Posted on 02/11/2005 10:55:36 AM PST by Jim Robinson
The shot heard around the Internet has been fired on FreeRepublic.com The owner Jim Robinson and his moderators have launched a sniper style purge against members that disagree with the Presidents guest worker amnesty or support more control of illegal immigration. Free Republic is an amazing tool for those looking for a good debate and news from around the country.
The problem for the administration of the site is that their creation is allowing the participants to learn that the Bush immigration record and plans are shockingly out of line with the views of most conservatives. The managements answer to this conflict between the majority of conservatives and the influence of the White House on their Web site has become electronic executions and censorship.
Members and readers of Free Republic would be surprised to know that many members of their community have fallen silent on the discussions about illegal immigration lately because free speech is an illusion on FR.com. They are silent because they have been banned from the Web site without warning, cause, or explanation in most cases. For weeks the moderators have been suspending and banning new members that chimed in quickly on the immigration debates.
Now this trend has broadened as the first groups of long-term users were suspended or banned this past week. Although Robinson and his staff removed many members of the Free Republic community in the first few days of the purge, those that religiously support President Bushs immigration plan, open borders and approve of public benefits for illegal aliens remain on the forum. Those that were banned were the members that wanted more done to control illegal immigration and a strict observance to the Presidents Oath of Office.
This is now a dead issue with me.
With people like Jackalope Breeder gone and people like bayourod and CJ still posting, I can see the handwriting on the wall.
I'm not going to beat my head against that proverbial brick wall.
Actually, having read your previous post, I'm very appreciative of this follow-up. Many others seldom take the time to reassess their opinions when they come across additional information. They just keep flaming away as if they never read what I wrote, or worse, intentionally spin and misinterpret it. Thank-you for remaining open-minded and considerate.
The fact that I was responding to your unfounded statement that I liked millions puring across the borders illegally prompted that response.
But I guess you can prove that I like illegal immigration...right?
I'll wait.
I believe in sovereignty quite a bit. A little control over our immigration and the Mexicans overthrow their corrupt government on their own. Without our help.
Castro is quite safe and sound with all the Cubans living in Miami --- an elderly sickly man unable to be toppled from power no matter how bad he's done.
I have been called all sorts of names on FR because I am against illegal immigrants. I don't care what color they are.
I have been called a Bush basher, (I am critical of him on TWO issues.)I have been called a racist, been told I can't be a conservative or a Rebublican, and must be a Buchanan voter. It is really annoying.
I think applying for worker permits from their homes is a great compromise. It must be joined by removal of all welfare benefits and free medical care, abolishing anchor babies, and severe punishment of employers who hire illegals. Employers must be able to verify documents somehow, as it is unfair to disallow questions about documentation and then punish those who accept fraudulent documents.
That is a proposal I would support, not rewarding lawbreakers with amnesty, which is what allowing them to apply here would be.
FWIW, I love your post and your homepage. I can't imagine they would get you in trouble. For the most part, as long as one doesn't spew hate here, one is free to discuss most issues.
Wasn't the Berlin Wall supposed to keep people in?
Strange to equate what is suggested here as a "Berlin Wall".
Thank you for the reply. :) I am *very* interested in your opinions.
"You don't seriously think that we should blow the feet and legs off of men, women and children sneaking across the border to try and get a better lives for themselves, do you? "
Think of it as a deterrent.
If no one crosses, then no one will get blown up.
Some of us are not surprised by that at all.
The problem with Mexican totalization as it's being considered is not how it looks on paper but what it'll eventually turn into, especially with any guest worker plan.
In only a matter of years if not months politicians will be calling for illegals and guest workers who do manage to go home to receive benefits too, out of "fairness". Happens everytime and we can expect that here as well.
All that will bankrupt Social Security, a program designed for retired Americans, not everyone else around the world.
If every single illegal alien went home tomorrow this economy would hum along as it always has. The country is prospering not because of illegals but in spite of them.
StayTrue: You are implying racial quotas on immigration and/or racial quotas on births by citizens. This thread is about maintaining civility. I must say that the logical conclusion to this comment is that your comment smacks of racism. Whites have been the majority in the US for a long time. As the majority, whites have made mistakes in the past by not treating others as equals (slavery, jim crow laws, extermitating the indians, japanese internment, etc.). You and a whole bunch of others are afraid of what will happen when whites are in the minority. You are afraid that others may do unto you what you have done onto them. Seriously, I don't think there will be "payback". US society is evolving past that.
This post by staytrue advocates what many here advocate but unlike staytrue lack the balls to say. They want the predominate culture here to become a minority. Sounds like Ward Churchill.
Now why am I a racist to oppose that while they are not a racist to support it?
This sort of PC drivel is encouraged on a conservative forum including bashing whites for all our "mistakes" in creating the best country on earth.
The only logical conclusion I can draw (to quote) is that the foxes are now running the henhouse here.
BTW: just for your info stayfool, I have done my own personal contributing to the dilution of the mistake making white majority here by your reverse-racism parameters....twice in fact....how racist of me..maybe you'd care to ask my daughters how they feel about their daddy pendejo.
Was that civil enough?...Spanish....you can speak it can't you Mr Multicultural....I can and Portugese and Italian too....how racist of me to be quad-lingual...completely closed to cultural notions I am, viado.
PS: If you don't think there is ever payback then you don't pay much attention. My hometown is living payback for "white mistakes" and they are running it in the ground. Guess I'm a racist to point that out...but wait...it's not their fault it's whites fault. They made them incompetent and corrupt. Hell, whitey is responsible for everything...."he" is the only capable soul around. All the other groups by your measure shouldn't be expected to live up to the standards you desire of the evil white man.
That sounds like you don't think anyone is as capable as whites. So are you guilty of paternalistic passive racism towards minorities (like my daughters) and reverse racism towards whites like me? Sure "smacks" like it homeo. BTW...my use of the word from "anywhere" must have gone right over your pointed head in your zeal to go racist and preen for your congregation.
Yes, it is a deterrent.
On the same order as the summary executions carried out by traffic police in China for drivers who exceed the speed limits by a certain amount or who disobey the officers orders. They did break the law, after all
The branding with hot irons on the foreheads of all convicts of all crimes would also be a deterrent.
Mandatory blinding in one eye would certainly be a deterrent to cheating on tests in high schools.
So would mining the border to maim border jumpers.
They're all deterrents, and all of those deterrents are unworthy of a Christian country.
Let's test this:
I oppose President Bush's guest worker program.
My guess is the record has to be held by either the Hobbit Hole or Freeple threads in "Chat". Nobody really knows what they talk about in there, but it looks like they've maxed out the limit dozens of times over. It's really pretty scarey when you stop to think about it.
Some awful good points there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.