monthly magazine, I can
assure you that this story is apocryphal and the transcript a hoax.


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Dace [SMTP:edace at flinthills.com]
> Sent:	Monday, February 28, 2000 12:14 AM
> To:	lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> Subject:	Machismo
> 
> This is the transcript of a radio conversation between a U.S. naval ship
> and
> Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland, October 1995.  Radio
> conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations
> 10-10-95.
> 
> Canadians: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a
> collision.
> 
> Americans: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the North.
> 
> Canadians: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the
> South to avoid a collision.
> 
> Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert
> YOUR course.
> 
> Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.
> 
> Americans: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN. THE SECOND LARGEST
> SHIP
> IN THE UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE
> DESTROYERS,
> THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR
> COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, I SAY AGAIN, THAT'S ONE FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR
> COUNTERMEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.
> 
> Canadians: We are a lighthouse. Your call.
>