A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....06-10-04...."President Reagan Changed everything"

JohnHuang2; Dutchess; Billie | JohnHuang2

[dutchess]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_bear, dutchess, Aquamarine,

President Reagan changed everything

by JohnHuang2

Ronald Wilson Reagan, conservative revolutionary, visionary hero, genuine patriot, cheerful warrior, freedom's champion, America's beloved 40th President, died late Saturday. He was home at Bel Air district of Los Angeles, his loving family at his bedside, when he then slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God, as he famously said of the Challenger crewmen. Reagan was 93.

"This is a sad hour in the life of America," said Bush, noting that "A great American life has come to an end." In France to mark the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landing, Bush spoke movingly as he fought back tears. "Ronald Reagan won America's respect with his greatness, and won its love with his goodness," Bush told reporters. "He had the confidence that comes with conviction, the strength that comes with character, the grace that comes with humility, and the humor that comes with wisdom."

Reagan, the Great Communicator, the original mis-underestimated President, is the reason why I got interested in politics to begin with. Quite young at the time, I wasn't much interested -- nor versed -- in the 'issues' back then, beyond the usual High School stuff. Things like monetary policy, the Laffer curve and the Gold Standard didn't much interest me. Not yet at least. Like my dad, who considered politicians by nature "crooks -- every last one of them," I was cynical to the bone about politics and politicians.

Then along came Ronald Reagan. He laid such cynicism and distrust to rest.

Truly a breath of fresh air, Reagan was so unlike your typical politician at the time. He shattered every negative stereotype. He was a leader you knew in your heart you could trust. Believing in Reagan was easy. It came so naturally. The warmth of sincerity beamed from his face, it rang in his every word. Reagan taught us this trust was not misplaced.

He also taught us to be proud to be Americans. He taught us not just to dream, but to dream big, and to never give up on those dreams. And he taught us why that was important. His ability to connect was extraordinary, his rapport with ordinary folks exceptional. A forceful leader of conviction, he renewed our national sense of mission and purpose, he restored our sense of direction, rekindling that can-do spirit in all of us. He rebuilt our nation's defenses. A trailblazer and role model, Reagan transformed America's political landscape. Through the sheer force of unshakable idealism, a revolution -- the Reagan Revolution -- was born. America never looked back. Putting the kabosh on the Carter recession through tax cuts, Reagan sparked the longest and strongest peace-time expansion in U.S. history, an era of unparalleled prosperity and growth. The pompous elite set dismissed it early on as 'trickle-down' "Reaganomics". Eight years and 23 million jobs later, Reagan got the last laugh. With renewed incentives to work, save and invest, federal revenues doubled, even as inflation and interest rates plummeted. Carter spoke drearily of limits, of deep malaise; Reagan promised a renaissance. Carter talked bleakly of hardship and woe, claiming America's best days were behind her; Reagan spoke cheerfully of that Shining City upon a Hill. The Reagan vision prevailed.

But Reagan left an indelible mark not just on economics. Reagan changed the course of history itself. A powerful voice for freedom, Reagan hated communism with every fiber of his being. At every opportunity, even against advice of top aides, he loudly and forcefully spoke against it, famously calling the Soviet Union the Evil Empire, the focus of evil in the modern world and a threat to freedom everywhere. In Reagan, tyranny had no greater enemy, freedom no better champion. "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" thundered Reagan before a cheering crowd at the Brandenburg Gate. Needless to say, Foggy Bottom was none too thrilled -- in vain Foggy Bottomites kept scratching out that line from his speech. Reagan kept putting it back in. The Gipper never flinched.

His love of liberty unyielding, Ronald Reagan was a glowing tribute to human freedom. To lovers of liberty toiling behind the ugly Iron Curtain, to all who yearned for freedom, Reagan proved a powerful inspiration, his words a bedrock of hope and strength during tyranny's darkest hours.

