Re: [atlarge-discuss] Re: FC: ICANN attorney replies to Politech post on "self-regulation's end"

["Ron Sherwood" <sherwood@islands.vi>]

Good evening, Jeff:

    Thank you for your comments and explanation of Richards, talents. His
replies to my messages certainly support your position. As wrote in my last
message:

    "I do bow to your experience with the people with whom you are
corresponding. I do not have your history of personal contact with these
people and, if you have proof that the "in-your-face" attacks really work,
who am I to argue with success?"

    However I also explained my perspective:

    "My input is from a different perspective.  I joined this organization
believing that it was to represent those Internet users who had been
disenfranchised by the change in ICANN policy that eliminated existing
representation on the ICANN Board of Directors.  Over the past few months, I
have seen much internal bickering and name calling, personal attacks and
language that has painted a less than professional picture of the fledgling
organization. I have read many messages, the tone of which would discourage
potential members from ever joining, much less participating in, our work.

    And I added:

    "It is my personal opinion that, if we are to grow from a few hundred
members with a couple of dozen participants, to a million members with top
quality representation, we need to elevate the language of our official
communications to a level that will be taken seriously by other leaders, and
by the government and pseudo government representatives with whom we are
bound to deal."

    It was the tone of Richards letter to Mr. Sims that triggered a response
to the picture painted by others. I hope that my message, and your
explanation, satisfies the many "wimps" who's support we will need to become
viable. Thank you for enlightening me.

Regards, Ron Sherwood

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Williams" <jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com>
To: "Ron Sherwood" <sherwood@islands.vi>
Cc: "Richard Henderson" <richardhenderson@ntlworld.com>; <declan@well.com>;
<politech@politechbot.com>; "General Assembly of the DNSO" <ga@dnso.org>;
"atlarge discuss list" <atlarge-discuss@lists.fitug.de>
Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2002 9:56 PM
Subject: Re: [atlarge-discuss] Re: FC: ICANN attorney replies to Politech
post on "self-regulation's end"


