A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....06-21-05....The American Idea (revisited)

Jwfiv; Billie | jwfiv

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, Dutchess, Aquamarine, DollyCali ~

The American Idea by jwfiv

Always I've carried the memory of standing in our front yard, under the great tree, pondering the just-acquired information that my neighborhood was only a small part of a big, round planet, and there was a place clear over on the other side of it called India, which was full of first-graders just like myself.

---

A typical Grail Castle moment of wonder as
my world enlarged
that afternoon.

The thought I remember so clearly is:

"I could have been
born over there...
but, I'd still be me."

---

I learned that my corner of the globe was called America, and grew up to know that we are a country of free individuals, and the story of America is the tale of a brave and hardy people creating a Nation that embodied an Idea unique in all the history of nations.

That idea being that the individual person is endowed by the Creator with those famous and notorious "certain inalienable rights".

In the New World, it is the common man and woman who rule by Divine Right, not the king, emperor, priest, pharaoh or caliph, as in the Old World.

Holy smokes, what a grand thought... how reckless and bold and daring, yet how grounded in a faith in the worth and goodness of Man.

This revolutionary American Idea means that to be an American is to be guaranteed the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and to understand that all people have the same right.....
all, everywhere.

From the first colonies, on through nationhood, Americans were from the European ethos, with its history and tradition of conquest and empire. This being a way not just of Europe, but most all of Man gone before.

For the Nation to be true to our Founding Idea, the Cornerstone of that City on the Hill, our task has been to honor and carry with us the best of the inherited culture, but also to unlearn the lessons and discard the ways of our forebears when they conflicted with our own charter.

The American ethos is a tradition and history of freedom and opportunity for every citizen...we don't colonize but liberate, and share, as best we can, not just wealth and comfort, gadgets and cheeseburgers, but, the Idea, so that all people in all nations may know their own inalienable rights, and be empowered to pursue their own destiny.

Of course, not all soil is good soil, and the Seed of Freedom will sometimes not take hold and flower unless the ground is turned over, and over, and over. It is said the Tree of Liberty is watered with the blood of patriots.

The generations must pass before this unlearning of the Old World's ways can be accomplished. This is so for us, as well as others, but, as Americans, we have a head start..

---

Three world wars, two very hot and one cold but no less dark and bloody, were waged in the 20th Century and the American Idea has proven triumphant beyond anyone's hope or vision, save a few optimists and visionaries, the beloved Ronaldus Magnus chief amongst them.

---

Another generation brings us to now, today, as the world turns over again before our eyes.

America finds itself in a war for survival, not just of our Nation, but of the Idea.

The Old Ways of Man can sense, and they bitterly resent, the global spread of Liberty, American-style, so they rear their tails, like scorpions, to strike our lives and poison our faith in That which sustains, inspires and transforms the world.

With this war on terror now upon us, we have a President who chooses to stand and meet the challenge.

The American Military wrote a new chapter in the history of warfare with its campaign to crush the Taliban and free the people of Afghanistan, and in the year since has been tracking and killing and caging their terrorist kin all over the world.

The President may soon again send our boys and girls and men and women in uniform into fierce battle...an imperative, as he knows the scorpions intend to strike a blow more crippling than September 11.

I believe this weighs heavy upon our Commander-In-Chief¹s caring heart.

No one devoted to the Idea will be glad at the necessity of war. But, in the tradition of the reluctant warrior, leader, prophet or ring-bearer, the task is given him, and he rises to meet it.

As the President said, we wage war not to conquer, but to liberate ourselves and our allies from the threat of death and destruction. In turn, this will bring liberation to the people of those threatening nations now ruled by the despotic and insane elites devoted to the Old Ways.

Our necessary battle is to keep our people safe and free, to free the people now in bondage...and, to keep the Idea bright and alive and available to all the world, so that, just like that American kid wondering under the great tree long ago, first-graders everywhere may be guaranteed the right to be whoever they are, whoever they want to become.

May God always bless America, and keep our President and troops and all our people safe from harm, and victorious in war.

