A TRIBUTE TO THE FOURNIERS

[WestViking]

Does anyone remember thisthread? If not, please re-read the first post.

[texasredtop]

<center>A TRIBUTE TO THE FOURNIERS</center>

When Mark Fournier told us almost a decade ago that one day the government would try to shut down Free Dominion and stifle our voices, we thought he was a bit paranoid.

When Mark insisted on hosting Free Dominion on an American server we felt we should humour him.

The day has come - the day that Mark Fournier predicted seven years ago when he and Connie put Free Dominion on an American server to make life more difficult for the government agency he was sure would eventually move to shut down his conservative web site.

Around the turn of the century, and millennium, Mark Fournier from Edmonton, Alberta had a dream. He felt that there was insufficient political dialogue in Canada, and that the MSM stifled open discourse and criticism of our governments and their policies. Mark felt that in particular, conservative views and commentary lacked any real outlet.

Mark spent two years posting at Free Republic, an American conservative political web site, and paid particular attention to how the website was run and why it was so successful. He felt that he could apply what he had learned by creating a Canadian version of Free Republic, and with some luck and effort, create a place for Canadian conservatives to gather to share views, debate issues, teach and learn from one another. The site might eventually become influential in political circles if he could attract enough people to participate in freewheeling political discussion.

While at Free Republic, Mark happened across Connie Wilkins, a lady who shared his political principles, and who had the computer and web site skills Mark lacked. They colluded to bring Free Dominion into being. When EdS came up with the name ‘Free Dominion’ Mark recognized it as a winner and he and Connie set about branding it as the place to go for principled conservatism.

From the outset, Mark understood that he was shaking up a cosy relationship between politicians and the mainstream media. He was also giving voice to a political group that had been effectively stifled for decades. He expected that eventually political strategists would move to stifle his web site and shut down unfettered political debate.

While Mark and Connie struggled to bring Free Dominion into existence, they kept their site on American servers in part to avoid loss of their dream if our government should move against them as they anticipated. From the outset, the freedom of expression and the need to bolster democracy with open dialogue and unfettered debate were driving forces behind the formation of Free Dominion.

For the same reason that they used American servers, Mark and Connie have refused to align themselves with any political party or movement. While it seems strange that a conservative web site would not endorse conservative political parties, there is more to conservatism than adopting a name. It was important that Free Dominion members be allowed to freely criticize their representatives. Free Dominion remains a conservative grass roots site today and it is the largest and most widely read political forum in Canada.

Political parties, including conservative parties claim to be grass-roots and to listen to their members, but the reality is that member voices are quickly lost in practice. Free Dominion gives principled conservatives a voice that is heard.

Free Dominion has remained a bastion of free speech for years, and it is with great reluctance that Mark and Connie have banished belligerents, trolls and those who refuse to adhere to site rules and objectives. Without the occasional purging of those intent on disruption, the forums would sink into oblivion.

Members who criticize Free Dominion, its web site, operations and format forget that for the initial few years Mark and Connie carried the entire cost of operating Free Dominion. They used up cash on hand, their savings, all of their credit and came close to personal bankruptcy without ever once complaining or letting anyone know how dire their situation was. They still contribute thousands of hours and every penny they can lay their hand on to fighting to keep their dream alive, to promote conservatism and to fight for our freedom of speech, unedited and uncensored by politically correct bureaucrats.

We have done fund raising for Free Dominion with limited success. We have managed to keep the servers running and improvements made to the site format. However, when our government came knocking costs soared as we had to undertake a legal defence and costs thereof. Mark and Connie chose to sell Free Dominion to a Panamanian organization to keep Free Dominion and our members safe from our government.

HRCs that target an Internet web site routinely demand access to all of the data on the web site servers. That data includes all of our sign up information and other relevant information that would allow an HRC to track individual posters. The Fourniers have carefully protected our identities for all of the time that Free Dominion has been in operation and continued protection of our members was the major factor in the decision to sell Free Dominion. The sale has protected our butts from potential HRC harassment.

When you see odd additions to the Free Dominion forums, it is because we are trying various schemes to add a revenue stream through advertising to offset some of the site operational costs. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but rude posts are just that – unjustified rudeness. Site features may come and go, but bear in mind the objective is to help pay the bills.

Mark and Connie have done their best to protect this site and most importantly to protect the anonymity of Free Dominion members – even those ungrateful users of the free speech they have fought so hard to protect.

When THE CHRC announced it was investigating a complaint against Free Dominion and Mark and Connie made it very clear the CHRC was in for a fight to the finish, Richard Warman was unable to entice the CHRC to attack Free Dominion again. Undaunted, Warman filed libel actions instead, trying to financially hurt the Fourniers and close down Free Dominion through economic pressure.

Mark and Connie have been able to protect the Free Dominion web site and protect Free Dominion member anonymity. They have not been able to protect themselves, however, and are defendants in at least two actions by self-proclaimed Nazi hunter and human rights activist Richard Warman. His is, in my opinion, an egotistical snot trying vainly to establish a reputation as a defender of political correctness and champion of offensive, thin-skinned snivellers who are themselves easily offended.

If we value our freedom of expression, if we believe that Mark and Connie should not be subjected to frivolous and vexatious legal actions for providing us with a venue in which to speak our minds, we have to get off our haunches and contribute to their defence fund. Until they can get Warman into court and expose his actions, all of us live with the threat of having the CHRC knock on our door, accusing us of hate speech and ready, willing and able to railroad us through a kangaroo court and destroy us financially without the benefit of due process or an opportunity to defend ourselves.

If you value your freedoms, join in this battle. Click on the donate button and send along whatever you can afford. We cannot watch Mark and Connie fight this travesty alone. Mark and Connie are true leaders with principles worthy of support. We cannot allow our freedoms to be taken from us without a fight.

