> On 27 Mar 2021, at 03:55, John Morris <jmorris@???> wrote:
>
> On Fri, 2021-03-26 at 15:46 -0400, Steve Litt wrote:
>>
>> I'd suggest nobody sign anything, and nobody respond to this email.
>>
>> If you believe that Stallman was removed, shunned and criticized
>> because of guilt by association, then it's not much of a stretch to
>> believe that you will suffer the same fate if you defend him. And then
>> any who defends *you* will suffer the same fate, ad infinitum.
>
> This exactly how a "climate of fear" works. Anyone who has looked three
> seconds at the Cultural Revolution or any of the other descents into
> madness of the 20th Century knows exactly what is going on here.

Agreed.
The very first thing that went through my mind when I read SL's post was ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came_...

> First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
>      Because I was not a socialist.

>

> Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
>      Because I was not a trade unionist.

>
> ...


I met RMS when he did a speaking tour over here in the UK a while back. I can fully understand the comments people have made about him being the most infuriating person to deal with. But then, people with principles usually are in my opinion - the ones you need to watch out for are the ones who put "being liked" high on their list of priorities. With people who hold on to their principles, yo know where you stand - even if you don't like them. With the latter type you don't know where you stand - but best not turn your back lest you (figuratively) get a knife in it.
I can say that for all his annoyances, his principles were clear - and held nothing whatsoever that I could imagine any **reasonable** person finding argument with.

As to Debian, well one thing that goes through my mind is how flipping hypocritical they are when the Debian project would almost certainly not even exist if it weren't for RMS and both his technical output and his principled stance.

Obviously individuals will need to consider their own situation. I will be signing in support of RMS. In the UK we still have (in spite of attempts by some to copy the worst ideas to come from the USA) a number of protections - so I have zero worries about losing my employment etc. And as I'm not on FaecesBorg I don't need to worry about that.

My 2d worth, Simon