[Mo1]

Good Points .. Good Thread

Words we need to remember

[A CA Guy]

:-)

[silent_jonny]

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?

Great post! Bravo!

[Charles H. (The_r0nin)]

I said it on several of the opus threads, and I'll say it here again:

When Trixie bailed and bad-mouthed us, people said FR was over.

It wasn't.

When CaL and the Keyes-uber-alles group left, people said FR was over.

It wasn't.

When BatJack threatened to sue everyone in sight ( including their pets) people said FR was over.

It wasn't.

When the Buchanan brigades decided that FR was a tool of the globalists and left to denounce us globally, people said FR was over.

It wasn't.

When Elian Gonzales split FR right down the middle, with venom and anger that made this last little spat look like a Nerf™ War, people said FR was over.

It wasn't.

When the MSM sued FR and JimRob looked like he was under the gun, people said FR was over.

It wasn't.

FR has been threatened with "destruction" more times than the Earth has with global warming propaganda, and it's still here. Those of us who have been here through these times have a duty to remember that, to calm the storm, and to provide perspective (as you so eloquently pointed out). FR isn't going anywhere until JimRob says it is, and I believe that!

[spodefly]

BTTT

[nopardons]

Perhaps, but I think you're wearing some heavy duty rose colored glasses there,my friend.

But yes, the old timers SHOULD be the bridge between chaos and sanity.WE know what no newbie does; the for real history of FR,its ins and outs,the slang, special insider jokes, and we should calm the turbulent and muddy waters. Some of us try to do just that and help newbies to become part of the fold; but some newbies don't want any help...usually the ones who need it most.

[AAABEST]

What will hold us together Bob is our creator. There is no idea, or ethos or plan that can exceed this natural law.

Whatever we posit here will mostly go in one ear and out the other - if not in the next 5 minutes - maybe in the next century. However long it takes, all of what we do here is very fleeting if we look long. Nobody really cares what most other people think about anything and none of it will matter given enough time.

People today put all follow all kinds of gods. The god of "freedom". The god of patriotism or nationalism. The god of wealth. The god of ideologies, capitalism, socialism, sports whatever.

The only thing lasting for us as individuals and for those who come after us is God Himself. Once people's hearts are with their creator, all else falls into place. All of these discussions we have amongst ourselves become non-sequitors. Once the heart pursues natural law and the creator, the minds follow. No argument or debate needed.

Why do you think the left, secularists, deviants, and evil amongst us fear God more than anything?

I think we had this discussion once before in person. You may have had a Cuban cigar in your mouth at the time.

[BlessedBeGod]

Thank you for the best thing I've read all day.

[hleewilder]

I dunno. This last week really depressed me. To be called a "barbarastreisand" by someone who equated the 15 year odyssey of Terri Schiavo with the systematic murder of millions of people during the second world war (and with pictures of the death camps, just in case anybody missed the connection) was, frankly, a shock. Especially when it became obvious that this wasn't just one person who felt that his Bible trumped our Constitution.

I'm afraid this isn't some mere fraternal squabble between those of a Conservative bent. We're not talking about a free exchange of ideas with a little give and take on the finer points, here.

Since the only political outlet that espouses Conservative values appears to be the Republican party, what we're talking about is what the mission statement of the Party is going to be from here on out.

If it's an advocacy of some sort of theocracy in this country, as what seems to be vaguely alluded to, then it needs to be spelled out, loud and proud.

But if the Republican party is just cynically stringing the ultra-religious wing along for votes, then the leadership better get with the program and make some unequivocal public stand to that effect, because, frankly, the general public doesn't quite know what the party stance is.

Constitutional Conservatism or Theological Conservatism, what have we got here, people?

[spinestein]

Since I've been here less than a year I guess that would make me a newbie, but from my very first post I made a conscious effort to learn the etiquette and emulate some of the "crusties" who seemed to be well respected and to treat other posters with respect and not get involved in flame wars. This, of course, serves to facilitate the purpose of the forum; the advancement of our ideas.

Other newbies like me who expect to be here a long time, should not lose sight of this and should heed Bob J's message and also be aware that Free Republic is unique among political forums. I don't know of any other site that has so little rudeness and so much tolerance of honest difference of opinion.

[It's me]

Good post.

Only spoiled brats who don't get their way have a temper tantrum and leave...

...Only to come back under another alias.

[Col Freeper]

Well put, as usual Bob J.

I have read a lot of things posted to FR over the years, and have seen a lot of good, thoughtful responses, as well as some really, really bad responses.

However, one thing that "computer seat time" on FR will provide, is the gradual but steady recognition of who is most likely to post the good thoughtful responses, and those who aren't.

FR is (IMHO) THE place to see the rapid puncturing of leftist hot air pontifications, and to gain access to the most rounded discussion of the issues which face us now, and in the future.

As to flaming and excess rhetoric, there is sometimes a fine line between strongly stated positions and outrightly hostile/needlessly childish, posts.

I have, over the years, referred a lot of folks to FR. When I do, I tell them outright that it is a Conservative site with a wide ranging set of positions. I also tell them not to expect to join and post indefensible positions or issues because there are many finely tuned minds, and years of experience in every imaginable field, available on FR. And FReepers do not countenance falsehoods in any form.

My wish would be for all FReepers to stay the course. We are brothers and sisters in arms against enemies both internal and external, and if we perservere, we will ultimately defeat those enemies, and preserve the U.S. of A. for the following generations.

P.S. Keep the pop-up "joined FR" date. It is highly useful in identifying probable trolls. Newbies who are articulate and legitimate will survive that first "when did he/she join" assessment.

[PoorMuttly]

Very well and accurately put.

Just don't ever run. That's all. The winds blow, the seasons change...but we must always stand our ground. Most of us approach things from ALL of the categories you mentioned. That is why we're here....and STILL here....and nobody shakes us out of it. If we want things to be better in the long run, we must remain ourselves, and present, in the long haul.

[daybreakcoming]

Excellent words of wisdom Bob. During the furor of the last couple of weeks, it was distressing to see posters who normally would have been in agreement on many things rip each other apart. I wondered how it would be when this was all over. We now see a few leaving (or saying they are) disregarding the fact that we are on the same side in this fight for our lives.
Thank you for taking the time to put these words before us.

[semaj]

Well said. The media has whipped "us" into a frenzy, what with the 3 ring circus we are constantly bombarded with. On one hand we have the freak show Michael Jackson trial, on the other we have poor Terri Schiavo being tortured to death thru starvation...meanwhile the threat of nuclear terrorism, the war in Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a possible Lebanese civil war, Syria, Korean nukes, o my gosh the Pope is dying............

Take comfort from the words of Jesus the Christ. "Fear not...for I am with you always, even unto the end of the world"

[leadpenny]

This thread begs for your comments.

Or, maybe it doesn't.

[Redcloak]

Amen!

[justshe]

Thank you for posting this thread. Good job.

[Flyer]

I have had my most heated moments (boy, is that an understatement) with FReepers I know face-to-face.

Today, I trust them with my life.

[kanawa]

Heartfelt BUMP