Great links, Molly, and I especially liked the Kyoto swindle one, where our Canadians friends are waking up to the hypocrisy that is named Kyoto.
With her passing I knew a good, decent, caring lady & dear friend had left FR......one of the last friends I had on the ATRW thread.
And as I left, I couldn't quite articulate WHY I needed to go..
....other than the strange but clear sensation that FR had been overcome by certain people
....Peach for one ...
..who had an agenda and this agenda ran counter to the express mission statement of Free Republic's founder, Jim Robinson.
I naively thought many of you didn't realize Peach and her friends talked one way on ATRW ..(usually all sweetness & light)...
..yet argued with & insulted others...(usually pro-lifers, strong conservatives, etc.) on other threads.
Naively, I thought....
If they-(ATRW)- just knew!!!...
You see, for years, I was under the impression...(wrong now, I know)...that I had friends at ATRW--(there may still be a few)- who I could share ideas, recipes, happy moments, life lessons, spiritual happenings...
..and that it all fell on like minded ears and hearts.
I was so wrong.Before I left last Wednesday, I had tried, in recent days, to alert you to what she was saying to and about Jim Robinson.
Essentially, I got no response from you all....other than one or two who expressed a nice sentiment or two.
At the time, I decided that most of you on this ATRW thread, are so enamored with the 'it's OUR thread, and we won't let anyone tell us anything bad'...and watched you continue with the recipe, gardening, jokes, life goes on comments, etc.....and ***I understood at some level some at ATRW need & cling to a place where they can express life as it happens***
But what I didn't understand and what stunned me was Jim Robinson, who owns and operates this conservative forum received no support or encouraging comment from any of you....that I read ????!!
And after reading this weekend's thread, I realize it's not the 'ostrich in the sand, just leave us alone' thread I supposed it was.
Instead, it is much much worse.
Some of you know....you KNOW because I've read your posts on that thread, and saw what you posted afterward on ATRW... what has been said and what is being said by Peach, OhioWfan, PukinDog, and others.....YOU KNOW AND YOU EITHER DON'T CARE....OR YOU'RE MAD AT JIM ROBINSON...
.. INSTEAD OF YOUR PEACH!!!
I find that astounding....insulting....and utterly ridiculous.
Goodness knows, even though I've been at FR for 8 years, I'm just a nominal player....if that.
I give my comments, and I'm usually passionate about my beliefs
.....maybe I try to influence folks on life issues, school issues, church issues....
...but I'm not one of the creative forces at this site.
Many of you consider it a true tragedy that Peach was banned....
..and most of you will not even bother to read what she wrote against Jim and other conservative Freepers.
You consider her influence, participation and contributions to FR over the years...
... to outweigh her insults, personal attacks and ugly words to others.
So be it....
..Jim Robinson is the webmaster.
If he allows her back, that's his business.
I know he didn't want to ban some of these folks.
...but they pushed him and pushed him and pushed him.
And last, if not least....
...I realize now I didn't leave ATRW.....
IT LEFT ME A LONG TIME AGO!
After reading this weekend's thead, I Freepmailed Mr. Robinson to let him know I support him and hope to work toward the coming election.
So, making this crystal clear!!...
I support, praise, respect, admire and honor Jim Robinson for the vision of setting up this website and making a difference in our very troubled world.
God bless you Jim Robinson