> Ron and all stakeholders or interested parties,
>
> Ron Sherwood wrote:
>
> > Good morning, Richard:
> >
> >     I do not question the validity or "reasonableness" of your questions
to
> > Mr Sims.  I do, however, question your delivery of those questions.
> >
> >     I am a new member of this group, introduced by a prime mover who is
no
> > longer in good health and unable to participate.  I have been primarily
a
> > lurker, attempting to get up to speed on the endeavors of this at-large
> > group.  The arcane references to people and past events, known and
> > understood only by "insiders" has made the aquisition of related
knowledge
> > somewhat difficult at times.
>
>   Indeed it is difficult to know or even adequately consider whom is and
whom
> is not an "Insider".  In our members expressed opinion, such distinctions
> are not only of questionable, but of very questionable value...
>
> >  However, I have learned over the past few
> > months that there are members who have certain defined and valuable
skill
> > sets, and others who have very different skill sets.  Your skill set,
sir,
> > does not include diplomacy.
>
>   I respectfully disagree form two different but related perspectives Ron.
> Richard's style varies as the situation warrants, and often times when
dealing
> with the likes of Joe Sims, Louis Touton, Stuart Lynn, and other ICANN
> staff and BoD members, diplomatic language is normally not only non
productive
> as to achieve a specific goal, but engenders unnecessarily prolonged
debate
> and deepens disagreement as the spirituous competition as to whom is
> being more politically correct in the use of diplomacy becomes more
> of the argument that substantive points towards a reasonable conclusion.
> Hence Ron, I am personally quite pleased and appreciative of Richard's,
> approaches and use of, or lack there of of diplomatic discourse...
>
> >
> >
> >     Any reasonable person reading your letters would recoil from the
> > aggressive and often overtly rude wording.
>
>   If they do, than they have something to hide or are just wimps..
>
> > Why should anyone be inclined to
> > respond to questions, even serious questions, when they are presented in
> > such an aggressive manner?
>
>   They should do so to show openness, transparency and an interest in
reaching
> reasonable conclusions regardless of the tone of the questions posed by
> ANY stakeholder/user...
>
> >
> >
> >     It is my humble opinion that our organization is in very real need
of a
> > spokesperson representative who can carry our dialog to others in the
manner
> > in which all successful international diplomacy is conducted.
>
>   To a degree you are right, but also do a degree we need s spokesman,
> like Richard that can also be a bull dog as well.
>
> >  We do need
> > leaders who have the technical knowledge, the vision and the mindset
that
> > defines our organization as being representative of the global user.
But,
> > we also need leaders who are managers (to bring our organization to
> > functionality), marketing experts (to grow the membership to be truly
> > representative of users on a global scale), and diplomatic communicators
(to
> > present our case to ICANN, to government representatives, to other
> > organizations and to the media. To allow our voice to be heard with
> > respect).
>
>   Indeed you are more correct here.  But we cannot and should not have
> a spokesman that is a diplomatic wimp that is mainly interested in being
> politically correct in the use of his/her vocabulary...
>
> >
> >
> >     While I respect and support your freedom to speak to whomever you
wish
> > as an individual, I do not think your communication skills are suitable
for
> > representing me as a member of this organization.
>
>   Well Ron, you can always leave the organization, or propose someone
> else that you believe might better represent this organization in the
manner
> you believe would be to the broad spectrum of the membership.  I would
> be VERY interested in whom you have in mind and why you think that
> person is better suited.  Otherwise to just criticize Richard, have an
> alternative to suggest as well and state whom that person is and why
> you believe he/she would be a better spokesman or representative.
>
> >
> >
> > Sincerely, Ron Sherwood
> >
> > --- Original Message -----
> > From: "Richard Henderson" <richardhenderson@ntlworld.com>
> > To: "Jeff Williams" <jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com>; <declan@well.com>
> > Cc: <politech@politechbot.com>; "General Assembly of the DNSO"
> > <ga@dnso.org>; "atlarge discuss list" <atlarge-discuss@lists.fitug.de>
> > Sent: Friday, June 14, 2002 9:32 PM
> > Subject: Re: [atlarge-discuss] Re: FC: ICANN attorney replies to
Politech
> > post on "self-regulation's end"
> >
> > >
> > > I refer you to the reasonable questions and concerns sent to Dan
Halloran
> > 35
> > > days ago, which he has still not had the courtesy to acknowledge, let
> > alone
> > > answer, presumably because the ICANN Board would prefer not to answer
> > > difficult (but reasonable and relevant) questions.
> > >
> > > Mr Sims,
> > >
> > > You don't have to be "religious" and zealous for global democracy to
> > assert
> > > that ICANN lacks responsiveness to its stakeholders. If you claim any
> > > credibility at all, then kindly get me rational answers to my fair and