A giant of his times, Reagan prided himself as the Incurable Optimist who would not accept 'Containment' as the only option in dealing with communism. He was also the quintessential Realist. If others had forgotten the lessons of history, Reagan hadn't. 'Peace Through Strength' and 'Roll Back' weren't just slogans, they were part of Reagan's successful road-map to victory. From support for Nicaraqua's Freedom Fighters, to the watershed U.S.-led liberation of Grenada, America was on the march. Against a hailstorm of elite ridicule and scorn, Reagan confidently predicted communism's eventual demise, vowing to lead the way. Back then, such words were pure heresy.

"The years ahead will be great ones for our country, for the cause of freedom, for the spread of civilization," Reagan declared at a Notre Dame commencement address in 1981. "The West will not contain communism, it will transcend communism. We will not bother to denounce it; we'll dismiss it as a sad, bizarre chapter in human history whose last pages are even now being written."

A few short years later, tumultuous events vindicated those words thoroughly, as Reagan led the West to victory in the Cold War. The Gipper's steadfast and uncompromising commitment to restoring our nation's defenses -- particularly SDI -- and aggressive U.S. support for freedom movements inexorably broke the back of Soviet communism. Yet again, Reagan's chorus of critics had egg on their faces. The rest, as they say, is history.

Want another reason why Americans love the Gipper so well?

Well, looking back, who can forget that razor sharp wit, his penchant for disarmingly charming and memorable one-liners and quips, the magnetism and warmth, the decency and kindness of President Reagan? A man of unconquerable spirit, his exemplary life personified the very values that made America great. Reagan's was a true pick-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps life story, a genuine rags-to-riches guy.

Through tragedy, Reagan, a deeply religious man, early on forged a bond with the public. Barely two months in office, an assassin's bullet nearly took his life. Two bullets, actually. But even in such harrowing circumstances, Reagan's poise and grace, his wit and charm never relented. He had just regained consciousness at George Washington University Hospital, when he jokingly told a nurse holding his hand: "Does Nancy know about us?"

Laying on the operating table before surgery, Reagan uttered what became his most memorable quip. Gazing up at his surgeons, he said: "Please, tell me you're all Republicans."

President Reagan, just in case you're lurking here, let me say, from the bottom of my heart, we can never thank you enough for all you did, Sir. We will always love and cherish your memory.

To Nancy and the family, we extend our condolences and offer our thoughts and our prayers.

God bless President Reagan, God bless the United States of America.

Anyway, that's...

My two cents

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 06-07-04...Military Monday 06-08-04...Theme-less Tuesday 06-09-04...Let Us Have MUSIC

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

CLICK

[dutchess]

[dutchess]

Please join us in this special tribute to our beloved President Reagan by our favorite resident author, JohnHuang2. We're comforted knowing you are watching over us from above.

[Diver Dave]

Evenin'/mornin' dutchess, John.
Haven't read the essay yet, but wanted to share about the time back in '66 when President Reagan was running for Governor of California.

I was home-ported in San Diego at the time. Mrs.d and I would often jump in the car and drive around San Diego, National City and Chula Vista, etc.

Ronald Reagan was at a rally in National City and they had a caravan through the streets. Mrs.d and I fell in behind the last car and joined the caravan, honking and running red lights as the parade headed toward San Diego.
Closest we ever got to Mr. Reagan aside from our being right alongside him in policy and love for America.

We've missed him for several years now, but his passing last Saturday really strikes the heart, prompts the grief, and re-kindles that spirit of God Bless America.

Thank you for this tribute to our Dear Mr. President with the photos and words.

[Diver Dave]

John, I just finished your prize-winning commentary - It's the Best!

As I read it, there were no tears, though grief and pride are still a part of my feelings. Instead of tears, a smile crossed this face as I'm sure it will a great many today.

I read an article last Friday night which stated President Reagan's health had deteriorated and the family was at hand. Then on Saturday a phone call informed me that he had passed away.

Strange as it may seem, my thoughts traveled in several directions, but kinda settled on rejoicing at The President's Home-going.

I imagined that as he entered Paradise, folks were gathering around to welcome him and shake his hand. But being a man of faith, strong will, and having his priorities in order, he told the well-wishers, "Later. There will always be time for re-unions, but I've waited my entire life for this..."

He then knelt down and Worshiped Christ the Lord.

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Thursday !

I look forward to reading John's essay in a little bit.

