[BadVista Advocate] Rek2's Post on LUGs and GNULUGs

[Ringo Kamens]

I wanted to state my opinion on this issue. I recognize rek2's
authority to make this decision and will therefore not oppose it but
if the Binary Freedom community opposes it then a consensus vote will
be made and the order overturned. My personal opinion, not the one of
BinaryFreedom, is that any change that puts us in a freer position is
good. I think that it's better for people to switch to non-free
systems like Ubuntu and install proprietary drivers (like I am forced
to do) than continue to use Vista because gnewsense doesn't work.
While they are still sacrificing freedoms, they are regaining their
self-determination which they did not have with Microsoft. We, as free
software activists, regardless of our personal beliefs on whether
systems like Ubuntu are truly free, should fearless promote such
systems. I even would rather see somebody switch to Mac instead of
stay with Windows because even then they are regaining
self-determination. The danger with this is that as we switch people
to not truly free operating systems like Ubuntu, they will gain power.
Power corrupts. They are a corporation, and as a corporation have one
responsibility: to demonstrate growth to their stockholders. They will
no longer care about ethics or freedom and this isn't an attack on
Ubuntu, it's developers, or the community but on the corporation. RMS
didn't get where he is by compromising, but I believe that in some
cases we must slowly gain our ground. One such organization that comes
to mind is the IWW who in their constitution say they can't sacrifice
their rights at all however there is an important distinction to make.
We are not giving up our rights, but we are slowly retaking them. By
switching somebody to Ubuntu we are regaining _some_ of our rights and
as a result, I consider it not only better but to not be in
contradictions with the aim of the FSF, Binary Freedom, and Rek2. I
believe that all of these organizations are truly working towards the
common good however sometimes we get sidetracked and I wanted to
present this alternative way of viewing things if they had not been
heard before. As of such, I will continue to present things like
Ubuntu to people as options on this mailing list however I will not do
so under the flag of Binary Freedom as long as Rek2's ruling stands.
Respectfully Submitted,
Comrade Ringo Kamens