Free speech

Applies to everyone, whatever their view

As you may be aware, a concentrated Internet campaign has forced Brendan Eich to stand down as CEO of Mozilla.

Mr Eich was the creator of JavaScript, a programming language that increasingly runs the web. As far as influence on today’s web, he’s up there with its creator, Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

In 2008, Eich made a $1,000 donation in support of Californian anti-gay marriage law Proposition 8. The donation was publicised in 2008 and met with controversy. Later when Mozilla Corporation made him CEO in March of this year, that controversy returned.

I disagree with opponents of gay-marriage but I support their right to say that they are opposed it. I am extremely uncomfortable that Brendan has been hounded out of his job because he held an opinion and felt strongly enough to donate some money.

Maybe his views have changed in the last 6 years. Whether that opinion was based on his religious beliefs or some other motivation, I don’t know. What I do know is that I support his right to have an opinion and to voice that opinion.

Free speech applies to all not just those who you agree with.

Remember as you use the web to share your thoughts and opinions, you’re using code written in the programming language he created. He’s done more for free speech than most. If you feel that strongly, turn JavaScript off in your web browser.