Actually, I agree with those who say it is counterproductive to argue
about this. I'm talking about a different issue.
In my second message I wrote about the difference between the GNU
system and the GNU programs. When I say that Slackware is a
"Linux-based GNU system", I mean that Slackware and the GNU system are
mostly the same. In both systems, the GNU programs themselves are one
substantial part, but nowhere near the whole.
By contrast, let's consider NetBSD. That system contains some GNU
programs, but the differences between NetBSD as a whole and GNU are
very large. It would be misleading to call NetBSD a "BSD-based GNU
system" just because it has a few programs in common with GNU. (These
common programs include some GNU programs and some BSD programs.)
In principle it is possible to construct a BSD-based GNU system. You
could take a BSD kernel, put it together with the libraries and
utilities of the GNU system, and make them work together. As far as I
know, no one has done this. Likewise, it is possible to construct a
Linux-based BSD system by putting Linux together with the libraries
and utilities in the BSD system, but I've never heard of that being
done.
I appreciate the moral support from those of you who think GNU
programs are important. The best way to express your support is,
rather than arguing for their importance, to help me spread the idea
that we must work together as one community.