[Foundation-l] Wikimania and the Muhammad pix

[Dan Rosenthal]

Thank you Florence.

-Dan
On Feb 23, 2008, at 10:03 PM, Florence Devouard wrote:

> Nod. I'll add that to the board+Sue discussion next week end, and see
> that this be addressed.
>
> Ant
>
>  Chad wrote:
>> Florence:
>>
>> I'm going to say it one last time: please do not dismiss potential
>> concerns simply because we're "Neutral." Many people have
>> claimed neutrality before and it's burned them. Belgium before
>> World War II being a notable example.
>>
>> To be perfectly honest, I doubt that any of the non-Western
>> governments give a crap about NPOV. You can say "But it's
>> educational and we don't decide editorially what to put in
>> en.wiki" until you're blue in the face. It doesn't change the
>> way it's perceived. And, unfortunately, it currently looks to
>> portions of the Islamic world that the WMF is dismissing
>> complaints made due to a difference in religious ideology.
>>
>> Just imagine the PR from the headlines "Wikimania contributors
>> gunned down by Islamic extremists." Now, I'm not wishing this
>> on anyone, nor do I hope we ever have to discuss the fallout
>> from such a situation, but there are places in the world where
>> the actions taken by some people can create headlines such
>> as this.
>>
>> The board would be wise to properly investigate the security
>> situation in Egypt or potentially face the risk of having done
>> nothing and then having to cope with the fallout because of that.
>> I believe most Wikimedians would be fine with a canceled, postponed
>> or relocated Wikimania if it meant they'd all be a bit safer.
>>
>> For the community,
>> Chad