(And, personally, may I add: I'm damn grateful for the American Idea...Thank You, Lord.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



From St. Matthew, Chapter 7:

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men
gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit
is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you, JWFIV!
An outstanding, from-the-heart essay!
MORE! MORE!

---

Photo credits to Diogenesis and his "Gotta See This" threads for the following photos:

1. the children in the classroom;
2. President Bush and Condoleeza Rice;
3. the little girl above with the baseball glove

03-29-05 ~ Hall of Fame #11

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 06-20-05 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Billie]

I'm glad Dolly pinged you, TBarnett. Thank you for coming, and glad you enjoyed the essay today.

[Billie]

I was sitting here with tears in my eyes thinking, "This is one of the best threads I've seen."

That's the kind of emotion I felt when he sent it to me before - I love the way he writes. If he'd just do more! We've only gotten three out of him, and it's been 3 years!(Time for another one, Mr. Fox) ;)

[Billie]

All I can say is WOW. I don't remember this thread at all so am so glad for a "repeat". Beautiful words and beautiful presentation. Thank you!

Thanks, dutchess. I like *WOW*. I'm glad I chose this one, too! It was January, 2003, when we posted it before - you may have been down in Florida then?

[Billie]

Thanks for reaching back and posting it again! Wonderful read!

Glad you enjoyed it!

I thought sure I'd see your post in a 'table' again though! :)

[Diver Dave]

2nd time around is just as good as the first. Thanks for the re-run.

Great presentation in word and graphics.

Atta-Boy, jwfiv!!!
Atta-Girl, Billie!!!

[Billie]

I'd forgotten all about this one, too ... it was like reading someone else's words except for a few hints that they were mine.

Afternoon, Mr. Fox - Holy smokes - it's hard not to recognize your words. :)

[Billie]

Thanks, Aqua. It's nice to have so many very special threads to revisit. Company 'napping' right now so I took the opportunity to stop back in.

You need to rest up today for that beautiful thread you're presenting tomorrow!

[Billie]

Hi Billie - great graphics. You like Anne Geddes?

Thanks, Dixie! No one can photograph babies like Anne Geddes! They are fabulous!

[Billie]

Afternoon, Mayor, thanks for the Words to live by.

[Billie]

Always can hardly wait for your post to fully open because the photos take my breath away. Our military is awesome!

[Billie]

I was just saying that you don't bring me flowers anymore.

Awwwww, I'm bringing you one right now. :)

[Billie]

Thank you so much, Dave. Will probably post the "Summer Vacation" thread again later this summer, too! Another great one! :)

[Billie]

POOF!! Gone again!

[deadhead]

Excellent jwfiv, you sure do have a way with words :-) Hope everyone is having a nice day.
Lovely presentation, Billie

Happy Summer Time FR's Finest

[GailA]

My body is finally adjusting to the standing. I am so tired when I get off that I mostly just crash on the couch.

[dixie sass]

She certainly has a knack for. By the way, when are you going to be showing some more of your art work and I don't mean what you do with the computer, I mean the beautiful work you do with ordinary tools such as pen and paint and paper?

[dixie sass]

Coleen, I just love the picture.

[deadhead]

Glad you love it, dixie. I did too as soon as I found it. Hope the artist doesn't mind that I posted it. I found it searching for a summer picture to post. The artist is Susan Rios and this is what was written about the painting...

"Seaside Memories" Susan's comments: "This piece has special meaning for me. I started it two weeks after 9/11. The figures in the painting are my dear friend Connie, her son Evan, and my granddaughter, Rosie. In the wake of the heartbreaking tragedy of 9/11, I needed to focus on the best of mankind and create something from that perspective. Overall, I believe more love expresses worldwide in everyday life than hate. That is what unites us, and that is where I choose to place my focus. "The mother in the painting expresses the nurturing element-being kind to each other, and being kind to ourselves. The children represent the hope and promise of the future, as well as innocence and love. The ocean is always about peace, tranquility and freedom. This painting is three people I dearly love and to me represents what each of us cherishes family, and treasuring those special moments spent together, creating "Seaside Memories."

[deadhead]

P.S. How is your new pup doing? And yourself? Haven't 'seen' you in a while

[Temple Owl]

Grandchildren are really neat!