VANITY: An Open Letter to Jim Robinson About VDare

NA ^ | 11-21-2002 | myself

[Clinton Is Scum]

Jim -

My wife and I are longstanding members of Free Republic (since 1998). We were involved in the Pugget Sound chapter for awhile, and have supported the site financially.

I have heard from numerous sources that articles from Vdare may not be posted to Free Republic. Is this true? If so, can you please take a few minuts to explain your rationale for this policy?

I think Vdare is a terrific site. The editor of the site, Peter Brimelow, is a brilliant thinker and respected journalist. The site is concerned with "national identity" questions: immigration, affirmative action, bilingual education, multiculturalism. Yes, these are controversial issues, but the positions advocated by Brimelow and his colleagues are well within the range of opinions posted by FReepers every day. Anyhow, if we can't discuss controversial issues at Free Republic, where can we discuss them?

I hope it is OK to post this in the public forum. If you would prefer to discuss privately, please send me a FReepmail.

Regards,
Clinton Is Scum

[Clinton Is Scum]

Look forward to your reply.

[Jim Robinson]

More power to you. If you like it read it. I don't like it and I don't want it on FR.

[Deb]

Okay, that's settled...who's got pie?

[SubMareener]

I've got pie, but who moved my cheese?

[Clinton Is Scum]

There is an ominous cloud hanging over the First Amendment at the "Free" Republic. We can no longer discuss controversial issues like immigration and affirmative action without worrying about being banned from the site. JimBob will receive no more contributions from this FReeper.

[Clinton Is Scum]

Part of your defense in the lawsuit brought against Free Republic by the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times:

"The website operated by the defendants, www.freerepublic.com, permits anyone who wishes to post news articles or other items and to post commentary about the article as well. Thousands of persons participate every day. No fee of any kind is charged. The site is a not for profit enterprise that summons us to enjoy the very essence of free speech principles. The political views expressed by the majority of participants are congruent with the goal of rooting out corruption in government, though no censorship is made and all views are permitted."

Source: http://www.techlawjournal.com/courts/freerep/19991018mem.htm

The reality is quite different, isn't it, Jim?

[Illbay]

Get your *ss off Free Republic. I know that your fascist philosophy dictates that socialism is not only acceptable but desireable in certain situations, but in OUR world there is still this quaint notion of "private property."

Since you people aren't in power yet, Messrs. Robinson are still allowed to decide what is and what is not proper on THEIR SITE. When you ascend to power, you may dictate who is free and who is not for the entire country.

Until then, VDARE is free to post what it wants--on IT'S SITE. And FR is free to decide that racism is not a viable philosophy on IT'S SITE.

Hope this answers your foolish charges.

[Clinton Is Scum]

Socialist? What are you talking about? I have been a FReeper for 4 years. I sent Jim $100 last spring. I gathered signatures for the California Civil Rights Initiative (Prop. 209) in 1995-96 and the Washington State Civil Rights Initiative (I-200) in 1997-98.

Like the editors at VDare, I oppose racial preferences; I oppose illegal imigration; and I oppose bilingual education. I realize that these positions put me at odds with many leaders in the Republican Party. Despite my differences with the GOP, I swallowed hard and voted straight party-line Republican here in Maryland three week ago.

You are right about one thing: Robinson has the right to censor Free Republic as he wishes. I just wish this site could be run more like a free republic and less like Castro's Cuba.

[Clinton Is Scum]

"And FR is free to decide that racism is not a viable philosophy on IT'S SITE."

So you think Vdare is racist? Prove it. Of the hundreds of columns that have been published there, show me one that advocates racism. Show me one sentence that can be constued as supporting a racist philosophy. You won't be able to, because your accusation is completely without merit.

[ForGod'sSake]

Thanks for the ping CIS. I have not been to the VDARE site, and I don't have time this morning to check it out. Will check in later this afternoon to offer up any thoughts regarding their appropriateness on FR.

FGS

[Spiff]

More power to you. If you like it read it. I don't like it and I don't want it on FR.

Does this explanation also cover your reasons for banning content and articles from American Patrol?

So, you "don't like" VDare and American Patrol and won't allow their content. But you do allow Salon.com, Democrats Underground, Washington Post, NPR, etc, etc (pure anti-American, socialist drivel). So can we assume that you "like" them more?

I know this is your sandbox, but such arbitrary and hubris-driven policies only serve to detract from FreeRepublic and sow mistrust of its owner. If you have further reasons for banning VDare and AP content, you certainly have not made your case despite repeated requests from several users. After 4 weeks of debate about such websites as VDare and American Patrol, all we have from you so far is that you "don't like it".

[Illbay]

Fascists are typically socialists. It's an outgrowth of their desire to control thought.

The Robinsons have no obligation to allow anything at all on their site. There is a very good reason for that, of course, because FR has many, many enemies.

If you want to peruse VDARE and American Patrol and racist sites such as that, you have all the freedom in the world to do so. But you do NOT have the right to bring their stuff over here and dump it like a load of garbage.

Keep it over there. I'm sure you can handle more than one website.

[Illbay]

I don't have to "prove" anything. That's my opinion.

And if you'll notice, I am not apparently the only one that shares it. Note that it is not allowed to cross-post garbage from there to here.

Capiche?

[Illbay]

No one is going to mistake the posting of some moderate-left sites as advocacy for the positions that those sites espouse.

If you post racist drivel from American Patrol and VDARE on FR, it WILL be construed as advocacy for those same positions.

FWIW, there are leftist sites like AntiWar.com that are ALSO not allowed on FR.

[Illbay]

...you certainly have not made your case...

Who says that they have to "make their case"? Why are you so arrogant as to believe that you are owed an "explanation" by private owners of a private website as to why YOUR opinions are not shared?

You have a mighty high opinion of yourself--which is evidenced by your tendency to post pointless vanity posts on this subject. Most pointless vanity authors think theirs is the most important opinion on FR.

[Clinton Is Scum]

I was not aware that American Patrol (another excellent site) is also banned here. What other sites/columnists are subject to JimBob's blackout? Is Ann Coulter still allowed? What about George Will?

[gdc61]

just cruisin my favorite site and came across this, and to the outside observer this thread needs to be kicked to the back room quick.........jeest , did you get up on the wrong side of the bed ?

[Illbay]

Ann Coulter is anti-illegal immigration. But she isn't banned. Ditto for George Will.

Ergo, there must be another reason that content from websites like American Patrol and VDARE aren't allowed.

Wonder if you can guess what it is?

[Spiff]

You have a mighty high opinion of yourself--which is evidenced by your tendency to post pointless vanity posts on this subject. Most pointless vanity authors think theirs is the most important opinion on FR.

Same to you, but more of it - IllBoy.