jxself.org

A Call for Unity

Sat, 15 Feb 2025

For forty years, the free software movement has been a beacon of user freedom, empowering individuals and communities around the globe. Through the tireless efforts of countless developers, activists, and users, we've built an impressive foundation of software that respects our rights to use, study, modify, and share. Now, we stand at a critical juncture. The digital landscape is rapidly evolving, with new threats to user freedom emerging on a daily basis.

Yet, in recent years, cracks have appeared in our foundation. Disagreements have led to friction and division within our community. We're left with a community that's fractured, bickering while the enemy - well-funded, well-organized, and utterly ruthless in their pursuit - advances on all fronts.

The beauty of the free software movement lies in its simplicity. It offers a clear, concise, and universally applicable principle about the fundamental right of users to control their computing. This universal principle is the bedrock of our movement. It transcends political divides, cultural differences, personal ideologies, and everything else.

This is our unifying force, where we're bringing together individuals from all walks of life who share our common goal: a world where software serves humanity, not the other way around. We must remember the common ground upon which we've built so much and ensure that disagreement doesn't overshadow our shared purpose. We can't allow disagreements on specific issues outside of universal software freedom for everyone to fracture the bonds that unite us in the fight for user freedom. The future of this vital movement hinges on our ability to to stand together and maintain unity.

If we allow the bonds that unite us to fray, we risk losing not just the relationships we've forged, but the very foundation of the free software movement itself. The future of free software depends on our ability to work together. The challenges we face are too significant to tackle divided. We need every voice, every contribution, every ounce of energy focused on the common goal. We need to foster an environment where we can find common ground. Now, more than ever, we need a united front.

Let's focus on our commond ground and reaffirm our commitment to the values that have brought us this far and ensure that the flame of freedom continues to burn brightly for generations to come.