[liberationtech] Resignation

[Jacob Appelbaum]

On 09/14/2010 12:01 AM, Daniel Colascione wrote:
> We met online, after the election. After that otherwise-normal day in
> June 2009, Austin Heap and I went on to found the Censorship Research
> Center. We have traveled, laughed, drank, worked, celebrated, and
> commiserated together. I have been involved in this project longer
> than anyone else; before there was a Censorship Research Center, I
> coined the name "Haystack". I feel as if I know Austin better than
> many people know their own brothers. He is fundamentally a good man.
> That's why this is such a difficult decision, and why I waited so long
> to make it.
> 

Dear Daniel,

First, I'm sorry that I was so blunt. There are lot of mistakes to go
around and I own that.

I wanted to write and say that I think you deserve support from the
circumvention community. I have a great deal of respect for you because
of most of your actions, the design you posted on this list, the
implementation that you created, the conversations we've had, the
concern you've shown, and more.

I also have a great deal of respect for your attempts to create a viable
alternative. You saw a world that needed something good and you sought
to do something rather than doing nothing. I wish things had gone
differently and that we'd been colleagues all along. Your intentions are
something that really is commendable and you should have no shame about
that.

Your email is very humble and it moved me. I actually feel rather
wretched that I didn't write this letter of support earlier. I'm sorry
if my critique of what I have seen has been harsh or if it has upset
you. It was not meant to be personal, I do not believe you have
willingly misled people or lied to anyone along the way. Your email
proves to me that you are a gentleman of positive character.

Sincerely,
Jacob