RMS writes in Why Open Source Misses the Point of Free Software:
Sometimes [developers of proprietary software] produce a program that is powerful and reliable, even though it does not respect the users' freedom. Free software activists and open source enthusiasts will react very differently to that.
A pure open source enthusiast, one that is not at all influenced by the ideals of free software, will say, “I am surprised you were able to make the program work so well without using [the Open Source] development model, but you did. How can I get a copy?” This attitude will reward schemes that take away our freedom, leading to its loss.
The free software activist will say, “Your program is very attractive, but I value my freedom more. So I reject your program. I will get my work done some other way, and support a project to develop a free replacement.” If we value our freedom, we can act to maintain and defend it.
The last sentence is crucial, and yet RMS fails to convey the import: "we can act", sure, but to "maintain and defend" freedom one must fight for it.
In a 2002 interview, RMS states:
[W]e need to think about right and wrong in making our decisions...
Every decision, every time, we must choose the path that defends freedom and liberty.
Proprietary software aims to maximize control. Open source software aims to maximize distribution. Neither aims to maintain liberty, because neither made their first decisions around user freedom: the right to determine their use of software, not to be dictated by the software's regime.
Every right conveys a freedom, and every right requires a responsibility. Your responsibility, to yourself, your family, and your community, is to fight for your freedom with every choice.
This is all easy to say and difficult to do, once accustomed to convenience or the illusion of control. For example, I write this now on a MacOS using Safari. Google Fiber provides my Internet. My car is computer controlled, and I have no idea how that software operates. My phone is Android, Google again. I choose these because they're functional for my needs, I choose to work within the features they offer, and I can afford them. But I am beholden to them.
In Who does that server really serve?, RMS writes:
[P]ower is something we must resist.
From awareness comes suspicion and from suspicion comes resistence.
Everyone will have their own journey along the path, but I encourage readers to start by raising their own awareness to the software around them that holds power over them. Then to begin by questioning whether that power is something you want to give away. If not, consider how you begin your own resistance and fight toward a future where all software is under your control.
