On Sat, Apr 10, 2021 at 12:48:30AM +0300, Adrian Bunk wrote: > On Fri, Apr 09, 2021 at 02:11:11PM -0400, Tiago Bortoletto Vaz wrote: > > Please, let's first agree that it's not (only) about his 'personal view on some > > topics'. Most people defending RMS on this list seem to have suddenly > > s/actions/views/g in their spell checker. So, just to put words back to their > > place: it's about his incessant *actions* over the years, which may or may not > > been directly connected with his (publicly stated) views. And his *actions*, > > and not his views alone, have hurt the community in many many ways. And this > > community is about software freedom, the thing you said you believe on, and the > > thing that keeps you motivated to contribute to Debian. > >... > This community would not exist without the actions of RMS. > RMS founded the free software movement. > RMS created the GNU project. > RMS wrote emacs for the GNU project. > RMS wrote gcc for the GNU project. > RMS wrote gdb for the GNU project. > RMS wrote the GPL. > RMS founded the FSF. > Linus Torvalds originally used a non-free licence for Linux, > before switching to the GPL. > The core of Debian are the tools from the GNU project. > In the early days of Debian, RMS through the FSF employed > the DPL full-time for his work on Debian. > An open letter stating there would be "no place in the free software > community" for RMS is hugely offensive for many people who are aware > that the free software community would not exist without RMS. > RMS has always been a polarizing figure in the 38 years since he founded > the free software movement, but the same traits that make him difficult > are the reason why he stubbornly created this community against all > obstacles. Microsoft catalyzed the democratization of the Internet by contributing to the boom of low-cost commodity PCs; and without the rise of the Internet, the Free Software movement would not have taken off. Should we therefore put Bill Gates on a pedestal due to his historic contributions to the rise of Free Software, ignoring all negatives? -- Steve Langasek Give me a lever long enough and a Free OS Debian Developer to set it on, and I can move the world. Ubuntu Developer https://www.debian.org/ slangasek@ubuntu.com vorlon@debian.org
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