Am Donnerstag, 28. Juni 2007 21:26 schrieb Richard Stallman: > ;;; codesearch.el --- allowing users to search for open-source code on > > Would you please call it "free software code"? > Using the term "open source" downplays the ethical issues > which are the most important issues. > > See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html > for more explanation. >
Hi Richard, can OTOH every code found by Google qualify as "free software"? Let me take the occasion to a wider ranging remark: As told earlier, I'm using Emacs because it works. From there I want to see it prosper. If philosophy and ethical issues are at stake, we have to consider the world outside computers and the impact of computers in general too. What we see, is the concentration of powers. There are several names for it, globalization etc. In result we see the growing influences of giant organisations, relying heavily on computers to oppress people. What if the computers of the secret prisons in Poland and Romania are run by Gpl-software? What if wedding-societies in Palestine, Afghanistan or Iraq are killed by bombs directed with FSF-GPled-Software? I can go around the world with such examples, now and in history: http://hometown.aol.com/merryeee/ibmstory.htm "Machines have no national allegiances and no moral code. They become powerful instruments for good or evil in the hands of human beings controlling them." The danger I see if we expect too much from techniques: we might forget to fight for our values if its time to defend them: If freedom of speech is taken, free software will not persist, if we are sent to prison or our lives are taken, our user-rights are useless. OK., so far just some ideas. Thanks a lot for all your work and have a nice day Andreas Roehler _______________________________________________ gnu-emacs-sources mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-emacs-sources
