On Sun, Jun 12, 2011 at 09:45, geoffrey mendelson < geoffreymendel...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Jun 10, 2011, at 9:38 PM, Marc Volovic wrote: > >> People, RMS (as well as any other person) is entitled to support, adhere, >> acquiesce or abhor, deny, etc any and all BDS activities. >> >> The man is entitled to his opinion and choice. It is his right as a man >> and as a public figure. >> > > > Marc, it has to do with US corporate law and practice. In the US, officers > of a corporation are limited in liability for their actions as corporate > officers. What they do as private citizens is different than what they do as > officers of the corporation. > > This is different than Israeli corporate law, where there is much less of a > "corporate veil". > > When they do something as an officer of the corporation, it takes on a > whole new meaning. It is the stated policy of the corportation. > > If RMS as RMS states what he does, as a private citizen, it is free speech. > He is entitled to his opionions and limited by US laws as to what he can say > and where, but those limits are awfully wide (compared to Israeli ones for > example). > > However, once he signs an email as an officer of the FSF, or states it > publicly that he, as representing the FSF is going to support a boycott (or > not) and so on, it is FSF policy. So like it or not, the FSF has now > incorporated the BDS movement into their message. It's not just FREE > Software, it's also support the Palestinians and boycott Israel. > > If RMS wants to vacation in Ramalah, or sun himself on the beaches of Gaza, > he is welcome to. If he does not want to stay in, vist or even pass through > Israel, (He could enter Gaza from Egypt, or the PA from Jordan), he is > welcome to. However as the President of the FSF his perceived boycott of > Israeli institutions is unacceptable, and dilutes the FSF and it's message. > > Depending upon exactly what he does and does not do, and who provides the > money for his visit, he (and therefore the FSF as he spoke and speaks for > them) may be in volation of US law, and therefore subject to investigation, > tax audits, etc. Quite simply this will not end well for the FSF. > > Geoff. > I don't agree with you, Geoff. What Richard Stallman does as a private person does not mean the FSF in involved. As a private person Richard Stallman has the right to boycott Israeli institutions and universities. It does not mean that the FSF is boycotting Israel. Uri Even-Chen Mobile Phone: +972-50-9007559 E-mail: u...@speedy.net Website: http://www.speedy.net/
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