On Thursday, 17 March 2022 10:13:28 CET Vitaly Repin wrote: > > Yes, FSFE is not a polictical organisation. But what happens now is beyond > any politics. This is a full-scale war which happens now and here, in > Europe. > > I feel that FSFE MUST issue an official statement about the war and actions > of Russia. > > I do not know how free software activists and organizations can contribute > to the peace in a more meaningful way than by issuing statements. > > But I believe that the statement shall be made as a bare minimum and it > shall be crystal clear. > > Silence is not an option.
I agree. I don't think it is in any way controversial to say that we as human beings condemn this war of aggression against the people and sovereign nation of Ukraine. And that is a mild statement, in case anyone thinks that it is too "political". In responding to another message just now, I happened to be on the Open Source Initiative's site looking at things and saw their "response": "Open Source responds to the Russia-Ukraine war: First thoughts from the Executive Director" https://opensource.org/newsletter/OSI-mar-2022 I would be personally disappointed if any official response from the FSFE were as incoherent as that, which seems to have largely focused on whether "open source" software should be subject to restrictions under such circumstances, with any condemnation seeming to be as implicit as to be unnoticeable. I notice that one contributor to this list started a discussion where Richard Stallman himself noted that he keeps his political views to his own site, not wanting to conflate those with the FSF. One potentially pertinent difference is that the FSFE is inherently European, and the war waged against Ukraine absolutely affects the very fabric of Europe and the very lives of Europeans. Over the years, I have known and worked with people of many nationalities (including Ukrainians and Russians), as I imagine many others on this list also have done. I think that any form of aggression directed by one nation towards another would appal us all, particularly between European nations, but let it be said that such acts are appalling wherever they may occur on this planet, in case I may be accused of overlooking other ongoing conflicts and aggressions. Returning to the European dimension, however, recent introspection in many countries including my country of birth, merely serves to demonstrate how fragile our societies are with regard to the corruption and subversion of democracy and how it has been far too easy for those in power or with influence to be bought and to look the other way, as long as the effects serve them and not their own societies. The result has been division, polarisation and resentment towards others. And it has now tragically facilitated the suffering of millions of people. It is too easy for people to think that other people's problems will not become their own eventually. For some, I am sure that Brexit was an entertaining sideshow with colourful, ridiculous characters making nonsensical decisions with few apparent consequences other than embarrassment. I know US citizens who had to endure years of juvenile "Trump - he so funny" remarks from people unable to see the same poisonous influences within their own country. But when people warn you of a problem, and when they show you the evidence of that problem, you do not belittle their concerns or explain them away: you believe them. And then you do what you can to make sure that your own society remains robust and tolerant, and that others on this planet may be able to experience the same quality of life as you do. I am sorry if any of the above did not really need to be said. Paul _______________________________________________ Discussion mailing list Discussion@lists.fsfe.org https://lists.fsfe.org/mailman/listinfo/discussion This mailing list is covered by the FSFE's Code of Conduct. All participants are kindly asked to be excellent to each other: https://fsfe.org/about/codeofconduct
