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<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>Century of the Self - Hurt Egoes or The cause
of the movement - a call for truce till
resolution<BR>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<SPAN
class=875292505-17112008>------------------------------------</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>I was there. We were preparing for the
session 'Caste Discrimination in Konwledge Communities ' along with IISc
Venky.<BR>Arky called and we rushed to the spot of the problem . I saw many
folks there including <BR>Sameer of Ilug,Kochi, MES teachers and students, Arun
, FSF , Secreatry. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I did tell him that from slumdweller we can put up
a protest poster if what folks were saying was true and<BR> exrpressed my
solidarity.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>However in public I also told that things are not
as simple as they appear to newbies like us. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And as Arky told me the previous day - be careful
my dear newbie - as everyone has their 'agenda' at the end of the day.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There was a gentelman standing next to me with an
IEEE T-shirt. Who was also protesting the incident. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I told him that a ideologically strong free
software advocate would have differences with IEEE. That doesnt mean I <BR>tear
his t-shirt. He told me "you dont know what contribution i was doing to
ieee and fs ' and the significant work<BR> we have done to bring ieee to
free software'. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yes though he is working with IEEE for free
software ( as i did in blr) I need to understand the free software
cause<BR> and help it spread rather than doing a stupid thing like tearing
his t-shirt. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have to see and understand his contribution to
free software .</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This is the question - do i take a puritan stand
based on what RMS himself said - and say nothing doing with IEEE <BR>( though
they are not MS) - or do i look at it as avenue for growth of free software -
especially when the field is<BR> still empty ( imho) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>i feel that there is a need for both these
groups - the radical and the mass based - both have their role.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>infact i also saw that many leaders ( apart
from the organisers and protesters) were inspired by the event - <BR>especially
by the mobilisation - and in fact saw the role of both the radical and the
mass leader - and were involved in<BR>discussions with both these groups
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Why are we seeing thse controversies errupt in
recent times. Is it becuase the free software movement is growing. <BR>Is it
because some are worried that its growing in the wrong direction. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Another person told me this during the day :
in a company you have profit as a motivator - in a social movement <BR>ego is a
motivator - as human being have we found a solution to this issue of 'ego' - i
dont think so - but i do believe - <BR>that whenever folks put their egoes
behind and put the cause in front - amazing things happen - but i do not
<BR>know if its so easy for myself to do the same .</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>i did also see and hear many people - who strongly
believe - that many things can be done in their individual spaces - <BR>without
being drawn into all this trouble and all these things are not avoidable
..</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>whomever i met i requested this - a couple of years
back when i was inspired into the movement - i didnt see this happening - <BR>a
controversy and flame every month - something has changed - i am sure fsf ,
india can resolve this ... </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>until then lets have truce in the field - without
cheap hijack falmes and stunts<SPAN class=875292505-17112008> and lumpen
behaviour</SPAN> -<SPAN class=875292505-17112008> </SPAN> let the
mass based and the radicals - <BR>do their work in the field - without
disruption and provaction - after all i see that many of them are on the same
thinking lines and <BR>within the same family - and claim - simillar
affilliations. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=875292505-17112008></SPAN><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>btw we did sell 4365 Rs worth of gimp paintings
from the slum computer center. had my chance to meet people like
<BR>redhat venky, gora mohanty , pramod sir , mes students and teachers, ilug
kochi sameer, bio-informatic students <BR>who had put up a stall. thanks
community ..we are inspired once again.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>in solidarity<BR>senthil</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>