Hoi,
You may have your opinion but imho you are wrong. My sister has been now
twice to Iran. She tells me she feels safer there then in the USA. When you
talk to her about this, she tells it is quite straightforward; you dress in
the way that is appropriate, you know a few of the first things there are to
know and you are good. The first time she went, she took her son with her.
The most annoying thing to him was that people were amazed at how blond and
white he is.
As a person that is not going, is ok for you to feel concerned. But what can
you realistically expect? Do you really think it matters to the people that
are going? Do you really think that it makes much difference to the people
organising the conference? Do you really think that your voiced concern
makes the ones that are part of Wikimania 2008 more comfortable or feel
better?
I am tall. I have been in places where I tower over the local people. I have
two nephews that tower over me. For me it makes no difference I will bend my
neck in order not to hit the door post where needed. My nephews will have to
stoop even lower then me. It is not comfortable but it is the price for
entering some doors.
Mark Ryan assesses that I might have missed the Muhammed images
controversy.. Well, I have not. I am however not qualified to assess this
risk. I am not qualified either to assess the risk of a lunatic going on a
shooting rampage on a university campus or a shopping mall something that
has happened with appalling frequency.
I have been to Harvard and I was amazed at the amount of guns that I saw on
police officers. They did not make me feel secure at all. Now when I go to
Alexandria I expect to have a great time at a great venue. I expect to meet
many Wikimedians and learn many new things. Due to the fearmongering there
may be less Americans, this will only make the input from other countries
and languages bigger and better. And if it is time to meet my maker, if God
wills it ...
From a propaganda point of view, blowing up Wikimania
would be the most
stupid thing that could happen to the cause of Islam as a whole.
In the end
Wikipedia is very much an acceptable human face of what is in origin part of
a Western value set. These Wiki values are equally acceptable in most of the
Arab world. When we are to be "martyred" in the good cause of free knowledge
and the free exchange of ideas, it will only strengthen the resolve of our
friends to continue the work that we will be associated with.
I am quite happy to go to Egypt for Wikimania 2008. There is a risk, but
there is a risk when I get into a car, a bus, a train a plane as well. As a
pedestrian, the risk per kilometer is biggest but does that mean that I
should not get out of my house? There is a risk, but should that mean that
we leave our message unheard and only preach to our own parish?
Thanks,
GerardM
On Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 3:31 AM, Chad <innocentkiller(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Agreed.
And Gerard, it's not just about bringing your baggage with you.
Sometimes it's parts of your personality that you cannot hide
that simply (ie: being a woman).
Imagine a fake scenario in which we held Wikimania in a
country where if you were tall you had to bow before all
the short people you saw on the street. Effectively you're
saying "act like you're not tall or just don't bother coming."
What kind diversity is that supposed to promote? Wikimedian
volunteers are a diverse group of people, and Wikimania is
a manifestation of that. In a world that isn't necessarily as
tolerant of divergent viewpoints, we have to ensure that the
safety of the attendees is being considered.
You say that "...the perception of the people that would not
go anyway is completely irrelevant." I beg to differ. I'm not
going, but I still am concerned for my fellow volunteers.
If someone got hurt and it could've been avoided through
proper safety precautions, I would feel some level of
responsibility if I had just not voiced my concerns because
I was told they weren't important.
-Chad
On Sun, Mar 2, 2008 at 7:24 PM, Mark Ryan <ultrablue(a)gmail.com> wrote:
On 02/03/2008, Gerard Meijssen
<gerard.meijssen(a)gmail.com> wrote:
*snip*
>
> When people come to Alexandria and insist on bringing their cultural
baggage
> and make a point of it, it will increase
the risk. When people come
> primarily to the conference to meet and talk about Wiki related stuff
it
will not
impact the risk to the conference and its attendees.
*snip*
Have you missed the whole Muhammad images controversy? Attending a
conference about Wiki stuff is probably the biggest risk factor at all
right now. Cultural baggage fades into insignificance.
~Mark Ryan
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