It is like a town square. Your characterization reminded me of one of those small town squares one sees in movies of a town in the midwest, or the south. It's a homey, comfortable, pleasant, reassuring vision. Sometimes, though, FreeRepublic is like a western saloon where an inevitable brawl breaks out, where you're pretty well assured that someone is going to break a chair over your head.
All-in-all, this is a great site. I marvel at our period in history where we can commune with people from, literally, all over the world; enter into a cooperative venture with people all over the country whom we will likely never meet, and yet feel like you'd be willing to give your life defending. It's a great to know there is a place to get information, courage, inspiration, and a good laugh, particulary when it feels like the darkness in the world is closing in around us.