On Friday, 26 March 2021 7:12:09 PM AEDT Timo Weingärtner wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I hereby propose to have another option on the ballot:
>
> ---8<---8<---8<---
> The Debian Project co-signs the statement regarding Richard Stallman's
> readmission to the FSF board seen at https://rms-support-letter.github.io/.
> The text of this statement is given below.
>
> Richard M. Stallman, frequently known as RMS, has been a driving force in
> the free software movement for decades, with contributions including the
> GNU operating system and Emacs.
>
> Recently, there have been vile online attacks looking to remove him from
> the FSF board of directors for expressing his personal opinions. We have
> watched this happen before in an organized fashion with other prominent
> free software activists and programmers. We will not stand idly this time,
> when an icon of this community is attacked.
>
> FSF is an autonomous body that is capable of treating its members in a
> fair, unbiased fashion, and should not give in to external social
> pressures. We urge the FSF to consider the arguments against RMS
> objectively and to truly understand the meaning of his words and actions.
>
> Historically, RMS has been expressing his views in ways that upset many
> people. He is usually more focused on the philosophical underpinnings, and
> pursuing the objective truth and linguistic purism, while underemphasising
> people’s feelings on matters he’s commenting on. This makes his arguments
> vulnerable to misunderstanding and misrepresentation, something which we
> feel is happening in the open letter calling for his removal. His words
> need to be interpreted in this context and taking into account that more
> often than not, he is not looking to put things diplomatically.
>
> Regardless, Stallman’s opinions on the matters he is being persecuted over
> are not relevant to his ability to lead a community such as the FSF.
> Furthermore, he is entitled to his opinions just as much as anyone else.
> Members and supporters do not have to agree with his opinions, but should
> respect his right to freedom of thought and speech.
>
> To the FSF:
>
> Removing RMS will hurt FSF’s image and will deal a significant blow to the
> momentum of the free software movement. We urge you to consider your
> actions carefully, as what you will decide will have a serious impact on
> the future of the software industry.
>
> To the ambush mob who is ganging up on Richard Stallman over reasonable
> arguments in debate and various opinions and beliefs voiced over decades as
> a public figure:
>
> You have no part in choosing the leadership of any communities. Especially
> not via another mob attack which does not remotely resemble a fairly
> conducted debate as exemplified by better people such as Richard Stallman.
> ---8<---8<---8<---
Seconded.
This option is necessary to balance RMS derangement syndrome.
IMHO this shameful GR should not have existed as it is not our business
to interfere with internal matters of FSF.
--
Cheers,
Dmitry Smirnov
GPG key : 2048R/CCBC38B3CEEEECEE
---
Tyranny is always better organized than freedom.
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"Increased Risk of Noninfluenza Respiratory Virus Infections Associated
With Receipt of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine".
-- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22423139/
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