Posted on 12/30/2004 6:11:57 PM PST by exit82
Six years ago today, I signed on to FreeRepublic as a member.
I had become aware of the site through a reference on the old Prodigy politics board in October, 1998.
At the time, I was in despair over the endless despotic rule by one William J. Clinton as President and feeling very alone in my opinion that this dishonorable man needed a rendevous with the law.
On the FreeRepublic site there was talk of an event to be held in Washington DC on October 30, 1998 announced by Jim Robinson, FR's founder, called the "March for Justice" at the site of the Washington Monument.
I realized then that this is what I was looking for. More importantly, I now knew there were many others who thought like me, that President Clinton needed to be impeached.
Unemployed at the time, I nevertheless took my trusty Dodge Caravan down to Washington DC from the Atlantic Coast of New Jersey(it's OK--I'm in a red county in a blue state),made hotel reservations, and found myself in the amazing company of 4,000 other like-minded patriots in the shadow of the Washington Monument--patriots from all over the United States.
What a thrilling day that was! It was a seminal moment in a grassroots effort to seek justice against an out of control President.
And just look where it has led from there!
(The van had almost 200,000 miles on it. The fuel pump went the day after the March when I started the return trip. All in all, the weekend cost me about $ 700.00.But I never felt better than I did after the March for Justice.The fuel pump could have gone on the way to DC, but it didn't, so I thanked the Lord for His guidance and got the van towed and repaired.)
It took me until Dec. 30th to register formally. I just eked by becoming a member of the class of '98.
I wish to express my debt and thanks to Jim Robinson for founding this site, and for all of the fine people that lurk and post here, who have been invaluable in my continuing political education and activism. Of special note are the members of the DC Chapter, with whom I have stood in front of the White House on Saturdays in 1999 and 2000 a few times during the weekly protests by FreeRepublic.
Although I've posted a lot of comments over the years, this is my very first thread. I humbly request that my vanity be kindly overlooked in the interest of helping newer Freepers understand some of this site's beginnings.
May FreeRepublic continue to grow, and may its members always be as outstanding in quality and principle as they have been these past six years.
Thank you all.
exit82
Happy Anniversary newbie.... :-)
Congrats...I am one FR day older than you.
I forgot till you posted this thread.
I'm half your age! *LOL* :-)
Darn newbies....
I remember you. Didn't you follow us in the convoy to D.C.? We came down from New England and picked up some more cars in the New Jersey area.
No, thank you. BTTT
This site has been a godsend for me. It helped me during the election, especially after the MSM leaked the early exit polls and it appeared that President Bush was going to lose. I've also enjoyed reading the daily cartoons posted by Pookie18 in the morning before work. There has also been a lot of informative information and historical facts put out that a lot of people probably are not aware of. I've noticed another thing. I've looked at the DUmmie site and just viewing their posts gives you a very uneasy feeling. I think a lot of them represent what is the worst of the liberal left. My in-laws are liberals but you can at least talk with them and they don't belittle a person because they don't see eye-to-eye with them. I've found a sense of sanity here in the Free Republic that appears to be lacking at the DU. Maybe there's a reason they're called the Democratic Underground. Let's keep up the good work done by all the posters. Some of the humorous responses lighten up my day. Thanks all you fellow FReepers.
I am only 5 years old, Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
class of 98 bump
Six years ago this month, I was still in lurker mode, though I had attended my first Freep.
:-)
If you are six, shouldn't there be an inflatable playhouse and cookies and cakes and punch?
Already posted.
Happy anniversary geezer!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Maybe you can write another in 2010. ;^)
I am only 5 years old, Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Oh grow up!
LOL
No opus?
I got all excited for nothing!
Time to take a break, I'd say!
Great post, I loved it!
I was one of those who joined the caravan in NJ.
I still don't know how we all stayed together through all of the traffic, but we arrived in D.C together. OK, THEN some of us got lost.
We had been in touch with FReepers who had already arrived in D.C and there was a hugh crowd awaiting us when we all (finally) arrived. We got a rousing cheer as we drove past the crowd, which was really terrific. Then some of us got lost again.
The March For Justice the next day was the greatest!
Happy Anniversary exit82.
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