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Open Letter to Elon Musk about Freerepublic.com

Posted on 05/04/2025 12:41:47 PM PDT by big bad easter bunny

Dear Mr. Musk,

As a self-proclaimed champion of free speech and a transformative figure in technology and culture, you have reshaped platforms like X to prioritize open discourse and challenge censorship. Your actions—from acquiring X to amplify diverse voices to defending the First Amendment through initiatives like America PAC—demonstrate a commitment to preserving the “digital town square” as a space for unfettered expression. Today, I urge you to consider a significant donation to FreeRepublic.com, a pioneering website that has stood as a bastion of free speech since 1996, longer than any other platform in history. Here’s why your support could amplify its legacy and align with your mission to protect open discourse.

FreeRepublic.com, founded by Jim Robinson, emerged in an era when the internet was young and centralized media dominated public narratives. For nearly three decades, it has provided a forum where conservatives, libertarians, and independent thinkers can debate, share news, and challenge establishment narratives without fear of censorship. Unlike many modern platforms, Free Republic has never wavered in its commitment to free expression, even under pressure from shifting cultural tides or financial constraints. Its longevity—predating giants like Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit—makes it a historical cornerstone of online free speech, operating as a grassroots, user-driven community long before “social media” became a term. This track record is unmatched, as no other website has consistently upheld free speech principles for as long. Your stated vision for X as a “platform for discussion that was open to a fuller range of viewpoints” resonates deeply with Free Republic’s ethos. The site’s minimalist, text-based interface fosters raw, unfiltered exchanges—akin to the early internet’s spirit of open inquiry. It has weathered countless storms, including legal battles, server costs, and cultural shifts, all while remaining independent and funded primarily by small user donations. A massive donation from you could secure its future, upgrade its infrastructure, and expand its reach, ensuring that its model of uncensored discourse endures in an age of increasing digital consolidation and moderation.

Critics might argue that Free Republic’s conservative leanings make it less “neutral” than X or other platforms you’ve supported. However, free speech isn’t about neutrality—it’s about allowing all voices, especially those marginalized by mainstream gatekeepers, to be heard. Free Republic has never banned users for their political views, unlike pre-2022 Twitter, which suppressed accounts for ideological reasons. Your own critiques of such censorship align with Free Republic’s refusal to bow to external pressures. Supporting it would signal that you value platforms with proven resilience, not just those with the largest user base or flashiest tech.

Moreover, a donation to Free Republic would be a strategic investment in diversifying the free speech ecosystem. While X is a global powerhouse, smaller platforms like Free Republic serve niche communities that anchor broader movements. Your $75 million contribution to America PAC shows your willingness to fund causes that amplify constitutional values, like free speech and the right to bear arms. A fraction of that—say, $10 million—could transform Free Republic into a modernized hub, integrating features like real-time posting or mobile apps while preserving its independent spirit. This would complement X’s mission by ensuring multiple venues for free expression, reducing reliance on any single platform.

Skeptics might question why you should fund a site when you already own X. But competition and redundancy strengthen free speech. If X faces regulatory or financial challenges—as Twitter did before your acquisition—alternative platforms must exist to carry the torch. Free Republic’s 29-year history proves it can survive adversity, making it a worthy ally. Additionally, your philanthropy, like the $7 billion donated to the Musk Foundation, often supports innovative or personal causes. Backing Free Republic would be a bold, public statement: a nod to the internet’s free speech pioneers and a challenge to Big Tech’s moderation monopolies.

In contrast, some might argue you should focus on global initiatives or larger platforms. But Free Republic’s impact lies in its David-versus-Goliath story: a small site that outlasted countless rivals by staying true to its principles. Its influence—shaping conservative discourse and breaking stories ignored by mainstream media—far exceeds its modest budget. A donation would amplify this impact without diluting your broader goals. Mr. Musk, you’ve said, “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy.” Free Republic has lived that truth longer than any website in history. By donating generously, you can cement its legacy, diversify the free speech landscape, and honor the grassroots spirit that fueled the internet’s early promise. I respectfully ask you to consider a transformative gift to FreeRepublic.com, ensuring that the oldest sentinel of online free speech stands strong for decades to come.

Sincerely, John Guinivere Advocate for Free Expression


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: 1stamendment; americapac; elonmusk; facebook; firstamendment; fr; freespeech; johnguinivere; muskfoundation; openletter; reddit; socialmedia; twitter; vanity; x
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To: dagunk

Cool idea. Trying to install it using the Windows 32 installer and I’m stuck at trying to point it to the proper SSL or DLL file it’s showing within the Lynx folder. Any help?


