I also agree with this statement, respectfully. As this can be a very dangerous trend for this forum in several different ways.
At one time, I was banned under another name, for what I believe was completely unjust. It may have been a simple misinterpretation of my position. I don't know and probably will never discover what actually triggered the action against me. However I must say that after privately corresponding with Jim Robinson via email and explaining my position, I was reinstated. And I sincerely appreciate that fairness.
That being stated, I feel the Free Republic *is* the premier news and talk forum on the entire internet if not the entire planet.
After being a regular visitor and subscriber on the Free Republic for approximately four years now, (two of those years were under another name) I have found that newspapers and television and other main stream media fall far behind this forum in regards to breaking news stories, follow-ups, creative people, and the debates. And, all of this with some degree of humor. I am very confident that we have some of the funniest damn people in the nation posting on this forum. And in this stressful environment we all live in, the humor is a nice ice breaker.
Long live the Free Republic. Good luck to all my fellow American patriots and freedom fighters against big government. And finally, I would like to see the support for the Free Republic remain voluntary and I will contribute when I possibly can.
Joe Hadenuf
I've never understood what people mean when they say this.
"Silence opposition?" Other than getting banned -- which happens very rarely -- how in the world can anyone be "silenced" in a public forum? Sure, people get called names. Sure people get laughed at. But that doesn't tie their fingers together and stop them from typing. [shrugs] Heck, even when people get ganged up on it's just a metaphorical thing -- even _that_ doesn't squash their hands and stop them from typing.
Heck, I've had the legalize it crowd turn on me. So what? I once spoke out against the Viet Nam war in a soldier's thread and dealt with the consequences of that. People can't reach out of the screen and break your fingers! I'm still typing.
In a computer forum, nobody "silences" anyone. I just don't get it.
Mark W.