A Call to Evolve to Free Software (Part 1)
Richard Stallman, founder of the free software movement said, in an exclusive interview with the Juventud Rebelde newspaper, that there was no other option than to evolving to free software
Richard Stallman is one of the most controversial figures of new information and communication technologies worldwide. He is the founder of the free software movement and the public enemy of Microsoft.
As if this were not enough, the exceptional personality can add to his credentials a parody of the famous Cuban song “Guantanamera,” in which he criticizes the illegally-occupied US military base in Guantanamo.
Born in Manhattan, New York on March 16, 1953, Stallman calls himself “Santo Ignucio” – making reference to the GNU computer code he wrote which is one of the bases of free software. He says he always wanted to be a comedian, and likes to conclude his lectures wearing a large CD as a halo and an improvised robe, as he “blesses” computers – urging them to accept evolve to using free software.
His avocation of free software, in the broadest sense of the word, has made him a good number of enemies, but he does not give up. He wanders over the world defending his viewpoint, which has brought him to Cuba for the first time. Here he is attending the third International Free Software Workshop, which is occurring in the context of the twelfth International Computer Science Conference and Exposition at the Havana Convention Center.
Stallman laid down a set of only two conditions to speak exclusively with JR for an hour and a half in his hotel room. First, that such a broad a term as “free” not be used, and second, to talk not only about Linux (which is the name of a component written by Linus Torval) but also about the GNU-Linux’s system. “When talking about the former it is fair to say Linux, but in the case of the system, it must be referred to as GNU-Linux. In all modesty, I just want half of the acknowledgement.”
Previous interviewers of Stallman have found him a contradictory but kind person, though he has been criticised on several occasions for his “eccentricities” (for instance his not using cell phones or having an old-fashioned laptop). Though his viewpoints have sometimes been disapproved, he defends his ideas and preference for using accurate terms.
“It doesn’t bother me,” he assures. “Many people think wrongly of free software and prefer to attack me, since they cannot do the same to philosophy. They have that right. It doesn’t hurt me. However, I hate to be called “the evangelist of open code” in some articles, because I don’t adhere to that philosophy”.
“Not only do I stand for the open code, I mean, that people only know how a program works, but I stand for free software as well. It’s an ethical matter to us, that’s the difference. Private software isn’t ethical, as it doesn’t respect freedom, and open code is not interested in that issue. If I’m the open code’s father, then it was created with stolen sperm without my consent.”