Thank you.
WestViking

[Narrow Back]

I am still hoping we can come up with a big fund raising event to assist Connie and Mark with their battle. An event that focuses strictly on them. Not an event that will have Connie and Mark as just contributors on the sidelines.Their story and their expenses must be front and centre in all of this.

I have a few ideas but they do include Steyn, Levant, Shaidle or any of the others who appear to be getting through all of this fairly unscathed.

One idea, just to wet your appetite, is a pay per view free speech debate over the net. There are a few good ready to go packages out there. A live audience would pay, let's say 50.00 to attend. Pay per viewers would pay something like $10.00. If it goes well, we can use the video for to generate traffic to increase ad revenues from Google and the like.

The debate question should be controversial. Maybe "are the Fourniers thought criminals?" I would invite people from both sides. Definitely BCL. I doubt Kinsella would have the stones but if he does, great. Mark and Connie could choose who they want on their side. Then, LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!

It would be fun too.

[T.G.]

The Fourniers for the Order of Canada ... for upholding and fighting beyond the call of duty, in the face of corruption, for key constitutional principles such as freedom of expression.

[J.B. Stone]

Connie & Mark:

I'm PROUD to call you my FRIENDS.....!!!!


...it brings THIS quote to mind:



"Posterity - you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it." – John Quincy Adams

[WestViking]

The Fourniers for the Order of Canada ... for upholding and fighting beyond the call of duty, in the face of corruption, for key constitutional principles such as freedom of expression.

Now there is a though worth pursuing. Let's get togethr and make it happen. I can see the fixed smiles and gritted teeth if wecan accomlish that goal.

The first problem is that the awards are individual, so we need separate nomination forms for Connie and Mark. The second problem is that we need real names and adresses for nomination support. The third problem is that we cannot use an e-mail campaign to bolster support - it has to be a gathering of support names to go with the application(s).

If you are willing to provide you personal information in support of an application (by PM or otherwise off the forums) and think we can make this work, sign on below. If there is sufficient interest, we will start a new thread. Information on the order is found here:

http://www.gg.ca/honours/nat-ord/oc/oc-info_e.asp

[J.B. Stone]

"At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities...." – Lord Acton

[WestViking]

Bumpity - bump

[right-eoushindu]

Freedom is in dire peril, and I sincerely wish the Fourniers success in their fight.

[Tory_canuck]

I am proud to tell people in my area and school that I post on FD and am honoured to have the Fourniers as my friends.What I have learned on FD has gotten me to where I am today.I aqcuired knowledge and common sense that one would never learn in college, no matter how much money they paid.I hope we win this battle for free speech.FD is a great site to learn and enhance one's knowledge as what I have found.

I would like to thank the Fourniers for standing their ground and providing us with a place to freely debate.They have sacraficed alot and we should never forget that.

[Connie Fournier]

You guys are so sweet, but this is a bit embarrassing. Mark and I are only doing what needs to be done within our little sphere.

There are many people who have given up a lot more than we have been called to give up in the fight for freedom...like our brave men and women in Afghanistan.

But, we are honoured to have such good people standing behind us. And, now we get to fight side-by-side with the FD8.

[free_life2]

Does anyone remember thisthread? If not, please re-read the first post.

Thanks WV. It was a great re-read. Connie and Mark are tops to us who love freedom and a Canada for all Canadians not just the politically special.

I too hope we can find a way to bring in all the funds needed to fight those who think we must think and speak exactly like they do. That is called pinning the tail on the donkey dickboy!

We love you Connie and Mark, thank you so much for all you have done and continue to do to make this a better country in face of those who want shut us up!

[free_life2]

Oh yea..........in your pie-hole dickie! (pun intended).

[Mark Fournier]

I would like to thank the Fourniers for standing their ground and providing us with a place to freely debate.

We are honoured to serve, Tory_canuck, yet we are hated by our political opponents for the same things you thank us for.

We are standing our ground and we have provided a place to freely debate, but the odd part is, that is all that we have done. We have not counselled assault, we have not harassed and cyberstalked our political opponents, we have not assaulted people, rioted in the streets or done property damage or tried to silence people by suing them. Those are the deeds of the people who are attacking us for providing a service to the Canadian conservative community (though I'm aware there are some within that community who question the value of the service).

Someday these Warman suits will be behind us and it is to be hoped that the result will be better law and perhaps some progress toward more up-to-date legislation. But the attacks on us will never stop because they are all our political opponents have. The CHRC has been sitting for a long time on another complaint against us, a complaint that they still refuse to let us see, and there will be attacks from unexpected quarters as time goes by.

But through it all Free Dominion will remain what it is. It is the people in the forum who really make it all happen and as long as they are there FD will endure. The trouble is is that our opponents understand that too so they are engaging in a campaign of fear to make people too afraid to post here. Ultimately they will fail because everything they do will be done in full public.

And that's why they hate us.

[Maikeru]

The CHRC has been sitting for a long time on another complaint against us, a complaint that they still refuse to let us see,

Heck, under the current 'Rules of Engagement', refined over a decade ago against Doug Collins, the complaints will not stop coming in until the means are abolished.

The trouble is is that our opponents understand that too so they are engaging in a campaign of fear to make people too afraid to post here.

True, but that doesn't mean there aren't an increasing number of people reading here.

Topics which are 'hot button' issues in the meatworld are open to discussion herein, and folks can read (lurk) alongside. Some may lurk with malice in mind, but free men cannot live their lives by fear of those sorts.

Thanks again to our gracious hosts for providing this venue for Principled Conservatism, which will eventually displace the misguided notion, and sad end, of 'Progressive' Conservatism.