On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 9:18 PM, Osama Khalid
<osamak(a)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 :)
--
~Keegan