The mission of Old Elm Tree is to bring together people from across a spectrum of views, into a true community where they may see each other as fellow human beings, share ideas, and reach some understandings. Everyone is welcome here except those that would spout doctrinaire talking points, take a dogmatic approach to discussion, or treat others without respect. Old Elm Tree will not become an echo chamber for any point of view. We are challenging ourselves and others to let go of pre-conceived notions, and we seek and give mutual support in the effort. We cannot be all things to all people, but we want to be something important to those who choose to join us.
If you are new here, or just haven't read these yet, please make it a point to read the two threads in the first forum, Announcements for All Members.
Before the Revolution, colonists gathered under a great elm tree in Boston to rally together against the tyranny of the crown corporations. The Sons of Liberty hung the effigies of two tax collectors from the old elm tree in protest against the infamous Stamp Act. Ever since then, the old elm tree was called the Liberty Tree and became a focal point and symbol for the resistance to the tyranny of the crown corporations over the colonies.
You've Landed Right Where You Want to Be
This is Old Elm Tree: a great place to meet and talk, relax, think and enjoy yourself. We're new and growing and we need your help. Old Elm Tree is devoted to a couple simple concepts:
We want to provide an online community where each member is respected and valued.
We want to promote Free Speech.
We want to help artists, artisans and small business owners to develop and grow their businesses.
The trunk of Old Elm Tree is the discussion boards. We encourage you to join and take part in sharing ideas. Membership is free and always will be. That includes full functionality for every member. There are no fees required in order to post in any forum, or to have access to search capabilities, or any we have or may acquire in the future. No donations will be requested. There are no membership tiers. Every member is equal. We know that the main value in any discussion board comes from the members who post there. This is our way of recognizing that. We've started out with a sampling of forums and will add more as time goes on. This will mainly be driven by member requests, so please let us know what you'd like to see.
We want you to use the forums as you see fit. Share ideas. Network. Get Feedback. Meet like minds and start planning things together. Present your theories. Talk about politics, art, culture, sports or hobbies. History, architecture, cinema, sociology, or the infield fly rule. Think, create, use your imagination -- just run with it.
We want these forums to be comfortable and fruitful for all members, so we have a few rules:
No personal attacks are allowed. One can disagree with an idea or opinion while still respecting the other person and the other person's right to free speech.
No flames.
No spam.
The discussion forums will be moderated. We expect that in a very short time this will become too big a job for the two of us, so please consider volunteering to moderate your favorite forum, or a forum you'd like to see us start. Volunteering is good for your karma.
Coming Soon
So, what about revenue? How can we afford to do this? We are a small, two person operation. We're doing everything ourselves. We want this to pay for itself, and in the future provide an income for us so that we can devote ourselves to Old Elm Tree full time and grow it for you as much as possible. Our revenue will come from reasonably priced ads that promote what you do. All ads must be tasteful and valuable to the readers. We will provide many types of advertising, from small banner ads to full page galleries for artists and craftspeople.
Reuters: Top News Reuters.com is your source for breaking news, business, financial and investing news, including personal finance and stocks. Reuters is the leading global provider of news, financial information and technology solutions to the world's media, financial institutions, businesses and individuals.
Israeli shells kill 42 at UN school: Gaza medics GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli shelling killed more than 40 Palestinians on Tuesday at a U.N. school where civilians had taken shelter, medical officials said, in carnage likely to boost international pressure on Israel to halt a Gaza offensive.
...
German tycoon Adolf Merckle commits suicide BLAUBEUREN, Germany (Reuters) - German billionaire Adolf Merckle has committed suicide, in despair over the huge losses suffered by his business empire during the financial crisis, his family said on Tuesday.
...
New Congress convenes, focused on recession WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats celebrated their increased clout in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, swearing in new members who are expected to help President-elect Barack Obama enact a massive economic stimulus package.
...
Gates projects Pentagon needs $70 billion more for wars WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates estimates the Pentagon will need about $70 billion more to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year, on top of the $65.9 billion already approved by Congress.
...
U.S. and European data grim NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Dire economic data from the United States and Europe showed the world's two largest economies remain mired in recession, and Toyota Motor Corp said it would halt all production in Japan in response to plunging demand.
...
Obama says U.S. deficit may approach $1 trillion WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama said on Tuesday he expects to inherit a U.S. budget deficit approaching $1 trillion and his administration would have to make some tough budget choices.
...
Russian gas disruption spreads across Europe MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia sharply cut gas flows to Europe via Ukraine on Tuesday in a dramatic worsening of a pricing dispute with Kiev that threatened to disrupt supplies as far west as Italy and Germany.
...
Many in U.S. military don't get time to vote: study WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Many U.S. troops serving overseas are effectively excluded from voting because they are not given enough time to cast absentee ballots, according to a report released on Tuesday.
...
