You know a tree by its fruit, isn't that what the Good Book says? Jim, your tree, Free Republic, has been boutiful in ways for which, this being Sunday, we should all give special thanks. The fruit of Free Republic is truly God sent because it is a forum by which individuals can reap their own benefits in become more well-read, share fellowship, and learn how to form and express their ideas better -- and it is also a forum of education, ideas, and discussion that morally benefits all of America, which benefits the world.
There's another tree, populated by fans of an amibitious politician of the Mormon faith, whose fruit also tells all about the tree. The fruits from that tree exhibit very poor qualities, and tasting a few of them makes one want to turn away from the entire tree with good reason.
God bless you, Jim Robinson, and I give thanks regularly to God for blessing all of us with Jim Robinson and Free Republic.