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.
Bump-aROONIE!
"So, then, there should be no innate moral law?"
I'll assume you're refering to my post #208.
Innate: 1. existing in, belonging to, or determined by factors present in an individual from birth. 2. belonging to the essential nature of something . 3. originating in or derived from the mind or the constitution of the intellect rather than from experience.
I would venture to say that most of us possess the same innate morales. They would be there with or without Christianity or any other religion. It is these innate morales that make us civilized and I'm glad they're in us. I hope that answers your question.
You TROLL i'm hitting the abuse botton right now :-)
If you got on board during the last century, you're probably an old timer...
I don't know what I'm talking about? The thread is right there for everyone to read! The person's position on the issue didn't matter, the fact that he was getting caught up in the minutiae did. You can willfully misinterpret in order to fuel your sense of grievance, but don't expect the rest of us to agree with you...
Well said indeed.
Does that mean my songs can go in breaking news? :)
Amen!
EXACTLY. I don't think the party leadership is brave enough to fight the bloody battle for this country on the floor of the Senate... They'd rather leave it to average citizens they can then denounce so as to pretend to take high moral ground, and stay in office. The party is largely devoid of courage. They are now devoid of my donations, however, I am sure the foreign donations from south of the border are enough to cover the loss of my pittance, and soon, my vote.
I can assure you that there are many that don't agree with you.
You obviously aren't familiar with me so please refrain from mischaracterizing me or what I said.
Where have YOU been?
Nice to see you.
HI!!
I was captured and tied to a railroad track ... no one would pay my ransom, so they let me go!!* No matter what they did to me, I still couldn't shake the withdrawals from F/R, so here I am!! :)
Good to see YOU TOO Cyncooper, hope all is well!!!
(* Not a true story, but more entertaining that the real one...hehehe)
Heheheheh
...and don't forget very important FR involvement in Jarbidge, NV in the summer of 2000 and Klamath, OR in the summer of 2001.
Ha! I didn't have time to type all the accomplishments of FR!
I'm glad to see you're feeling well enough to join the old-timer threads!
Thank you, thank you, BobJ. And I've always said that there's nothing wrong with you that holding you upside down with your stuck head in a bucket of Botox wouldn't cure.:)
Ahhhh the seniority card! Reminds me of my being amazed, when I moved to Massachusetts, of the number of people who claimed that their ancestor had been on the Mayflower. My first thought was "and your point would be?" Am I supposed to be bold over? But then, as the saying goes, if everyone who claims to have been on the Mayflower had been on the Mayflower it would have sunk!
This is a wonderful forum and the ideas on it should be responded to independently of whether they come from an FR newbie or an older pilgrim.
A bunch of the filthiest anti-Terri posts were based on nothing more than "filthy lucre motivations." "What if the controversy results in electoral success by that party that likes to tax and regulate? And I get to stick less money in my pockets?" It was disgusting...but revealing.
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