On Sun, 2008-11-30 at 22:20 +0530, Vikram Vincent wrote:
FSF-I was formed in July 2001. The I-Lugs existed years before that. Now FSF-I should have worked for the conversion of the "Linux" to "Libre" as done in certain groups. Why divide the Movement by promoting FSUGs etc?
We believe that Free Software is much more than Linux. So we would like the user groups to be named FSUGs, GLUGs or something that reflects the idea of freedom, such as what you suggested. But we don't take the decision as to whether the name of a particular group should be FSUG, GLUG or something else (PLUG, for example). The decision is taken by the members of the group. Several groups that were originally called LUGs or ILUGs have changed their name. Why do you think that this will divide the Movement? We have not seen any division so far. Let us not create a division where none exists.
To take free software(free knowledge) to the last (wo)man in the most backward villages of our country we need people of different backgrounds. I don't think that differences on the issue of Free vs. Open should have been a devisive issue.
You are free to have your views, but we believe that Freedom is important, and that it is not just the source code being open that is important. Therefore, we advocate the use of the term Free Software. Of course, you have the freedom to use any name you want, but we would request you to use the name Free Software if you value freedom.
Best