Dear all,
I must extend my apolozies for continuing the discussion after the prolonged
discussion yesterday. But i think once the conversation has intiated it
should it reach it's logical end manisfesting in certain policies we adopt
and adhere to as a group.
Issues like `what is freedom' and `what is the freedom we believe and are
going to stand for' are not which can be resolved either in one meet or many
meets of the similar sorts.
Freedom is the basic right we all are entitled to and for which, ideally, we
should not have to wage a war. The struggle for freedom, if i may say, is not
against the well identified colonial power but many invisible powers
enroaching on our basic right to think, to be able to think and to be able to
articulate and communicate what we think.
And to counter those forces is not an easy task as there in no identifiable
structure and no one enemy.
The Free software movement is not appealing to me because it is cheap or
readily available but because it gives me the assurnace that an entry into
the space is not restricted, that anytime i decide to i can accept it, learn
to it and possibly contribute to it.
And this is from a so to say a `non-techie' background. I know nothing about
programming but the whole idea of freedom which comes along has aroused my
interest and maybe I will be make something substantial of it.
The fact that the whole premise of it is based on the `non-proprietory'
notion of knowledge. That knowledge is not a hegemony of select few but that
everyone has not only the access to it but also the chance to interpret,
translate and reflect on it in the way they want to.
Knowledge is power. someone said. and i believe in it.
And uninhibited access to knowledge is not only empowering but also
liberating.
There are many paths which can be taken to meet the ends. Before deciding on
the path to be undertaken what is more important to identify what `ends' we
want to achieve.
i have conciously avoided taking up any specific issues or even limiting it
to the meeting yesterday because i think these issues need to be addresssed
in the larger projection of it and not limited to simply decieding on certain
mandates or policies for the smooth functioning of the group.
and i sincerly hope this discussion continues so that a concensus can be
reached upon and we be very clear not only about what we want to achieve but
also how.
It is in this context that i would like to introduce the idea of having a
`Newsletter' brought out on a regular basis (how regular we decide) which
discusses and raises these issues along with technical ones and sort of have
a sounding board to make the ideas available across platforms. and also
encourage people from other groups (when i say group i do not mean
orgainzation or forums but anyone who is interested in any capacity) to
contribute.
One of the sections in the newsletter can be dedicated to discussing the
development of the lap project and the way it has been recieved.
Please comment, raise doubts about the same so that by the time we meet next
most of the basic issues are thrashed and we can talk about the
technicalities.
to end i would simply say, discussions are never futile and confusions lead
to calrity.
and probably concensus.
cheers
tripta
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