Things to be Thankful for in Free Software

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Nov 27, 2025

2019: Time to Send a Thank GNU to Richard Stallman

The Free Software Foundation (FSF) turned 40 last month. "Thank GNUs!"

Free Software is nowadays a lot bigger than just Richard Stallman and his friends/colleagues in MIT. Many talk about "Linux" and the brand is being controlled or manipulated (for personal gain) by unscrupulous capitalists at the Linux Foundation - people who neither use nor understand Linux and Free Software.

If one wishes to understand why GNU/Linux exists in the first place, one needs to consider what it was a counter or a "response" to. Then, and only then, one can understand how much we ought to be thankful for.

Here are 10 things I (personally) am thankful for:

1. Search can be deployed locally rather than left for a company like Google (GAFAM) to handle or meddle in
2. I can work offline and keep my data offline (users' control), even if many companies nowadays insist on "sucking in" a lot of data, based on false reasoning/pretexts
3. I can place and record calls with Free software; I have encryption which is controlled locally (the host)
4. NGOs and lawyers are willing to help with legal matters, knowing we're a pro bono site serving communities
5. I can spend my money on good food and other luxuries instead of paying for software licences
6. Very old or "preowned" hardware is fully capable and compatible with the systems I use; so my hardware bills are also shockingly low
7. I've made many friends (mostly online) and they are reliable, faithful friends, not gossipers who back-stab in order to get ahead, probably because we share similar beliefs regarding geeky things
8. Uptime and reliability are excellent; I very rarely need to deal with technical issues
9. My physical - and also mental - health has improved in the past two (or more) decades because contentment can be derived from full control over one's digital life; I can do exercise without getting distracted by gadgets (a lot of "modern" gym equipment expects you to have these)
10. My privacy is mostly respected; I feel like I'm in control of what people can see (unless I publish something, it's a personal matter for me to keep)

Maybe others can follow up with more blog posts of things they're thankful for this Thanksgiving (US). █

2 days ago: Thank You, Richard Stallman