---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: rek2GNU/Linux <rek2 at binaryfreedom.info> Date: २००७ अक्तूबर २४ ०४:३४ Subject: [ifsa] RMS: Learn to share! To: Independent Free Software Global Activist <independentfreesoftwareactivists at binaryfreedom.info>

Stallman: Students Should Be Taught to Share With The Class

Sun, 2007-10-21 10:41 — dcp

Richard Stallman, in receiving an honorary Doctorate from Italy's University of Pavia, brought back memories of the basic primary school principle that students bringing cookies to class should bring enough for everyone.

In his speech, Richard Stallman discussed how innovation can impact individuals and society for better or for worse. He pointed out the negative innovation of bringing criminal charges against fishermen for rescuing distressed migrants at sea. Such innovations directly affect our freedom. Stallman went on to pose the question he considers most vital when considering technological innovations: "How does this affect our freedom? How does this affect our social solidarity?"

He then addressed the issue of non-Free developer as dictator, exerting total control over software and its users. Stallman attacked Windows Vista, Apple, and Google Earth as examples of how companies attempt to restrict users' freedom with respect to software. Stallman emphasized the two freedoms that seem most important of the Four Fundamental Freedoms: the freedom to help your neighbor and the freedom to contribute to your community. Combined with the other two freedoms, users can exert more control over the direction of innovation in software.

He reminded his audience that by exerting dictatorial control over the software, developers then have the ability to spy on users, without regard for the user's privacy, freedom or even the law of the land. And there is nothing users can do about it. He then went on to mention that Yahoo and Hotmail have been blocking e-mail from TruthOut.org from reaching subscribers who use their services. In separate news, Verizon Wireless came under attack for the same kind of behavior with respect to its phone services. Thus, the ability to exert such control can easily lead to direct attacks on Freedom of Speech. Free Software prevents such things from happening.

Stallman went on to highlight the special connection between Free Software and educational institutions. For those who recall teachers admonishing students to bring enough cookies to share with the class, Stallman similarly admonished educational institutions: "So every school should bring only Free Software to class, and set an example with its software of the practice of disseminating human knowledge while building a strong, capable, independent and free society. And encouraging the spirit of good will, of helping other people."

In Stallman's view, the mission of any educational institution is to teach students to be strong and independent, rather than dependent. Thus, schools should make it an objective to reject the "shiny new chains" of Windows Vista, and other non-Free software, and migrate to Free Software, as part of their overall mission. "Other Universities are doing this or have done it: you can do it too. You only have to reject social inertia as a valid reason for going deeper and deeper into the pit.", he said. --

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