> > > honest questions.
> > >
> > > But no, I guess you will not even reply, because the general public
have
> > > found in practice that the ICANN establishment skulks away and hides
when
> > > challenging questions (relevant to stakeholders) are raised.
> > >
> > > Will you reply? Will ICANN acknowledge my relevant questions? Prove me
> > > wrong! Get me some answers!
> > >
> > > Otherwise, kindly don't lecture us on ICANN at all, or create a
> > smokescreen
> > > of "global democracy lunatics" to hide behind. I do not have to be a
> > lunatic
> > > to request openness, responsiveness, courtesy and transparency. But
that
> > is
> > > what ICANN (and I suggest possibly you - we shall see...) lack.
> > >
> > > Oh, and one other thing... whether ICANN is or is not self-regulatory,
it
> > > presides over a system which is... registrars who regulate themselves,
and
> > > who commit fraud, and yet remain accredited by ICANN.
> > >
> > > Richard Henderson
> > > www.theInternetChallenge.com
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Jeff Williams <jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com>
> > > To: <declan@well.com>
> > > Cc: <politech@politechbot.com>; General Assembly of the DNSO
> > <ga@dnso.org>;
> > > atlarge discuss list <atlarge-discuss@lists.fitug.de>
> > > Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2002 2:18 AM
> > > Subject: [atlarge-discuss] Re: FC: ICANN attorney replies to Politech
post
> > > on "self-regulation's end"
> > >
> > >
> > > > Declan and all,
> > > >
> > > >   Of course, many of us that have been around for awhile, like
myself,
> > > > recognize that old Joe had to put some sort of spin on this.  That's
> > > > what he gets paid to do after all, and handsomely to boot.  Hence
> > > > giving his comments of this nature much credence or consideration
> > > > would be a huge mistake or at least quite misleading...  Same
Ding-Dong,
> > > > Sing-Song...
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Declan McCullagh wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Previous Politech message:
> > > > >
> > > > > "Michael Geist on ICANN, Congress, end of 'self-regulation'"
> > > > > http://www.politechbot.com/p-03653.html
> > > > >
> > > > > Joe Sims is ICANN's chief outside counsel.
> > > > >
> > > > > -Declan
> > > > >
> > > > > ---
> > > > >
> > > > > To: declan@well.com
> > > > > Subject: Michael Geist's column
> > > > > From: "Joe Sims" <jsims@JonesDay.com>
> > > > > Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 11:03:28 -0400
> > > > >
> > > > > Of course, Geist has it all wrong.  I hope you will consider
> > publishing
> > > > > this response.
> > > > >
> > > > > The notion that not enough happens at ICANN in public, and that
the
> > > answer
> > > > > to ICANN's problems is more transparency, illustrates a profound
lack
> > of
> > > > > understanding about what ICANN really does, and how it really does
> > > > > it.  Prof. Geist is not the only one that doesn't get it, but
since he
> > > has
> > > > > the ability to publish columns, it is probably worth while trying
to
> > > > > correct his misunderstanding.
> > > > >
> > > > > Contrary to Prof. Geist's assertions, ICANN is not a
self-regulatory
> > > > > body.  It was never intended to be a self-regulatory body.  It was
> > > intended
> > > > > to be a forum for the possible discovery of consensus solutions to
> > > global
> > > > > issues related to the DNS -- a way, quite frankly, for national
> > > governments
> > > > > to find a place for the resolution of global DNS issues that did
not
> > > > > require a new treaty organization.  It is true that its original
> > > structure
> > > > > called for half its Board to be selected by a general At Large
> > > membership
> > > > > of some kind, but that was certainly not the consensus view of the
> > > Internet
> > > > > community at that time.  Prof. Geist, having not been part of the
> > > > > discussions with the US Government that produced that
construction, is
> > > > > undoubtedly unaware of the fact that no one involved in that
decision,
> > > and
> > > > > I include those in the US Government (feel free to ask them) was
> > > convinced
> > > > > that such an approach was really workable.  The ICANN organizers
> > wanted
> > > to
> > > > > insert the words "if feasible;" the US Government position at the
> > time,
> > > for
> > > > > reasons I leave to the reader to imagine, was "we'll figure out
how to
> > > do
> > > > > it later."  The then brand-new Board of ICANN, without the
assistence
> > of
> > > > > Jon Postel who had died a month earlier, acquiesced to this
position,
> > > > > notwithstanding a quite clear concern that it might not be
possible to
> > > make
> > > > > it work.  In hindsight, I am quite sure most regret this decision.
> > > > >
> > > > > We now have almost 4 years of experience by which to test the
concepts
> > > on
> > > > > which the original construction rested, and we actually know some
> > things
> > > > > that we did not know then.  We know that the notion of global
on-line
> > > > > elections is fraught with problems that are too complicated for
ICANN
> > to
> > > be
> > > > > on the bleeding edge on innovation in this area.  We know that
there
> > is
> > > no
> > > > > consensus in the ICANN community on exactly how the public
interest
> > > should
