On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 9:49 PM, Nathan nawrich@gmail.com wrote:
On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 9:18 PM, Osama Khalid osamak@gnu.org wrote:
My opinion is simple. Israel is not a good place to have such an international event as Wikimania. I wouldn't vote for Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE and other countries that are hard for many people to get into. Having such a conversation isn't the point of Wikimania. The fact that a team is amazingly active shouldn't be a reason to make this annual, exciting and useful meeting so complicated and dangerous for so many people.
Several countries have had successful Wikimanias despite fraught circumstances, like travel restrictions or geopolitical controversies. Countries like Egypt, Taiwan, the United States, Israel, etc. shouldn't be banned from hosting the Wikimedia movement because it may be difficult for some Wikimedians to attend. No matter where it goes, some people will have a hard time getting there. It's just an inescapable fact. We shouldn't let "social considerations" (i.e. the decision to not recognize Israel as a nation) prevent us from locating Wikimania in the country of an active chapter with committed organizers.
Nathan
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Hm, Nathan, this is a vast mis-characterization and comparison of other countries' political circumstances and Israel/Muslim issues. Taiwan might come slightly close but its political/socio-economic ramifications are different. I would hardly characterize the predicament both Jews and Muslims are in as a "social consideration". That's like comparing gay marriage to wearing a hat indoors :)