Eben Moglen said in his conversations in Bangalore that community is the response of a culture to an Idea. I liked this concept and feel confortable with it. In this definition the Free software community is not a singular entity but a microlithic(multiple) one, with some universal Recognisable characteristics like "Some values which are nearly universal--as universal as values can be in a community of millions--are the preference for public discussion of technical matters, and opposition to software patents and parts of the DMCA." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software_community"
To conitnously stress that community is singular entity would border on arrogance and megalomenia.
Your culture could be different than mine, so please excuse me my cultural reaction to free software like I will do the same for you. But we can co-operate on all aspects that we can identify as universal and mutually agreeable. Unless you are an AK-47 wielding meniac who wants to fix your distro, I can try. Maybe because you think am a christian and you think that along with muslims and communists I am a threat to this country and you choose not to help me with my config's, I am fine. Although I will consider you insane.
Look at the the people who so blatantly discuss Politics and Political parties on this list, they mostly are from places where there is a larger degree of political awareness(Kerala for example). That again is a cultural reaction, which the rest of the list members are putting up with. So whats all this fuss about some political party responding to Free sotware, Atleast its Free software and not atleast yet "Open source" We are putting up with FOSS, the "O" there being largly the culutural response of the bussiness community to free software.
I am from kerala, high literacy, 0% child labour, and high social indices. All thanks to political social movements, excuse me if I try to see free software as an intrument to furthur the social causes. That may or maynot be my response. maybe someone else from Kerala might have got fed up with Politics and show such a cultural reaction.. thats fine also. As long as freedom matters, whats your problems sir's??
Why should I mimic the western response to free software and restrict myself to mere techinical matters, there are people doing that here as well, they are most welcome to do that. I might even to to bar camps or unconferences or even .in's and dot whatever's.
what is all this fuss about??