> > > > > be represented in ICANN's structure, notwithstanding the
insistence of
> > > > > those like Prof. Geist that there is only one possible solution.
We
> > > know
> > > > > that part of the reason there is no consensus is that those who
insist
> > > on
> > > > > direct elections of Board members have refused to consider any
other
> > > > > alternative way of representing the public interest; this
religious
> > > > > approach is not conducive to compromise or consensus.
> > > > >
> > > > > We also know that a purely private organization, without the
support
> > and
> > > > > involvement of governments from around the world, will not be able
to
> > > carry
> > > > > out thes mission assigned to ICANN (if you believe that mission
> > requires
> > > > > the agreed participation of all the relevant infrastructure
> > > > > providers).  ICANN has no guns, and no soldiers; it has no
coercive
> > > > > power.  It can succeed only if the relevant portions of the
community
> > > > > voluntarily agree that they want to participate and make it
succeed.
> > To
> > > > > date, that has not happened.  We can argue all we want about why
it
> > has
> > > not
> > > > > happened, but it is clear that the reason is not the failure to
hold
> > > > > on-line elections.  The fact is that the root server operators,
the
> > > address
> > > > > registries, and the ccTLD registries must be persuaded to come to
the
> > > ICANN
> > > > > table, and it will not help that process to make ICANN a less
stable,
> > > less
> > > > > predictable organization.
> > > > >
> > > > > Finally, we know (or at least some of us strongly believe) that
the
> > path
> > > to
> > > > > ICANN success is an appropriate public/private partnership, with
the
> > > > > private sector and global governments working together within an
ICANN
> > > > > structured to accept input from all but also able to make
effective
> > > > > decisions in a timely way.  We are clearly on the path to such an
> > ICANN,
> > > > > and I hope we will take another step toward that goal at the
meeting
> > in
> > > > > Bucharest later this month.
> > > > >
> > > > > The notion that government interest in ICANN is heightened by the
> > > failure
> > > > > to adopt some form of global elections is laughably naive.
> > Governments
> > > are
> > > > > properly interested in ICANN because the Internet is increasingly
> > > critical
> > > > > to the well-being, social and commercial, of their citizens, and
> > because
> > > > > what ICANN is responsible for is critical to the continued stable
> > > operation
> > > > > of the Internet.  This would be true whether all or none of
ICANN's
> > > > > directors were elected by the general public.  And it is this fact
> > that
> > > is
> > > > > driving the process of gaining the proper level of government
> > > participation
> > > > > in ICANN, nothing else.  This is the real world; Prof. Geist
insists
> > on
> > > > > occupying some academic construct of a world.  This longing for
some
> > > > > utopian construct is not useful in trying to reform ICANN into a
body
> > > that
> > > > > does reflect, as best it can be done, the views and concerns of
the
> > > entire
> > > > > Internet provider and user community.
> > > > >
> > > > > Joe Sims
> > > > > Jones Day Reavis & Pogue
> > > > > 51 Louisiana Avenue NW
> > > > > Washington, D.C. 20001
> > > > > Direct Phone:  1.202.879.3863
> > > > > Direct Fax:  1.202.626.1747
> > > > > Mobile Phone:  1.703.629.3963
> > > > >
> > > > > ==============================
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> > > > > information that may be confidential, be protected by the
> > > attorney-client
> > > > > or other applicable privileges, or constitute non-public
information.
> > It
> > > is
> > > > > intended to be conveyed only to the designated recipient(s). If
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> > are
> > > not
> > > > > an intended recipient of this message, please notify the sender by
> > > replying
> > > > > to this message and then delete it from your system. Use,
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> > > > > distribution, or reproduction of this message by unintended
recipients
> > > is
> > > > > not authorized and may be unlawful.
> > > > > ==============================
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> > > >
> > > > Regards,
> > > > --
> > > > Jeffrey A. Williams
> > > > Spokesman for INEGroup - (Over 124k members/stakeholders strong!)
> > > > CEO/DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java/CORBA Development Eng.
> > > > Information Network Eng. Group. INEG. INC.
> > > > E-Mail jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com
> > > > Contact Number:  972-244-3801 or 214-244-4827
> > > > Address: 5 East Kirkwood Blvd. Grapevine Texas 75208
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
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>
> Regards,
>
> --
> Jeffrey A. Williams
> Spokesman for INEGroup - (Over 124k members/stakeholders strong!)
> CEO/DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java/CORBA Development Eng.
> Information Network Eng. Group. INEG. INC.
> E-Mail jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com
> Contact Number:  972-244-3801 or 214-244-4827
> Address: 5 East Kirkwood Blvd. Grapevine Texas 75208
>
>
>


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