Joining the FSF Board of Directors

When I was 12 years old, I discovered free software. That discovery changed my life and I’ve never recovered.

Over what is now more than half of my life, I have looked to the Free Software Foundation for vision, guidance, and an example of a free world and I have rarely been disappointed. The list of directors of the FSF — Richard Stallman, Eben Moglen, Lawrence Lessig, Henri Poole, Gerry Sussman, Hal Abelson, and Geoffrey Knauth — doubles as a list of some of my greatest heroes and role models.

As such, I lack the words to describe how it feels that, just yesterday, I was elected to the board of directors of the Free Software Foundation. With Moglen having stepped down I have staggeringly large shoes to fill. I’m more than a little intimidated.

At 26 years old, I suspect that I’ll be the youngest person on the board by quite a bit. This means I’ll have to try and make up with hard work and passion what I lack in experience and wisdom. It’s a challenge I look forward to.

With free software becoming increasingly successful and widespread, we’ve already begun to see push back. I suspect that in the next years, we’ll see much more. We reaching the dangerous part of the, "first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win" progression. I’ll do what I can to defend freedom until we’ve won.

In order to ensure that I have the time necessary, I’m going to be resigning from the board of Software Freedom International and will consider reducing and resigning some of my other commitments as well. If you want to support my work with the foundation, you can become an associate member.

31 Replies to “Joining the FSF Board of Directors”

  1. And this surprises anyone? :) You were the first name that came to mind when I saw that Moglen was resigning. Good luck and godspeed…

  2. With 3 best wishes for the future:

    1) Ensure you know whose freedom you’re fighting for – the people’s, not the software’s.

    2) Don’t compromise on liberty for commerce – that’s how we got stuck into this mess in the first place.

    3) Know your limitations – liberty does not trump our rights to life, privacy, and truth.

  3. Congratulations Mako!!!  You do have good sized shoes to fill, but I’m positive you will grow into them quickly and honorably.  I’m very happy for you and for the FSF.

  4. Be very afraid all you snuffers of Digital liberty, Mako is now afoot! (as he takes out his pipe and lites it, takes out his violin and starts to play) Dr. Moriority, this means you!
    Congrats,
    Kev

  5. Congratulations! It’s indeed a big move for you and a big win for the Free Software Foundation! I think it’s great that they’ve got some young blood aboard.

  6. Awesome, congratulations! For a while now I considered you to be one of the most significant links between Free Culture and Free Software because you’ve been pointing to the commonalities between them and why Free Culture depends on Free Software.

    This is, among other reasons, why I simply love the fact that you’re now onboard at FSF. :)

    Also I was very glad to meet you on iCommons in Dubrovnik. :)

    I wish you all the best in your continued work for Freedom.

    Danijel Orsolic

  7. Wow!  I just got the news from Peter today.  Big Congratulations. I look forward to getting the chance to work together.  Hope to bump into you at UbuntuLive if you’re going.

  8. Wow!  I just got the news from Peter today.  Big Congratulations. I look forward to getting the chance to work together.  Hope to bump into you at UbuntuLive if you’re going.

  9. Dang. You can’t even spell Gerry Sussman and you’re on the board of directory of the FSF. WTF? How did you get chosen?

  10. Peter: It was a mistake which I’ve now corrected.

    Perhaps they selected me for my commitment to and work on free software and not my spelling ability.

    There’s really no need to be so rude.

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