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 President’s ‘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 management’s 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 Bush’s 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 President’s Oath of Office.
Mr. Robinson,
let's just say that I am a person that does not like to see damn fine Americans that care deeply about their country pushed around by a bunch of cats in viking helmets with lasers coming out of their eyes. Zotting is not the answer and is no way to communicate IMHO. In fact it gives the impression of censorship and bias even if that is not your intent.
I appreciate you taking the time to point out that you did not mean to imply that any of the other organizations and individuals you have banned are racists or associated with racists.
Political free speech is our most protected freedom and when people are penalized in any way for exercising that freedom then we should all be concerned. This is your house Mr. Robinson it is your business establishment, but what if AOL or Road Runner decided they would exclude some people from their private property establishments because of their views or creed?
It appears to me that if you had taken the time to speak with your members and show some leadership earlier, the unfortunate nature of this thread could have been avoided. I applaud you for taking more time to explain to everyone why you have made decisions to ban users and a lot of other content.
That being said, it would be best if your participants could freely discuss illegal immigration without being hounded and called racists by others. Such claims are clearly character attacks, unsubstantiated, and are a form of attempted intimidation. A clear list of things to avoid in your terms of service would assist your users and help avoid confusion.
I have one final, yet very important question for you Mr. Robinson and it is a yes or no question. In light of the allegations that have been made, do you or do you not support President Bush's guest worker plan?
Nice try retread.
I think some sort of guest worker program is more realistic than a complete ban on immigration. A general roundup and ship them out program is not going to happen (IMHO).
This is an interesting confllict..
On the one hand:
"Would stormfront types like to bend the largest forum on the internet to their collective will?"
Answer: Absolutely, you bet your ass. They would use it as a vehicle. Do it in a second.
On the other hand:
"How easy would it be to subvert an already tainted movement like border security with online tactics and red herrings?"
Answer: Pretty easy. You just go to a place like stormfront and post a bunch of racist crap.. then claim to be allied with the people you oppose.
We Report, you decide.
Problem for your theory is, the stormfronters really are in it up to their eyeballs. Blocking immigration is one of their primary issues.
"I think some sort of guest worker program is more realistic than a complete ban on immigration. A general roundup and ship them out program is not going to happen (IMHO)."
Thank you for making your position on that clear. Perhaps in the future you might want to consider what it will appear you are doing if you ban on group that is representing an opinion contrary to your own while not banning those that share your opinion.
Goodnight Mr. Robinson and Happy Valentines Day.
No theory..
It's just an interesting contrast.
Regards, sir.
Those who bring up the issue of illegal immigration as the one and only all-important issue wherein the very survival of the nation is teetering on the balance, yada, yada, etc. have to police their own ranks, unless they don't mind that their one all-important issue gets sullied by the presence of racists, overt or otherwise. Your side does not have the luxury of ignoring or snickering at posts which slam Hispanics and Hispanic culture on a conservative forum.
Is illegal immigration no longer a Conservative issue?
A simple Yes or No answer will do..
Speaking of stormfront and here we both are. Go figure.
You beat me to it, but THANK YOU.
bump
No, logistically it would cost many more times the amount it would
save in medical & assistance & tax evasion benefits. Not to mention the
legal battles it would cause that might last for years if not decades.
More control on the inflow I think is the better plan.
I think I am glad I did not see the thread.
You are erecting a straw man. No one here is for illegal immigration . The difference most have is how to solve the problem. That is why the FR poll is so lopsided. A true poll would have focused on the different approaches being offered by all sides.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
When visiting a foreign land, follow the customs of those who live in it. It can also mean that when you are in an unfamiliar situation, you should follow the lead of those who know the ropes.
I think what part of the problem is, is that there's no longer the expectation, for whatever reason, that those who speak Spanish are expected to blend into America, which is an English-speaking country. The mind-set has changed from a melting pot, where immigrants learn to be Americans (collective) rather than retain most everything about the country from which they came and learn how to blend in to the American culture--assimilate--but still retaining their culture at home, etc. Don't think that this hasn't caused resentment in areas, especially those closest to the southern borders.
Nothing, I suppose.
Best I remember (and my memory may be faulty.. either that or things are changing, and not for the better.) Conservatives were free market.
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