Our image,the public and what I think about both.

[conservator]

Hello everyone. First of all I would lke to thank you for welcoming to your home and secondly I would like you to excuse for posting a topic so early, but I thought I had some things on my mind!

I think we need to reform. Not our ideas or who we are but other people's perception of us. I think people should know that the republican party is a party for ALL Americans not just the rich white,and the powerful, and I think the more people know this, the better.

I am tired of the stereotypes and accusations. I am tired of the fighting and the name-calling. Most of all though I am tired of being called un-american and I tire of calling others un-american.

As Condoleeza Rica and Colin Powell show, if you work hard within this party you will be accepted. We need to highlight those cases...

I am not pretending to have all the answers. However I am hoping we can invigorate discussion on this. I am also not pandering to others. I am hoping to highlight our best sides, and I know it is something we can do!

Maybe holding community relations meetings, fundraising for people in trouble where we don't normally stick out, talking to schools, SOMETHING. I had to learn about this party from the internet. Can you believe that? Everyone around me is a Democrat. The internet was the only outlet I had for positive Republican commentary. I learned here that republicans care, are compassionate, laugh, hurt , cry, get scared, love, etc. just like regular people. Perhaps if I had someone to talk to about it before things might have been different. My ethnicity was another obstacle because I am a minority, and sadly it is hardwired into us from an early age that minorities just don't do Republican. Why? I don't know. It's how the "system" works. The system needs to change though. We are the people to change it.

[randita]

It takes time. Abraham Lincoln was a Republican. Republicans were instrumental in getting the 1964 Civil Rights Act passed while southern Democrats stood against it. History is on our side.

But for the past 40 years, Democrats have pandered to minorities, using the strategy of victimization. In order to have victims, you have to have those who oppress them. For 40 years, Democrats have successfully painted conservatives as oppressors with the help of their willing allies in the MSM (main stream media).

With the advent of talk radio and alternative news sources, the tide is slowly changing. Despite all the dire warnings perpetrated about black church burnings, etc., Republicans have controlled Congress for 10 years and the Presidency for the past 4. There haven't been church burnings or any other anti-minority activities. Instead, we have a President who has two blacks as top advisors -- a first. Minorities are doing better economically than ever. More minorities own their own homes than ever before.

People are more swayed by actions than by words.

[Dec31,1999]

Bttt. Outstanding topic!

[LadyPilgrim]

Welcome to you!!!

Most of us are conservative in our political beliefs, and
if you haven't already, read Jim's article on the front page, it will give you a good idea as to where you have landed in this web-world.

Jump in and enjoy the comraderie!

Welcome to the best on the web.

[EdReform]

Now how do we as the republican party influence the teachers?

Welcome to FR!

How do we influence teachers? The existence of the NEA makes that difficult. Consider the following article:

Political Activism Takes Center Stage With The NEA

Convincing teachers that they don't need to belong to the NEA is a good place to start:

See reply 12 in the thread HOPE FOR AMERICA: Growing Non-Union Teacher Associations Provide Alternatives to NEA and AFT

[TBarnett34]

And conservatism doesn't have a chance in the university environment.

I respectfully disagree, being a conservative in an extremely liberal school myself. Of course, if you write it off, the chance doesn't exist...

[lillybet]

I am so glad America is in the hands, of the folks of FR, just warms your heart, Thank You So Much.....

[LadyPilgrim]

Not exactly sure what you're thanking me for, but welcome to you too!

[EdReform]

It's true that the Left is entrenched in the university environment. However, as we've seen from the increasing number of articles and replies posted on Free Republic, conservatism is growing at universities and colleges across the nation. Here's one small example.

The conservative voice will not be silenced!

[Lazamataz]

Hmm. Well excuse my presumptuocity as I will henceforth refer to this website as Republican no more. Sounds good?

No good. If you refer to it as "Republican no more", you are implying it was Republican before.

[Lazamataz]

I am tired of the stereotypes and accusations. I am tired of the fighting and the name-calling. Most of all though I am tired of being called un-american and I tire of calling others un-american.

I have no problem calling a Kenyan un-American.

[MeekOneGOP]

bump!

[EdReform]

One more example:

College Republicans Poke Fun at Kerry's 'Flip-Flops'

But protesting Kerry isn't all that the College Republican National Committee has planned. The group will launch a field program on college campuses in 40 states on Aug. 24. More than 60 field representatives will be dispatched to add to the group's 120,000-student membership.

