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Welcome, ACLU

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Re: Welcome, ACLU

#501
What will they present at Demo Day?

Not that I'm against helping the ACLU (or any non-profit for that matter), but they don't seem like a good fit, as an organization, to an accelerator of tech startups - it's not entrepreneurial, not technology oriented, far older then YC and doesn't seek (and can't really accept) VC funding.

Re: Welcome, ACLU

#502
post #41

Although I think the American Civil Liberties Union is incredibly valuable and I'm glad they have a lot more money now to fight for the American people, I'm questioning all of this. Where was the outpouring of funding when black people were being gunned down by cops from West Coast organizations? Where has YCombinator been as our own impoverished African-Americans are getting slaughtered in the streets of Chicago? Wh…

I know, it is hard to take anything at face value these days.

And asking the question why there is so much support now might not be popular, mainly because the answer is not really pretty.

I do, however, believe that there are some objective reasons for the current wave of support. Some I can think of:

- The events currently unfolding affect a lot more people directly.

- The threat has changed from being systemic but disorganized to intentionally organized. The official stance has shifted as well from being apologetic to "damn fucking right, we're going to eradicate you". (sorry about the language)

- People feel utterly helpless regarding politics in general. They might tell themselves (rightfully or not) that they can talk themselves out of trouble (if they even get into trouble being a good citizen and all). But they feel there's nothing they can personally do to stop DC from messing with their lives, so they put their trust into the hands of organizations like ACLU.

Also, I can personally say, my stance (as a European) went from an amused, uneasy "geez, America, get your shit together" to being actually concerned about western civilization.

Re: Welcome, ACLU

#503
post #41

Although I think the American Civil Liberties Union is incredibly valuable and I'm glad they have a lot more money now to fight for the American people, I'm questioning all of this. Where was the outpouring of funding when black people were being gunned down by cops from West Coast organizations? Where has YCombinator been as our own impoverished African-Americans are getting slaughtered in the streets of Chicago? Wh…

It's sad that less people we're inspired to donate earlier, but IMO the whole "you're just realizing this now?" thing is unproductive.

Every person has a moment when they wake up and decided to step up, usually several. Litigating their decision process after he fact does nothing to help. Just say "thanks and welcome, now let's go wake up some others."

Momentum is important and true or not this kind of stuff serves only as a speedbump.

Re: Welcome, ACLU

#504
post #41

Although I think the American Civil Liberties Union is incredibly valuable and I'm glad they have a lot more money now to fight for the American people, I'm questioning all of this. Where was the outpouring of funding when black people were being gunned down by cops from West Coast organizations? Where has YCombinator been as our own impoverished African-Americans are getting slaughtered in the streets of Chicago? Wh…

I think it's less about the immigrant situation in particular, and more about the way the new President is wielding his power blatantly in front of a nation who is _extremely_ divided when it comes to their opinion of him. It's not that those other issues are less or more important, but that they have a much less identifiable perpetrator. A prominent cause is more easily reducible.

It's a cry for someone or some organization to help guide us back to center. The ACLU just happens to be one of the best positioned organizations to fit this situation.

Re: Welcome, ACLU

#505
Pre-inauguration, discussion of Trump's immigration policies and their logical conclusion would have been shut down under the "no politics" rule.

Seems it only takes ~10 days of this stuff being real for folks here to admit that politics affects everybody and is a valid topic of discussion.

Re: Welcome, ACLU

#506

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a newer form of calling people "SJW's" or "White Knights", thereby reducing their opposition to caricatures and removing any realistic and reasonable discussion.

> thereby reducing their opposition to caricatures and removing any realistic and reasonable discussion. Isn't that exactly what you're doing with this comment by comparing the term to "SJW" and "White Knight"? Pot, meet kettle.

I wouldn't say so, I think there are legitimate criticism of people who talk without action. However, the terms "SJW"/"White Knight"/"virtue signaling" have become overburdened in their use and definition to the point where they only serve to polarize.

Re: Welcome, ACLU

#507
post #451

How do startups already part of YC feel about this? What are the ramifications of having your name tied with and being part of an organization that backed something that has as much to do, if not more, with politics than technology?

Politics is intertwined with everything. Not sure why you're trying to draw a line here.

Start ups are extremely "people" based entities. If you think the ACLU doesn't fit in with the YCombinator landscape -- given recent events -- then I'm not sure what I can really say to paint a more vivid picture to make you understand.

Re: Welcome, ACLU

#509
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not just Peter Thiel but anyone of sound mind -- the top 5 countries by Muslim-majority population are not included. * Indonesia 204,847,000 (87.2%) * Pakistan 178,097,000 (96.4%) * India 172,245,158 (14.2%) * Bangladesh 145,312,000 (90%) * Nigeria 75,728,000 (47.9%) If Indonesia suddenly became plagued by radical Islamic terrorism then it would be on the list too. The seven countries targeted by the immigration…

You think Indonesia doesn't have problems with terrorism? (Edit: also, Pakistan?). The idea that this is a reasonable counterterrorism measure by any means is a farce that doesn't stand up to the lightest of scrutiny. It's a test of executive power, perhaps for something more sinister [1]. [1] https://medium.com/@yonatanzunger/trial-balloon-for-a-coup-e...

It's very simple, those countries are not actively engaged in exporting terrorism especially pertaining to isil.

Re: Welcome, ACLU

#510
post #375

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am an ardent supporter of the individual right to gun ownership but you can't fault the ACLU for having a slightly different interpretation of 2A while still believing in the right. And has others have stated, I'd much rather have the ACLU focus on things like 1A, 4A, etc. Leave 2A to the NRA and other 2A-specific advocacy groups.

I'm not so sure of that. It may be that their willingness to look at 2A in a completely different framework, claiming that the meaning of "the people" is different in just this case, will eventually undermine their defense of the rest of the Bill of Rights as well.

Exactly. If they took a view that the right to free speech is a "collective" right, that would completely gut any value they provide.
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