---- Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2001 06:59:30 -0400 From: robin <robinat_private> To: declanat_private Subject: Clearwater Allows Scientology, not Linux, Evangelism Dear Declan and Politechnics: Last week, across the street from the Church of Scientology's Sandcastle Center in Clearwater, Florida, Microsoft representatives harassed members of a local Linux Users Group [LUG] who were handing out CDs containing free software in front of the city-owned Haborview Convention Center. With the aid of Harborview security guards, they forced this seditious activity to stop. "You can't pass out free software here," was the phrase a number of LUG members specifically recall hearing from Microsoft staffers and convention center security guards. My NewsForge colleague Tina Gasperson wrote this lighthearted story about the event: http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=01/06/01/1540231 Microsoft was holding an Office XP "rollout" seminar in the convention center, and perhaps they felt that, as paying exhibitors, this gave them the right to stifle free expression (and free software) not only inside the building but in the open air nearby. But the Suncoast Linux Users Group was a legitimate exhibitor at the Computer and Technology Showcase being held on a separate floor of the convention center at the same time. Apparently none of the LUG members thought of saying, "No, we're not going to leave. This is public property, and we have as much right to pass out literature and software here as anyone else, especially since most of us live here and are, therefore, part-owners of this facility." When confronted by uniformed security personnel they left quietly and returnd to their display booth inside, which got far more visitors than the Microsoft booth a few hundred feet away despite having a decidedly amateur, "thrown together" appearance. Meanwhile, Church of Scientology members were handing out fliers on nearby city-owned beaches, as they apparently do every day, unmolested by security guards or police. It's amusing, really, to think that Scientologists are allowed to spread their material and philosophy freely in Clearwater while Linux advocates are not allowed to do the same thing, at least while Microsoft is in town. The Church of Scientology has a history of calling for security and police assistance whenever anyone demonstrates against them, no matter how peacefully, near their Clearwater buildings. Apparently Microsoft marketing people are following in Scientology's footsteps by trying to quash those who publically speak out against their practices. Is it possible that Microsoft has been infiltrated by Scientologists? Could Bill Gates be a secret member? Or has Microsoft developed an internal culture so cultlike that it acts like an obnoxious religious cult without realizing it, not only internally, but in the way it deals with the outside world and any perceived competitors? Scientology did not start out as a religion. It became one to shield its activities from prying eyes, especially those of government. Could this be Microsoft's ultimate defense against antitrust actions and all other government regulations: to become a religion? - Robin 'Roblimo' Miller Editor in Chief, http://osdn.com (publishers of Slashdot, freshmeat, NewsForge, and other fine Web sites) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. To subscribe, visit http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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