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At 18:28 5/13/2007 -0700, Karl Auerbach wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Your comments prove my point -
that mechanisms of openness, transparency, and accountability must be
built into institutions of internet governance at the genetic foundation
level else they will be excused, avoided, vitiated, and replaced with
placebo substitutes.</blockquote><br>
But that's a good example of what you could do - right? Instead of
writing in this list, go ahead, suggest it to the public. Make your
contribution known, by publishing it within the current process. Is this
process good? Perhaps it could be better? Is it timely? Perhaps some
would disagree. But can you contribute? Yes, you can. <br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">You continue to assert that
ICANN has changed. OK, let's hold a real election to see what the
internet community says.</blockquote><br>
Again - make this as part of your proposals. I am just one of the members
of this community, and chair of ISOC-Bulgaria. I do what I have to in my
own country to change things positively. I don't keep on complaining
about the things that don't change, regardless of my desire - I just try
to make my case, and persuade the others that I am right. But I don't do
that by starting from 1999, when I was suing the Bulgarian government
against the licensing of the Internet Service Providers, regardless of
the fact that this was the first ever such a case in my country, and
regardless of the fact that we won (see
<a href="http://www.isoc.bg/kpd" eudora="autourl">
http://www.isoc.bg/kpd</a> for more). This is just history, and I don't
read it every day to see how right I was. <br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">On another point: You have never
even tried to explain why ICANN has chosen to hide, much less is
justified in hiding, an official written communication made by a sitting
director to the full board made during a public
meeting.</blockquote><br>
I don't think I should try to explain why ICANN has or has not done
something. I've read your statements, I've talked to you on a number of
occasions. I believe I am informed about many things, and I think anyone
could be as informed as I am. <br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Do you believe that bodies of
internet governance should be empowered to manipulate their histories and
official documents?</blockquote><br>
I don't believe the transcript of a hearing is manipulated. <br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">To continue:<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Recommendation: All meetings of
the Board of Directors and of its committees should be audio-recorded and
made available to the public. ...</blockquote></blockquote><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Karl, four points here:<br>
a) Would you agree that some people, who are non-native English speakers
may have problems having their words recorded?</blockquote><br>
A famous line in US politics is "If you can't take the heat, get out
of the kitchen."<br><br>
If a person on ICANN's board or committee can not make decisions in a
manner which allows the internet community to observe, to provide input,
to provide corrective guidance, and ultimately be called to account, then
that person should immediately resign.</blockquote><br>
Karl, <br>
this is funny. You are not a non-native English speaker. I believe you
and I share same background - law, but went into other type of
businesses. But that alone is not enough for you to understand how I'd
feel (although I believe that I speak relatively good English, for a
foreigner). When I have chosen to be part of the ICANN Board, I agreed on
certain terms. They did not include having every word of mine recorded. I
am not a politician, or a member of the Parliament, to be looking for
public performance, or rating, so that I'd love to have everything I say
on the record. Besides, some of my jokes may have ground in a face, or a
gesture, which you can't see in an audio-recording. So, it would be
strange. As for the famous lines in the US politics - I really don't care
that much about the US politics and what their "famous" lines
are. I come from a country, which has written history records of about
2500 years, and famous lines like "If you are afraid of bears, don't
go in the forest". Note, this is way before there were US
politicians. But then, people knew beforehand what's to be expected in
the forest. And if I've joined a board with minutes, then I've joined a
board with minutes, not with audio-recording. And if I've felt that I am
breaking the by-laws, or my moral standards, I would have resigned
immediately. I have done so in some other organizations, by the way.
<br><br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Your arguments for secrecy in
ICANN remind me of the claims of my own President when he locks people up
in foreign jails for indeterminate period and without even the
protections the civilized world began to accept in the year
1215.</blockquote><br>
Karl, <br>
I don't know your President, I don't vote for your President, and
actually if I have to comment on that, he is your responsibility, not
mine. So, if he reminds ME of something, that is that your elected him.
<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">You wrote:<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">I don't see anything amusing
going always into your case against ICANN. This happened long time ago,
and one of the signs ICANN has changed is, that the next directors didn't
have the problems you've had.</blockquote><br>
Why am I often making negative comments on ICANN? The reason is
that there is so much about ICANN that is worthy of negative
comment. Those negative matters have existed, and even gotten
worse, during the 9 years of ICANN's existence.</blockquote><br>
Well, that's your opinion. Mine is different. But then, I didn't sue the
organization, and every time when<i> I </i>was on the Board I needed
something from the staff, they would deliver it. May be because I knew
how to ask, without necessarily going to court :-) <br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Today is mother's day - so let's
use that as a context for an example: Suppose a mother were to tell her
child that it is bad to run with scissors? Do you think that the
child should turn on her, rejecting her advice, and assailing her intent
on the grounds that such advice was given to children in prior days and
is thus inappropriate?</blockquote><br>
So, shall we call you "Mom"? Or ICANN is your child ;) I
guess you understand that I'd prefer to focus on something more positive
- e.g. I've noted already several things, which you could suggest to
ICANN. But just stating something doesn't make it true. If you can
put aside your own bad memories from ICANN, I am sure you could
contribute much more positively. And that doesn't mean that you have to
say "ICANN is great!", but rather that you may say, "I
think this could be better - here's how". <br><br>
best,<br>
Veni</body>
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