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{#
SPDX-License-Identifier: CC0-1.0
koszko.org website post (How I fought... another view, english).
Copyright (C) 2022 Wojtek Kosior <koszko@koszko.org>
#}
{% extends "__koszko_base.html.jinja" %}
{% block title %} How I fought... another view {% endblock %}
{% block subheading_text %} How I fought... another view {% endblock %}
{% block content %}
{% call section() %}
{{ italic('2022-11-30') }}
{% call para() %}
In 2021 I defended my BSc thesis.
My article about the fight to be able to study using libre tools landed on
the
{% call link('https://www.gnu.org/education/how-i-fought-to-graduate-without-using-non-free-software.html') -%}
GNU project website
{%- endcall %}.
So far so good.
{% endcall %}
{% call para() %}
It so happened that later on, when preparing to some evengelization event,
I was supposed to prepare some testimony of mine.
I ended up describing the same story.
But this time from a spiritual viewpoint.
I later decided it's probably worth sharing.
So, here it is.
{% endcall %}
{% endcall %}
{% call section('testimony') %}
{{ header(2, 'Testimony for Evangelization') }}
{% call para() %}
Besides being a Catholic, I am also a libre software guy.
One who doesn't tolerate Windows, Google, etc.
{% endcall %}
{% call para() %}
Whe remote teaching began, I had a problem. I was determined not to run
Teams, etc. on my devices.
I was bending the ears of all my university teachers so that they allow me
to complete their courses with some libre tools that I accept.
At the same time, taking — perhaps slightly incorrectly — inspiration from
the "Jesus, You take care of it" prayer, I was determined not to
e.g. complain to the dean about the teachers unwilling to cooperate.
That approach was perhaps not completely absurd after all — God himself
loves all people so much that He does not push them into a corner but
rather gives them freedom, even freedom to choose evil.
{% endcall %}
{% call para() %}
All this was a terrible experience and the stress was up to here. In spite
of this, I got to complete the last 2 semesters of the BSc studies.
And there were also some incredible moments.
For example when I thought I was going to fail the compilers class because
I "did not come" to an exam on Teams.
At that time I prayed a bit, perhaps also cried and eventually started
revising the compilers material "just in case".
And suddenly, I learned from a friend that Teams did not bear the load of
over 100 students connecting simultaneously and that the exam would
instead be conducted via email.
{% endcall %}
{% call para() %}
I still have some doubts with respect to particular choices. Perhaps I
should have been less radical in some cases?
Or perhaps I could have been more and e.g. also rejected using nonfree
platforms from lab computers?
{% endcall %}
{% call para() %}
But even though I was certainly committing {{ bold('some') }} mistakes
over those 2 semesters (as we know, every man sins) I believed Him to care
about me all the time.
{% endcall %}
{% call para() %}
After all this I met one libre software hacker from the US who had an
identical situation. Except he didn't make it.
He gave up on the studies rather quickly because he didn't see a chance.
He happens to be a non-believer.
{% endcall %}
{% call para() %}
I was successful not thanks to being more clever or more persuasive — as I
am likely not — but rather because I tried.
And I only had motivation for trying because I believe in certain Jesus
who died for us on a cross and through that can fix all the evil that
harms us.
{% endcall %}
{% call para() %}
Looking behind on all that stress, fear and everything that constitutes
the metaphorical "cross of life", I see it has a purpose.
It brings me closer to God once again.
{% endcall %}
{% call para() %}
But for the purpose to be present in one's suffering, one first needs to
make the decision to suffer it together with God.
{% endcall %}
{% endcall %}
{% endblock %}
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