An Important Goal Has Been Accomplished Already
TODAY we celebrate the growth of GNU/Linux as a platform. We published many short articles about the evidence of growth. Next week we celebrate 20 years of the sister site and later this year we celebrate 41 years of GNU. We've deliberately chosen a "photo" from the speech RMS (Richard Stallman) gave at the anniversary event for 40 years of GNU.
Dr. Stallman still has cancer and vicious people still attack him. We recently did a 4-part series about this, sharing evidence that the attacks on him never ended (even after cancer revelations).
This site does not revere RMS like he's some saint (except in the most humorous sense). This site is deeply disturbed by the personal, merciless attacks on RMS. It's hardly surprising that the same bloodthirsty hyenas who targeted RMS would soon attack Professor Moglen too (even shortly after RMS revealed he had cancer).
In 2024 two milestones can be noted: 1) many people, provided they are eager enough, can use some computing in freedom (yes, it is still feasible!) and 2) many people already do this.
When I became a GNU/Linux user it was difficult to do all sorts of things, including multimedia and some Web "stuff" (even before the Web became increasingly complex). Those days are gone and mostly behind us, except many compromises may still be necessary in the sense that the supported browsers come with DRM and some time soon perhaps they will have "attestation" Trojan horses.
The goal of making GNU/Linux more widespread (not merely viable) is being accomplished; see the latest Steam Survey. Is the goal of making GNU/Linux more free (at all levels, as Steam is proprietary) attainable? If it is, let's aim high. RMS isn't the young "last true hacker"; he's not young and he won't be the "last".
Stubborn activists need to insist on a future where computer users actually control the computers they own. █