[MeekOneGOP]

Texas Freepers get to meet Jim and Shiela Robinson:

DALLAS FREEPERS DINE WITH JIM ROBINSON
(Report and Photos)

[The Mayor]

God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you . . . may have an abundance for every good work. —2 Corinthians 9:8

God's call to a task includes His strength to complete it.

[GailA]

Excellent john John, and Dutchess. Good morning FRiends.

Coffee's on

[The Mayor]

June 10, 2004

Enough Of Everything

Read: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you . . . may have an abundance for every good work. —2 Corinthians 9:8

Bible In One Year: 2 Chronicles 34-36; John 19:1-22

---

Randy, our first child, went off to kindergarten with a 10-cent coin in his pocket to buy a carton of milk to go with his lunch. When he came home that afternoon, his mother asked if he had purchased the milk. "No," he replied, bursting into tears. "The milk was 5 cents and I only had a dime."

How often I have responded to demands placed upon me with the same childish understanding. According to God's Word, I have all the resources I need at my disposal-more than enough to meet my needs-and yet I'm reluctant to act because I fear that I won't have enough. But the Bible assures me that God has provided me with every blessing in abundance. By His grace, I have everything I need (2 Corinthians 9:8). The apostle Paul was not saying that we have enough grace to do anything we want to do. God does not offer us a blank check. No, Paul was giving us the assurance that we have enough grace to do whatever God has called us to do-whether it is to give money for the cause of the gospel, as the Corinthians were doing (v.7), or to give love to a difficult teenager, an indifferent spouse, or an aging parent.

Whatever the task, God will make sure we have "an abundance for every good work" (v.8). —David Roper

God uses us to do His work
If we will just obey;
He freely gives His love and power
To serve Him every day. —Sper

God's call to a task includes His strength to complete it.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Mr. Mayor.

[Aeronaut]

Beautiful tribute to a great man. Thanks John.

[The Mayor]

Morning Aeronaut

[Conspiracy Guy]

I have everything I need and plenty in reserve.

[MEG33]

Thank you for this beautiful tribute to President Reagan, John..and your layout, dutchess.

The sounds of Amazing Grace played so hauntingly yesterday as they loaded AF1, your devotional ,Mayor, and the words "God shed his grace on thee" all remind me of the grace bestowed on us as individuals and our nation.

We are blessed to have had a leader such as Ronald Reagan. May God continue to bless America.

[lonestar]

I was a kid in school when my dad went to hear Ronald Reagan when he was with GE. After that all we heard was, "Ronald Reagan said...".

My parents were among the first Republicans in heavily Dem SE Texas.

I fell "in love" with RR when he made the speech the night before the '64 election.

My friends and I worked for Goldwater and I still have my elephant pin with the black horn-rimmed glasses.

I had breakfast with Ronnie once--along with about 2000 others.

He will always be my hero.

My mother's Alzheimer's appeared about the same time as President Reagan informed the country he was in the early stages. Yesterday when she heard the military bands she started "dancing." I turned up the music. It seemed the right thing to do.

[dansangel]

President Reagan changed everything

He most assuredly did. Thank you ((((((JH2))))) and (((((((dutchess))))))) for this very beautiful and moving tribute. I have to believe President Reagan is smiling down on the FR family from above.

I want to take the time to wish the most important person in my life the very Happiest of Birthdays:

Happy Birthday .45MAN - You ***ROCK*** my world!

:-)

I'll be nice and won't mention *which* birthday it is - LOL!

(((((((((HUGS)))))))) to all at the Finest Family

[Mo1]

[Billie]

Good morning, Dutchess and John,

Perfection. That's what today's tribute is. Together, you have presented a most excellent tribute. The pictures you chose, inserted in exactly the right place, highlight John's words to perfection. John, your love, respect and admiration for President Reagan absolutely shines - something shared by so many of us - we just can't express it as eloquently. Thank you, Finest Team.

(((((((((((((JH2 Dutchess)))))))))))))))))

[Temple Owl]

Good morning everybody. I'll read John's essay when I get to work.

[Texagirl4W]

Good morning, dutchess. What a beautiful tribute to a great man. We love you, Ronnie. May you rest in peace.

Have a great day everyone.