There's a good discussion going on the GA. The GNSO is trying to shut us down. So what else is new :) The GA is the last bastion of ICANN democracy. It was the birthplace of all the original elected directors that represented all internet users. cheers joe baptista On Sat, Sep 26, 2009 at 2:23 AM, Hugh Dierker <hdierker2204@yahoo.com>wrote:

Avri, Chuck, George, Kent and Danny,

Your recent attacks on the charactar of the individuals who participate in the GA is not appropriate. You have all been in positions where you could have helped form the necessary systems and tools asked for by the GA. You all chose to do nothing. Now you criticize and belittle those who have participated. Try this on for thought;

Pharaoh – Hebrews – Moses, SA – Blacks – Mandela, US - Slaves – Lincoln,

Mexico – Natives – Juarez, Papal Nuncio – servitude – Luther, French Indochina – colonialism – Ho Chi Minh, Poland – dictatorship – Walensa, US – Native Americans – Means.

Not popular causes. Not popular leaders. Denounced. Rejected. Slandered. Maligned.

Governance apparatus that recognized rights. Spoke in platitudes. Denied the unrepresented the tools to self organize. Placed restrictions on the right to vote and participate. Required pedigrees and ownership in order to vote. Considered one man less than another because of social status. Used necessity as a justification. Degraded the intellectualism of the opposition. Banned and prohibited speech.

I am not saying the cause here is as just or as important. I certainly do not suggest that the actors are as great. But I do say that the technique of social stigmata and political personal assassinations is the same. That the legalism as an excuse is the same. That hiding behind failure to act is the same. That intentionally denying access to voting is exactly the same. Refusal of those in power to give way to democratic principals are the same. That the attack on freedom of speech is the same. That the denial and responsibility shifting is the same. NGOs and Government together assault the speakers.

I am just saying ……..

-- Joe Baptista www.publicroot.org PublicRoot Consortium ---------------------------------------------------------------- The future of the Internet is Open, Transparent, Inclusive, Representative & Accountable to the Internet community @large. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Office: +1 (360) 526-6077 (extension 052) Fax: +1 (509) 479-0084 Personal: www.joebaptista.wordpress.com