On Tue, 11 Dec 2007, Richard Stallman wrote:
Including a program by name in the ports system does suggest using that program. It grants the program a sort of legitimacy, and that is what I am opposed to.
If a library has a book on [insert-controversial-topic-here], does that imply endorsement of said topic by the library or by someone who reads the book? Should the library burn copies of books on such topics to protect the citizenry? Absolutely not.
Along these same lines, it doesn't make sense to try to hide what software is out there. I think people can figure out which software they want to use from ports after installing the base system, free or non-free.
Either way, a makefile to download and install a non-free piece of software doesn't make the system any less free.
-- Kyle George