61 posted on 05/04/2025 6:15:36 PM PDT by Blue Highway
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To: Fledermaus
I wish we could cut and paste things. I can’t remember all the html stuff.

 

You don't have to remember html stuff. I posted this entire reply without one single html code.

It's Easy.

Staples easy button review!

Free HTML editors.

This one. And this one are the ones I use.

62 posted on 05/04/2025 6:36:17 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd (Nobody elected Elon Musk? Well nobody elected the Deep State either.)
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To: big bad easter bunny

X needs Viking Kitties.... and zots...


63 posted on 05/04/2025 6:43:24 PM PDT by dforest
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To: big bad easter bunny
Many people claim FR is perfect. They wouldn't change a thing. I can only guess they are happy in their blissful ignorance.

For example. Too many useless forums.

Screenshot-2025-05-04-8-38-23-PM

What the hell is a VetsCoR anyway? I've been here 20 years and I don't know.

Get rid of all forums. Everybody only uses Everything anyway. Or if we must have forums, limit them to 2 or 3.

64 posted on 05/04/2025 6:45:01 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd (Nobody elected Elon Musk? Well nobody elected the Deep State either.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

That is what I do. I lurk there and move on after seeing one too many attention ho women shaking big fat fake bootyshiners. Yawn


65 posted on 05/04/2025 6:46:49 PM PDT by dforest
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To: Roos_Girl

There have been massive bloodlettings around here.

Things were less friendly years ago believe it or not.

That said, this awakening has happened and is still in progress. There is no way to compare then and now.

Interesting times I never dreamed I would see or watch happen in America. Some really bad, some good. So totally different than the past reality.


66 posted on 05/04/2025 6:52:23 PM PDT by dforest
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To: Blue Highway

Cool idea. Trying to install it using the Windows 32 installer and I’m stuck at trying to point it to the proper SSL or DLL file it’s showing within the Lynx folder. Any help?

*************************************************************

Don’t think I can help. I have no windows machines in the house - they’re all linux or a BSD system.

You might take a peek at

https://thegeekpage.com/12-text-only-browsers-for-browsing-in-slow-internet-connections/

Might find something that will go right in windows. I searched “text web browser” in duckduckgo, this popped up at the top.


67 posted on 05/04/2025 7:20:38 PM PDT by dagunk
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To: big bad easter bunny

I think not.


68 posted on 05/04/2025 10:10:17 PM PDT by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trump)
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To: UCANSEE2
My first answer is : That it has never changed. The format and methodology of FR works.

I opened my business in 1986. Our quotes were formatted on an IBM Selectric.

We changed our systems as word processors, then computers, became available, but we went to great pains to preserve the formatting and appearance of our quotes.

No changes.

I retired and closed the successful business in 2022.

The format of the last quote was identical to the format of the first quote.

69 posted on 05/04/2025 10:17:16 PM PDT by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trump)
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To: big bad easter bunny

Yours is a great, timely post. Appreciate it. Will be sharing it/the FR link with others momentarily on my social media pages. FReegards, friend, Tom


70 posted on 05/05/2025 5:05:28 AM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy
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To: clee1
I love FR, but it is stuck in the nineties. Kids today, and some of us 60s people, like the modern conveniences their phones spied upon by Big Tech and Chyna.

Fixed it.

71 posted on 05/05/2025 5:54:40 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (Think about it: The Supreme Court is nine lawyers appointed for life by politicians. —David Horowitz)
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To: Political Junkie Too; big bad easter bunny
“Free Republic has never banned users for their political views”

Except for the Romney Wars... the Cruz Wars...


...the Giuliani War...

72 posted on 05/05/2025 6:01:30 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (Think about it: The Supreme Court is nine lawyers appointed for life by politicians. —David Horowitz)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Get rid of all forums. Everybody only uses Everything anyway.

The Religion Forum is very active. Don't know if it still does, but traditionally it had its own Moderator, which was helpful.

73 posted on 05/05/2025 6:15:24 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (Think about it: The Supreme Court is nine lawyers appointed for life by politicians. —David Horowitz)
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To: Responsibility2nd
For example. Too many useless forums.

I suspect the vast majority of FReepers, myself included, use "Everything" as their default browsing mode.

74 posted on 05/05/2025 7:13:06 AM PDT by Drew68 (I haven’t seen the Democrats this mad since yesterday. Save some tears for tomorrow.)
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