Richard believed strongly that if you have your own modified version of an operating system and you would like to share this with society then this should not be unethical or illegal. Microsoft and Apple consider users who use their products illegally, are called “Pirates.” Richard looked at the audience and said “since when do pirates use computers?” As he was laughing on stage he told the audience that these giant companies are invading our privacy by seeing everything we do. “Every time you upgrade your operating system with Windows Update, did you know that Microsoft see’s what programs and files you have?” Richard also mentioned that Real player was first that he knew of installing backdoor spyware to see what users are doing. Microsoft and Real are not the only companies who spy on you. The apple does not fall far from the tree, yes your friendly Apple does the same mischief and even your friendly site Amazon, Sony, Adobe, Google spies on you. Still don’t feel convinced that these companies are stealing your information? Look at how these companies compete. Let’s take Microsoft for example they have been labeled one of the most design imitators in the industry. If they steal from you, they will steal from anyone to generate a profit, their all the same he said.
Linus Torvalds was also mentioned in Richard’s speech but it seems as two do not see eye to eye on free software. Richard stated that “Linus does not agree with user freedom and Linus wanted to create a system which would restrict the user of installing software which was not written for that specific hardware.” There are conflicts between the two on disagreements on to state that the Linux kernel will never be released under the proposed GPL v3. GNU's kernel isn't finished, so GNU is used with the kernel Linux. The combination of GNU and Linux is the GNU/Linux operating system, now used by millions. Sometimes this combination is incorrectly called Linux. There are many variants or “distributions” of GNU/Linux.
“Linux has done great harm to GNU for not giving us credit, from now please do not say Linux but GNU/Linux.” Say gnu so the user will see upcoming projects and bring more users.
Richard also spoke to the audience about how schools should use free software. “School’s could use their own modified version of an operating system and share it with the students and calibrate.” If the program is free then the teacher can teach the student everything about it with the opportunity to see the code and modify for your needs. Richard spoke about how Microsoft and Apple want schools to use their products because it keeps the users hooked on the product, as if it were a drug. “They want to use schools so society will always pay for software, it’s like giving the schools injections of drugs to get kids hooked but when they graduate they need this hardware and software which they have depended on.” The way to develop great code is to read open source code and add your improvements to them. He said “Today any school can offer this opportunity, even this school we are at now Dalhousie University should push the free software movement.”
After Richard was finished trying to reach out to our society that these free software exists and we should start today to make a difference. Stallman then proceeded to put a robe over him and an object on his head and looked at the audience and said “I’m Saint IGNUcius a saint in the Church of Emacs.” Being holy in our church means installing a wholly free operating system GNU/Linux is a good choice and not putting any non-free software on your computer. Join the Church of Emacs, and you too can be a saint!
Richard Stallman
if you don't value your freedom you will lose it
