It seems to consume a lot of energy to be involved in these activities that is largely cathartic. Unfortunately I guess most people aren’t too adept at ignoring stuff like the behavior of retards so well.
Rarely a Friday goes by that we are not greeted by Walter Reed patients coming and going from the hospital thanking us for keeping Code Pink down the street away from the gate.
You think I can’t find better things to do on a Friday night? You think I wouldn’t rather be out drinking with my buds shooting pool or taking the wife out to dinner and a movie? Or just plopping down in front of the TV relaxing? Especially during the winter when it gets g-d awful cold and miserable.
Catharsis?!
You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.
Are you on our DC Chapter list by mistake?
I have to wonder why I see posts like yours ("What you guys do is worthless") on a pretty regular basis and I never see posts asking "So, do you guys know of any effect these demonstrations have?" or "I used to do these demonstrations, but after finding that they had no effect I stopped, so you should, too."
In other words, it appears that those on FR who criticize we street Freeper types are folk who have no idea what they're talking about, but consider themselves experts all the same. And not only experts, but experts who feel like they're qualified to tell the rest of us what to do with our Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. That's not arrogant at all...
I've had military members and their families thank me for what I do, and have had the honor of being thanked for it personally by WWII veteran, including a Pearl Harbor survivor and one guy who wrote to the newspaper to thank us just weeks before his death. I've also been thanked by Vietnam vets and have been joined by them on my corner and asked to march with them in the Memorial Day parade on the basis of my troop support work alone. No veteran or family member has ever told me what I do is a waste of time. I'll take their judgement over yours, thanks.
mbraynard, you owe every single member of the DC Chapter of Free Republic an apology.
These people who use their Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays to let the troops know that not everyone feels the same way the Code Pinkos do, are some of the most dedicated, patriotic and compassionate people I have ever met. They have taken their precious personal time and gone to Walter Reed EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT.
While the rest of us sit on our asses, the DC Freepers are out there, rain, shine or snow. You think they have no personal life, something they would rather be doing with their time?
You owe them all an apology. I suggest you reply to all on this thread and issue a heartfelt apology if you don’t want your name to be mud on FR.
I just read your post and must say that you have missed the point of FREEPING. This is a personal commitment to individual and personal goals. Each Freeper could give you a slightly different reason for attending.
I travel a long distance to show my support for the troops who make it safe for me here in America. I look for no more recognition than my own satisfaction that the protests I remember do not go unanswered, again.
How many times do we participate with a group or experience an activity that is totally an unselfish and positive event?
I am sorry you can not see this activity as I do, but hope you are finding another way to support the troops, weekly.
Would you like me to give your post to a mother who has just lost her 21 yr old son to an IED bomb? When the WBC creeps are outside saying her son is a fag & ranting & raving...Singing God hates America? Or is it better to try to shield the parents from these creeps? Does it take my time & do I lose money from taking off from work.....Yes. But it is worth it. For every parent that can see the PGR come & honor their deceased child & perhaps comfort them it is worth it. I would rather do that then just sit & ignore these sickos. You think ignoring them will make them go away? You are ignorant. Read up on Fred Phelps & the WBC.