The OpenOffice.org Annual Conference goes to Beijing

All the more reason to sound the voice of software freedom there.  You see, China is not the
Chinese government.  China is the Chinese people.

This is why I do not buy into all the well intentioned, but misguided, efforts by people to
avoid buying goods made in China, etc.  China's rulers will not be deprived of any meals
through boycotts or economic sanctions.  Only the Chinese people are hurt.  Perhaps the idea
of making the economy so bad that the people will rise up against their government might have
some merit.  But I can't help but feel that the ethics of applying such pressure are
questionable.

On the same note, I do not believe in shunning them when it comes time to pick a location for
an important conference involving the concept of software freedom.

And remember, the billion people of China potentially have a lot to give back to FOSS.  But
first, they must understand that it is in their best interest to respect the licenses and
contribute their changes back upstream, and must understand how that is best done, and all the
other little details about how and why to become integral members of the our world wide
community.