Python "why" questions

[Bob Martin]

in 639663 20100815 120123 Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo at geek-central.gen.new_zealand> wrote:
>In message <mailman.2084.1281741048.1673.python-list at python.org>, Ian Kelly
>wrote:
>
>> The ability to change the minimum index is evil.
>
>Pascal allowed you to do that. And nobody ever characterized Pascal as
>“evil”. Not for that reason, anyway...

Why do you refer to Pascal in the past tense?  I use it most days (Delphi & Free Pascal).