Hi Bdale, On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 11:35:21AM -0600, Bdale Garbee wrote:
> I admit to having really mixed feelings about whether Debian should > *ever* make broad public statements about anything. So, no problem in > my mind with making it harder for the project to do so. One of the purposes of the project is to clear obstacles to the development of free software, and making broad public statements is one of many tools we can use to do that. We have, for example, sent out a press release on the patent situation surrounding Microsoft Sender ID[1], and also published a position statement[2] on software patents. We have also lobbied hard for changes in US export regulations surrounding cryptography[3], and exerted a lot of pressure on the FSF concerning the GFDL license, including a press release[4] following a GR[5]. > But then, I've also been around a *long* time, and am often wistful > about the days when it at least seemed that most of our discussions were > about making technical improvements in Debian. None of the things above are technical improvements, but concern the legal and political environment in which technical contributions are made. The debate we're having here is whether the *social* environment in which contributions happen is also our concern, as this, too, can present an obstacle for people who want to contribute that is neither technical nor political. Ironically, the opponents of taking a public stand on social issues are claiming that this would introduce a political angle -- but we have never shied away from politics. Simon [1] https://www.debian.org/News/2004/20040904 [2] https://www.debian.org/News/2012/20120219 [3] https://www.debian.org/legal/cryptoinmain [4] https://www.debian.org/News/2006/20060316 [5] https://www.debian.org/vote/2006/vote_001