"Our goal is to identify every single Republican student and student who supports our president," said Oliver Wolf, a student at Bates College and vice chairman of the Maine College Republicans. "We need to get them to provide the voice and volunteers for the campaign."

[GeronL]

well, you are literally preaching to the choir here on FR. Condi and JC Watts are super-stars to us white guys and many of us voted for Alan Keyes in the 2000 primary, like ME, for instance.

But your right that the media will never represent us as we truly are and we need to do a better job of showing the real 'us' to the independents and the would-be Republicans who are waiting for a sign that these stereotypes aren't true.

great post BTW

[jjames001]

Yeah exactly...

The thing that really ticts me off is when I see rappers on MTV singing about politics when they don't know anything about it...

For example, I don't know the singer or the song that well,(I heard it once)a part in his lyrics were "how could Bush let the towers fall..." and many more things such as how "Bush mislead us into war" when in fact it was John kerry who recieved a video tape a month before 9'11 with the flaws of the security at Logan Airport.

Some of these music artists act like oh nice, kind and peaceful singers when they really are heavily involved into the drug world and such. They become giant role models on all young minorities.

Yes you are definitely right about trying turn the democrat teachers around.

BTW my bad, I didn't know you meant you just joined freerepub when you said "thanks for inviting me to this..." (i'm slow on these things) so Welcome!

[jjames001]

Yes, yes, this is true, but the small town in Wisconsin where I come from is VERY liberal. If it weren't for some wonderful family members I probably wouldn't be on this site now.

[conservator]

Thanks for the welcome...Great response so far to the topic everyone! I left it for a couple days to see how it would do. Looks like people care.

[conservator]

Perhaps there is no magical wand solution to this mess of our perception among the young and minorities. There is something that always works and never fails though : Action.

That is part of a practical response and also an optimistic attitude. Reagan was not only a man of courage and hopefulness but a man of actions as well. Something else we must not forget. That's why I set up this topic because it is not only about talking and smiling but about organizing and acting. We need grassroots, hands on solutions not just a good attitude.

But I like your response. Tell me how would you in your community would help to elevate the Republican image among those groups if you had the time and resources?

[conservator]

Chad says "You really are the worlds great authority on what you think and no matter how much jesse and wierd al sharpton drone on and on, they still can't define your core values."

Very true Chad. People have a habit of putting people in a box of what they believe their beliefs are and whom they trust and believe in etc.

Unfortunately the opposition does not have a monopoly on this practice (though of course if they did I'm sure they would give us an equal share). It's ever so important not to adopt their vile practices in argumenting as that is just used as fodder for their hate. I always just smile and say a version of what you say chad. It works a lot of the time. I also don't interrupt but rather let them rant. In the bible it says to, and I'm paraphrasing "Be slow to speak, slow to anger, but quick to listen." That's tough advice to follow but wise to use. Let's try and be that example.

[conservator]

"People are more swayed by actions than by words."

Exactly my point randita!

People need to know us and see us. Unfortunately conservatives to the mainstream are scary old white people in corporate boardrooms. That's why the young and minorities Haven a hard time identifying. Think about it.

The new generation is going to be colored everything imaginable from over the rainbow and young and (most probably) poor and obsessed with the media.

there is no chance Conservatives are going to gain any sort of base with these now disaffected parts of our nation UNLESS WE ACT NOW. Maybe they are on the fringe of American society for the moment.Pretty soon though they will be powerful and indoctrinated with the Democratic agenda. We cannot let that happen. Why do you think the Democrats pander to them so much? They do so because they know they are the future of America.

We need to wake up. Unless we start thinking in the same way and start actively reaching out to the young and the minorities, than in 20 years time as the babyboomers pass away WE will be the minority. Those groups I mentioned will not remain apathetic for long. Can you imagine the United States of America with only ONE political party???

That is insane!! No-one would be able to challenge such a monstrosity. With the Dems so called "inclusive" agenda they would be impossible to defeat. It will be a sad day in America if that ever happens. That's why it is important to stay focused and look after our own, but we have to look out for those other groups soon because they will be calling the shots soon and you can bet your FR username that the Dems are courting them.

[conservator]

I hope folks don't bash me for this but I agree. Kenyans, Cambodians , and Canadians are some of the most un-american people I know, and I don't even know any!