GCC association with the FSF

[Christopher Dimech]

> Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 5:01 AM
> From: "David Brown" <david.brown@hesbynett.no>
> To: "Christopher Dimech" <dimech@gmx.com>
> Cc: "John Darrington" <john@darrington.wattle.id.au>, "David Malcolm" <dmalcolm@redhat.com>, gcc@gnu.org
> Subject: Re: GCC association with the FSF
>
> On 09/04/2021 16:40, Christopher Dimech wrote:
> >> Sent: Friday, April 09, 2021 at 10:37 PM
> >> From: "David Brown" <david.brown@hesbynett.no>
> >> To: "John Darrington" <john@darrington.wattle.id.au>, "David Malcolm" <dmalcolm@redhat.com>
> >> Cc: gcc@gnu.org
> >> Subject: Re: GCC association with the FSF
> >>
> >> On 09/04/2021 08:37, John Darrington wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>> Nobody is suggesting that RMS should be regarded by everyone or indeed
> >>> anyone as "mein Führer".  I think he would be very much concerned if anyone
> >>> tried to confer a cult hero status on him.
> >>>
> >>> Sooner or later, if for no reason other than his age, RMS will have to step
> >>> down as leader of GNU.   Rather than calling for his head on a block it
> >>> would be more constructive to think to the future.  Unfortunately to date,
> >>> I have not seen anyone who in my opinion would have the qualities necessary
> >>> to take over the role.
> >>>
> >>
> >> And I don't think people (at least, not many) are "calling for his
> >> head".  My thought is that he should be encouraged to step down from all
> >> his positions within GNU, FSF, gcc, and any other projects he is
> >> involved with.  Retire now, while he can do so with dignity and without
> >> harm to the free and open source software worlds.
> > 
> > David, I oppose your thought that he should be made to step down from ALL
> > his positions.  That's the fundamental philosophy of China and Russia.
> >  
> 
> Different opinions are fine.  Bringing national or international
> politics into the discussion (presumably meant to be as an insult) is
> not fine.  This is not a political discussion - please stop trying to
> make it one.

It is an assessment of what you propose.  The removal of people from all
positions is a political statements.  I have no problem with political
discussions and certainly don't take instructions from you, to say the 
least!  What you talk about is exactly what drives Chinese and Russian
officials to suppress anybody who does not conform with their demands.    
The consequences will be the same should you and others get your way
of doing things.

> >> It is only if it is left too late that people will be /forced/ to call
> >> for his head.  You can be very sure that complaints about his behaviour
> >> and attitudes will not diminish - they will grow, and the result will
> >> not be good for RMS, GNU, gcc, users, developers, or anyone else except
> >> the sellers of tabloid newspapers.  I would rather see him leave quietly
> >> now with respect, than be hounded out later and his statues pulled down
> >> - along with the careers and reputations of many who work with him.  (I
> >> am not saying that such a destruction would be correct or appropriate -
> >> I am saying it will happen in the end if the free software community is
> >> not careful.)
> >  
> >> (I agree that there are few, if any, people who had the qualities of RMS
> >> to do the job he did.  But IMHO that role is over - we don't need
> >> someone to fill his shoes.)
> >  
> > I do not see that a person with the qualities of RMS would ask permission for
> > the job.  I certainly don't! 
> >  
> 
> We (the free software world) does not need a person with the qualities
> of RMS any more - that is the point.  There should not be such a
> position as "Chief GNUsance".
 
Secondly,  I cannot clearly see what status you have for making statements
that imply a representation for the free software world!!!