Re: [ox-en] Nazi in Debian Alert
- From: "Niall Douglas" <s_fsfeurope2 nedprod.com>
- Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 20:38:16 -0000
On 23 Jan 2004 at 15:27, Paul Bowman wrote:
I mean, it's not as if Walther is using his position to promote Nazi
ideology is it - or is it?
I don't have sufficient information to properly answer that. People
within the Debian developers group would have a better idea, but they
seem to have clammed up...
As regards the "general case" (though I am not yet aware of other such
cases) one of the features of the "distributed collaborative model"
that FLOSS work-practices revolve around, is that it does not require
face to face encounters or indeed, necesarily, any exchange or leaking
of personal information which could be of intelligence value to the
enemy.
I've been watching this thread for some time and it concerns me.
Some points:
1. Why are you assuming that just because he's a nazi he would
readily leak personal information more than any other person?
2. There is no evidence that he has used his position within that
project to promulgate his views or compromise anyone or anything.
You appear to be engaging in a witch-hunt to have this person thrown
off the project because of his political views. However let's be
clear - his are FAILED views, ones which won't ever return in a form
we would recognise them in. I disagree with the American view that
everyone is entitled to promulgate their views ie; free speech -
fascism is dangerous because we know its inevitable outcome and
people must not be allowed to entice others into believing such silly
ideas. So he shouldn't be allowed to persuade others and most
European law backs this.
However, his right to *hold* any views he likes I cannot argue
against. He's entitled to believe the moon is god just as much as
some daft ideas about racial purity in Europe of all places.
I have talked at length with some nazis and while I strongly disagree
with their views, generally they have integrity in their own weird
way. They are not inherently evil, just severely mistaken.
We should spend more time convincing them of the error of their ways
than hysterically witch-hunting them.
I would urge you to bear this mind in your future actions. Remember
also that you keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.
Cheers,
Niall
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