Posted on 04/01/2005 9:51:33 PM PST by Bob J
For those of you who don’t know, Jim and the mods treat old timers a little different than newbies. They get a little more slack, a few more mulligans than those who signed up in last four years or so.
I always wondered if that was a good policy. After all, why should the crusty buggers be treated any differently than someone who signed up last week? Are they more intelligent, are their arguments more cohesive…persuasive? Do they have any more or less to contribute to this community we call the Free Republic? Not necessarily.
But they do have one thing new participants don’t and that is perspective. In a way us curmudgeons can help provide a sense of continuity and historical perspective to events that newcomers cannot. Sometimes, we are the glue the bridges Free Republic from one crisis to the next. I believe the recent Sciavo issue is one of those times so I am going to ante again and prove to Jim that his investment is worthy of it’s returns. I ask other old timers to chime in and pull their weight as well.
The Forum has a history of going through upheavels in terms of political philosophy and/or cultural standards, this is not unusual for a community such as outs. The first thing we need to understand is that the conservative movement is made up of many individuals with different motivations. For example, some are economic minded, some are culturally based, some are second amendment supporters and others view their vision on religious principles. Sometimes these differences can cause us to reevaluate our alliances. But that would be a mistake. The left is counting on us tearing ourselves apart from within for that is the very philosophy upon which their strategy is based…foment division and hatred then attack at the breach. It has worked well for them in the past and they count on it working again for them now and in the future.
My humble opinion and suggestion to all is in these times of contention and confusion, that we remind ourselves who the real enemy is and where the battles ought to be fought. On more than one occasion I have had firefights on FR with individuals who later I found myself sitting next to in a foxhole when we were fighting the real enemy…the militant left. I berated myself for some of the things I had posted and wished I could take them back. For here was my true brother or sister, sitting in the foxhole with me, taking hits with me, helping to lead the bravest charge at our direst moment. How could I have been so thoughtless in my moment of indulgence?
We may divided, on occasion, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that we are all brothers and sisters fighting the good fight against those who would enslave us and our children into bondage for generations. Argue the good argument, stand on principle, but let’s not forget we are all ultimately on the same team. The man or woman you trash today might be the brave soul who saves your behind tomorrow.
Let’s keep out eye on the ball.
The spirit unleashed by the Schiavo affair will destroy FR if it is not changed. And that will be a tragedy far beyond anything associated with an individual death.
I have had my share of calling names and name calling but that around this is much worse than anything I have ever seen here. The destruction of the influence of this site will be the Left's greatest victory in decades.
It MUST not be!
I remember a time when "conservatives" prided themselves on always speaking logically. We were not ruled by our emotions----like the liberals were.
We may have been "passionate"....but rarely, if ever, did we attempt to make our point using emotions. Always FACTS...and we never spoke without cold hard proof for our POV. I learned by being challenged on more than one occasion...."source"..."what is your SOURCE?"
Then came a time....when all we heard was....we had to learn to fight dirty like the Dems or we would never win anything. We were much too nice.
I wonder how much crassness....dirty fighting....and name-calling....the "young'uns" have picked up during that transition. Emotions trumping logic.
We need to teach the "children" well...(HUGE GRIN!)...(from one grandma to another)
The only difference is that after having been subjected to that type of assault throughout the years and surviving it unscathed, FR may have justifiably become enraged at such a classless act, but realized, unlike before in it's infancy, that it's going to take a much, much bigger beast than a punk like Hannity to disrupt this forum in any permanent, negative way.
LOL.
Hold it. This is perfectly symptomatic of the real topic of this thread. We would be all better off if we would ask the other party what he or she thinks instead of telling them. It's almost always a mischaracterization, and it brings more heat than light.
Perhaps the discussion between you two might find a more appropriate place than this. No disrespect, just a suggestion.
What I have seen here the last month is far worse than any of those incidents and I never agreed with those sentiments when expressed this is much different in that it has exposed a fanaticism of an extremely disturbing nature.
I didn't see those other things as affecting anything.
Thank you for that great historical perspective!
[did I 'bump' wrong? I'm sort of new at this.....]
On all of that, we agree!
Excellent point.
Back to Communication Skills 101.
A fifteen year long euthanasia riiight which cost millions and millions and hundreds of court hours. O yeah that is one effective process. The world wide conspiracy is REALLY ramping up the next "victim" might only take TEN years.
What a joke what a perversion of the language.
Well, I reckon you know I agree. Good thread.
This forum is in the tradition of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. While the left enjoys Hegel and Engels. Anyone with a ? should read about these people while laying about in bed without a frisky partner. Hobbes and Locke signed our most famous document.
OK, I'll be nice. Anyway, he started it.
LOL! I agree 100%!
And why didn't you address anything to the other guy? He's the one putting freepers into boxes.
BTW, my orignal signup date is 2002, so I'm kind of middle aged.
The only possible "torture" for Terri was not allowing her to pass over a decade ago. And the torture this charade has unleashed upon FR.
How does one uncover his user ID?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.