On Fri, Feb 6, 2009 at 11:05 AM, Ben Rockwood <benr at cuddletech.com> wrote: > John Beck wrote: >> Ben> [many valid but lesser points elided] >> >> Ben> As I have historically, so do I also now, believe in a strong OGB and >> Ben> a strong constitution. I do not believe that this draft establishes >> Ben> either. Furthermore, I see no advantages in this new document as >> Ben> opposed to the existing. >> >> The way I see it, the old document was too complex for the sort of community >> we've been trying to have, so we greatly simplified it. As a side-effect of >> that simplification, the OGB has less to do. It would be fair to say that >> we are thus weakening the OGB and the constitution; *I* would characterize >> that as secondary rather primary, though reasonable people can disagree. >> >> Let me try an analogy from a separate world that some of us share. In the >> Old >> Testament, God established the Law to give people a way to live in community. >> But the Law was complex and hard; the people were not capable of keeping it, >> so eventually God had to send a Divine Intercessor to save them from their >> sins. Well, we tried a complex set of laws to govern *this* community, but >> found that they were also more than people could really live up to. Since >> we lack divine power, we're left with the earthly option of simplifying our >> governance instead. > > As a theologian and as a fellow brother in Christ, I would love to > debate this with you, but I'll do so in private. :) > > > I think the more applicable analogy of this division comes from American > history. For all intents a purposes I am a Federalist, whereas many > others are Republicans (please, I'm using 1780 historical terminology, > not modern day politics). > > While the republic model is simplistic, it is also chaotic and > unbalanced. Similar to Adams (although not as far as Hamilton) I > believe that a strong central (federal) government provides a more > robust and equal framework on which to hang communities, projects, etc. > > Drawing from the same analogy... one of the most important functions of > the federal government, aside from binding the republic together, is to > speak in a unified voice to foreign governments. In our case thats SMI. > > The bonds between the community and SMI must be formalized and > strengthened. THIS is what we lack, not simplicity in a document which > is ignored by anyone who is displeased by it, whether @sun.com is in > their email address or not. > > Consider... OpenSolaris.org is independent of OpenSolaris the > distribution. I, as a community member, have no say with regard to our > product. Even as a member of the board. I can contribute to projects, > I can represent the community, but our constitution defines us as a > social organization, even in the most recent reincarnation... nothing > more. > > To be blunt, I don't think the community has a real stake in > OpenSolaris. It is still SMI run, SMI controlled, and even this body is > allowed to continue at the discression of SMI. > > > I wish to interject at this point a word of caution. Phrases such as > "despite our flaws" suggests ill will. I bear no such ill will to > anyone. We are all reasonable and intelligent individuals with the best > intentions for OpenSolaris, and dare I say SMI as a whole, in mind. > While I wish with all my heart that we were of one mind, I have an > obligation, as you will understand John, to do that which is before me > with the fullness of my ability, and that shall I do even if its > unpopular. > > With respect, > benr.
benr: I'm glad and relieved that the true OpenSolaris.org community is lucky enough to have you as a member. When I read what you write I realize that this is exactly what has angered me since 2005 and what has always made me deeply upset over the years, over time I resigned (gave up) and tried to only stay technical while ignoring the rest (which I never really managed to accomplish for longer than a few weeks). But I'm not as gifted as you are in summarizing, analyzing and then even expressing things like that. Applause and thanks. %martin www.opensolaris.ORG enthusiast and outed as BeleniX user.
