[Foundation-l] Steward elections: summary, week one

[Ting Chen]

Robert Rohde wrote:
> Looking at the summary and comments, I am struck by the fact that
> Mardetanha [1] is getting a significant number of oppose votes from
> people who believe it is fundamentally unsafe for a Steward to live in
> Iran.  Including comments that the Iranian government might arrest and
> torture him for his access, or that he might otherwise feel compelled
> to co-operate with them.
>
> Similar concerns were also voiced about a Chinese candidate, but that
> candidate already has significant opposition for other reasons, and so
> the political comments do not seem to be a major factor.
>
> [1] http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Stewards/elections_2009/statements/Mardetanha
>
> -Robert Rohde
>
>   
I dislike this argument very much. People cannot choose that they are 
born in Iran or in China, or in the USA or Europe. Use such a trait that 
cannot be influence by a person against him is a kind of discrimination. 
So long as the person doesn't handle against the rule there is no reason 
to assume that he would do that. Keep a good faith is one of the 
principles of how Wikimedians should meet each other.

Ting