Oh fer cryin' out loud...
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.
Yes, unfortunately all those things have been said in FR...and they are not conducive to open, productive debate.
It's a keeper, isn't it?!
Yes, you are correct. This is a concern that is shared between many groups and activists. On one hand, people are willing to support anyone that is trying to address the problem in a civic way. On the other hand, people are concerned about who will show up during Minuteman and something may go wrong. It is a risk as are many things of value in life. What is the old saying? "No guts no glory?"
That being said, I think the best way to deal with the danger is to give people information and let them make up their own minds. There is enough censorship of immigration issues by MSM and people are very alert to the same from discussion forums.
So, you will ascertain the legality of that individual's presence in the US after you've shot them?
If your answer is no, then explain how you will go about determining whether the person in your scope is an illegal alien, or a citizen out for a stroll.
Would you stop them, ask them for ID, and once they fail to provide you with proof of legal presence, shoot them?
What documents do you carry on you which establish your right to be in the country?
That was great! Right in line with the book I'm reading called "President Who? Forgotten Founders" by Stanley Klos.
AFE, thanks for posting -- that's a keeper.
Welcome to the world of the "moderate" muslims :-)
Yes, it is. I'm keeping a copy of it.
Oh fer cryin' out loud...
Just as I detest the Nation of Islam and 5-Percenters. You're right. That's pretty straightforward.
Trinity, we have reason to believe that they already have infiltrated.
No doubt. : /
"We see them plotting to secretly "infiltrate" FR."
Well I guess they are not very good at keeping secrets then. Talk about an oxymoron... The bottom line is that anyone can "infiltrate" Free Republic about anytime they like due to the nature of the internet. Having a news article on a site about the Minuteman Project does not imply endorsement. Would you consider the newspapers that reported the story to be in danger of having their reputations tarnished because they wrote about the event or commented on it in their op ed? There is information about Minuteman being discussed on countless forums and in the national media. Just ask Jeff Scarboro.
From the many highly intelligent and rational people I see posting on Free Republic, I believe that both they and the American public are quite mature enough to come to their own opinions if given accurate information.
The core issue of this conflict has been between those that wish to have issues debated rationally and those that wish to attack them with racially charged accusations.
I think the earlier suggestion on this thread that a rule be made on Free Republic that you can't call people racists without evidence would be a wonderful enhancement to the quality of this site.
I called you a scumbag once, I was right.
We're going in circles now, so I'm gonna leave most of that alone as we've covered it already.
But I will just say this:
Promoting the project here and writing about it in a column are 2 different things with very different risks.
And I think it is a close enough call to not blame him either way.
Most important, it's his investment, his risk, his choice.
The conservative in me doesn't like messing with someone else's business choices beyond making a suggestion. If they've heard me out, I respect that - then drop it.
Yes, I thought that, and still think it, disgusting too...
If White Nationalists would STFU, then half the GOP would not be in favor of amnsesty and would not be calling the defenders of the border racists. White Nationalist have tarred legitimate groups who care about our sovereignty and have thusly weakened the legitimate groups' position.Therefore, to me, the White Nationalists either wittingly or unwittingly aid MeCHA. Got it?
White Supremacists need to get right with the Lord, the One who made us ALL, each and every man and woman, from ONE BLOOD - the SAME blood.
It's the same spiritual bankruptcy that afflicts all tyrants; Fascists and Communists.
But I'm sure b4 long I can add that group to the long list who display dire disdain for my life...
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