David Forslund wrote: > Molly, > > Incorporating OSHCA in the US doesn't necessarily imply US domination.
No, but US citizens need to be sensitive to the negative feelings towards the US which are present and growing in many countries around the world. Whether this antipathy towards the US is justified depends a great deal on one's standpoint - and I don't think we should debate it here - but it definitely exists and is remarkably pervasive - in some countries it is the dominant attitude, in others, it is present in a sizeable minority of the population. Given these attitudes to the US, incorporation of an international organisation in the US may be perceived negatively by some would-be participants in OSHCA, and certainly by many potential funding or collaborating bodies, such as the WSIS. Thus it *is* a practical consideration. > I did not hear an > answer to my question about the possible necessity of incorporating > OSHCA in multiple countries. Yes, that may be necessary, but OSHCA should cross that bridge if and when it comes to it. There is no need for immediate, simultaneous incorporation in many countries in the first instance. If the need for incorporation elsewhere becomes apparent, then the necessary steps can be taken. But let OSHCA walk before forcing it to run a cross-country race. > I didn't understand Tim C.'s comment about there not being freedom of > political expression in Malaysia. I was alluding to the case of Anwar Ibrahim - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwar_Ibrahim - amongst others. But that was a while ago now, and Mahathir has retired. This happens in many democracies from time to time - see for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mccarthyism > How does that fit with a form of democracy? I just read this week in a > Australian paper about a government > official threatening to jail non-Muslims if they were "perceived" as > insulting Islam. These types of things concern > me if an international body is to be organized in such a country. > Perhaps this information is totally erroneous? Such things are often misreported. However, OSHCA is unlikely to ever make insulting comments about Islam or any other religion for that matter. In fact, the only religious topics which might be discussed are emacs vs vi or Java vs Python or Ruby. Thus I can't see why such things are of concern with respect to where OSHCA is incorporated. Note that incorporation of OSHCA in Malaysia or anywhere else has no impact on your freedom of speech as an individual, even if you are also a member of OSHCA. Tim C Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/openhealth/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
