Unless you can prove radiation-induced chronic renal failure, let him rest in piece.
What I found interesting was how many people knew he needed mental help but were unable to do anything. Kasparov had some interesting insights as well.
I don’t need a medical evaluation to know Fischer was off his rockers.
That was’t the point of the article.
Whether suffering from a mental disorder or not, I don’t think too many people, (if any at all), wouldn’t have suffered terribly having their lives persecuted and destroyed by their own country for the heinous, “crime”, of playing chess. 
I think even a stable person would probably have been pushed over the edge if they had suffered the persecution that Bobby had. What was done to him was not in any way normal, it was extreme. His reaction to this persecution I think was perfectly understandable and I think many people would have reacted the same way, if not worse. If I had been aware at that time of what was being done to him, the persecution of him for daring to play chess in a location his country said he could not attend, I would have raised a stink with my Congressman. There is right, there is wrong and in my opinion, what was done to Bobby was exceedingly wrong. 
Whenever I try to understand someones point of view, I try to imagine myself in their shoes and I have done this with Bobby Fischer. My conclusion is that at very least I would become very bitter and hateful towards my country, (as Bobby did, I think understandably so), that on one hand hailed me as an international hero for winning a chess match and then on the other hand a criminal for winning another chess match. When we add in the emotional pain of not even being able to attend his own mother and sisters funerals because of the persecution he suffered, sigh…I don’t think there is anyone that wouldn’t have cracked under that immense emotional stress. I think it is a testimony to Bobby’s great personal fortitude and strength as an individual, that he didn’t go completely over the edge and commit suicide, as many others have done under stresses much less than what Bobby suffered.
Below is a link to the video, “Bobby Fischer Tribute - Simply The Best”, and in this video I think we can see a very sensitive side of Bobby that shows he loved children and animals. For a man as sensitive as this to be persecuted and have his life destroyed had to have caused emotional pain and stress that was excruciating. That he didn’t succumb to it, again, is a testimony to his incredible inner strength as a person.
Rest in peace Bobby. Indeed, [i][b]you were simply the best![/b][/i] :smiley: --
Agreed 110% :exclamation:
I think Fischer worship is clouding how some folks are viewing the article. One of the more interesting points was the discussion of the meeting at the Marshall Chess Club at which the Marshall members discussed seeking professional mental help for Fischer. Everyone knew he had serious mental issues, but they decided not to seek help for him for fear of undercutting his chess prowess in the name of better mental health. That kind of decision is at the crux of the article.
There is no question that people with mental problems are often not equipped, due to their illness, to deal with stress in life. Clearly, that was the situation with Fischer. As to being turned into a criminal, that was Fischer’s choice–playing the second match with Spassky-- unless he were to plead an insanity defense to negate the mens rea of the crime. If he were successful with that, he risked spending the rest of his life in a mental institution.
I think it fair to say that anyone that reaches the top of their chosen field by default is going to have to be an extremely strong willed individual, as Bobby clearly was too. So of course it was his choice and should have been his freedom to play a stinking game of chess, for crying out loud.
It is my understanding that in playing a game of chess, Bobby broke no law, just a Presidential order, or wish. Many agree that Bobby was unfairly persecuted, including Grandmaster Larry Evans, who recently passed away. God rest his soul.
In case you missed what was going on at that time in the former Yugoslavia, it was genocide. That was the reason for the Presidential order that Fischer knowingly violated. Further, in case you’re not aware of it, a Presidential order of the type violated by Fischer has the force of law under the US Constitution and the statutes of the United States. If Bobby Fischer had not been who he was, he would not have been allowed, by the US Government, to forfeit his citizenship and reside in Iceland. Someone else would be doing time in a Federal facility.
What was going on in Yugoslavia was arms sales. The US was suppling one side the Israelis the other. The Serbs were supplied arms by the Israelis and the profits paid for the Fischer v. Spassky match.
The Muslims were supplied arms by the United States. You might be interested in the other American Milan Panic that returned to the US a hero or Osama bin Laden’s visit to Croatia.
We can argue about the parties and how they were armed, but the bottom line is that Fischer knew about the order and, IIRC, spat on it just before the match started. Fischer’s problem, among many, was that he rarely, as an adult, had to face consequences flowing from his acts. Even this time he didn’t–he never did jail time in the US and retired nicely to Iceland. One of the greatest chess players ever. A mentally ill man who died in relative isolation. Without the mental illness, think how how much good he could have done for chess in the US and the world. Instead, he gave diatribes against the US on radio from the Philippians. The tragedy is that he never got professional help for his mental illness.
BTW, it will be interesting to see if the US government lodges a claim against the monies from his estate if they are ever distributed to his next of kin in the US.
Doesn’t the Us Constitution prohibit an American citizen from holding office in a foreign nation?
Milan Panic was Prime Minister of Yugoslavia while an American citizen. Are some laws more equal than others?
Could you give us a quotation. I don’t see such a prohibition.
Under US law, citizens of the US are not permitted to hold office in, or participate in, any foreign government;Article 1 Section 9
Article I, Section 9 doesn’t say that. The complete quote is:
“And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State.”
It doesn’t place a limit on all citizens, just those holding an office. And even for them it isn’t a hard limitation as Congress can waive it.
So, to paraphrase from sources on the net, it:
“prohibits civil officers from accepting titles of nobility without the consent of Congress”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_On … nstitution
“prohibits public officials from accepting a title of nobility, office, or gift from any foreign country or monarch without congressional approval.”
justicelearning.org/justice_ … .aspx?id=2
Try this Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1481) it may help clear it up.
http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_citi.html
So it appears that there is nothing in the US Constitution prohibiting an American citizen from holding office in a foreign nation.
There is a separate law which details ways that someone “may” lose his citizenship. However it isn’t clear that it would apply in the case of Milan Panic. In particular “A district court has found that holding office in a foreign legislature does not constitute expatriation in the absence of a specific intent to renounce U.S. citizenship.” (inclusion.semitagui.gov.co/Subje … 98-819.pdf) Reportedly, Mr. Panic checked with the US State Department before accepting that position. It appears more likely that the country where a person is serving in the government will require him to renounce his US citizenship. Though while serving as Governor of California, Schwarzenegger apparently retained his Austrian citizenship.
In 1992 it was a big issue. Milan Panic meet with James Baker in what seems to be the opening for Mission Imposible with instructions on a tape that self destructs. Bobby Fischer was the sports celebrity that provided a distraction while Milan Panic and other highranking officers met in Vienna looking for ways to remove Milosevic from power.
The trial of Boss Jezda (Jezdimir Vasiljevic) will be delayed until February 16, 2011.