Years ago a radical was someone who supported same-sex marriage. Soon after it made that person a progressive. Now, if it is opposed a person’s leadership is heavily questioned.
On March 24, Mozilla named Brendan Eich, co-founder of Mozilla and writer of Javascript, the Chief Executive Officer.
Only 10 days later on April 3, he stepped down after he was heavily criticized internally and through social media for a $1,000 donation he made to an anti same-sex marriage group in 2008, which supported California Proposition 8, which banned same sex marriage.
Eich’s contribution records have been available since 2008 but resurfaced last month after he was named as the new CEO, according to Deborah Netburn of the Los Angeles Times.
Questions and Twitter comments rose about his ability to lead fairly and questioned his character because of his political contributions.
“The donation did not constitute evidence of animosity,” Eich said in a statement.
He challenged naysayers, saying that they were “not providing a reasoned argument… I do not insist that anyone agree with me on a great many things, including political issues, and I refrain from putting my personal beliefs in others’ way in all matters Mozilla, JS, and Web. I hope for the same in return.”
Opposing same-sex marriage has no affect on a person’s ability to lead. An opinion on life style choices should not require a top leader to be questioned on leadership abilities.
Eich did not say “I am the CEO of the Mozilla Foundation and as the CEO I do not support same-sex marriage.”
He simply donated money to a group who did.
Being or supporting a candidate who doesn’t support same-sex marriage does not make someone a racist or homophobe.
Just like supporting same-sex marriage does not make you homosexual.
The political views of a person has no effect on their ability to lead people equally in a work place.
It is unfair to force a person to censor their views on both sides of this issue.
A number of Mozilla employees asked Eich to resign, Chloe Varelidi, one of those employees requested that Eich resign because she believed he was not fit to lead, according her post in Sam Machkovech, article of arstechnica.com.
A leaders abilities come from many places such as their experiences, knowledge and mentorships not from their political views as the naysayers are claiming.
App developer Rarebit announced the pulling of its app from Mozilla’s Firefox Marketplace. In a statement, Rarebit CEO Hampton Catlin, verbally reprimanded Eich for both his Prop 8 donation and his choice not to apologize.
A person should never apologize for their opinion no matter the nature.
Think about if it would be fair for any people to apologize for thinking same-sex marriage was OK.
Employees and affiliates of Mozilla heavily criticized Eich and gave him little choice but to resign after his initial refusal.
He was wrongfully handcuffed and made an unselfish choice for the betterment of all Mozilla employees. He granted them an out to heal from the black eye from this issue.
One thing was evident in the matter of opinions. It is only right if it agrees with the masses’. When it doesn’t take it back or take a hike.
