Posted on 02/25/2010 6:48:14 PM PST by bootless
Rick's View (aka Tigerized, Proud Dad of a US Marine):
This was my first CPAC, and it didn't disappoint! We had come to CPAC to announce our upcoming book "Pursuing Liberty," and attending this conference was just incredible on so many levels. Imagine walking into a thriving community from the intellectual wilderness, and discovering (with very few exceptions) that all of the residents were highly motivated patriots, deeply concerned about our country's rapid slide into socialism.
In many ways, CPAC was the ideal place to introduce "Pursuing Liberty" to the public. What's "Pursuing Liberty?" It's a collection of ten true stories from America's newest legal citizens, who left everything behind in their former home countries to pursue their own American dreams. But more importantly, these same Americans are now horrified at our rapid plunge down the slippery slope of government tyranny and despotism, becoming very similar to the regimes they left behind.
Too many native-born Americans have little appreciation of their American birthright, bought and paid for with the blood and lives of our forefathers and our military. Sometimes it takes the perspective of someone who is just tasting America's freedoms and exceptionalism for the very first time to appreciate what we're so close to trading off for the false promises of a paternalistic government. As Ronald Reagan observed, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."
"Pursuing Liberty" is an unapologetic testimony to the necessity of restoring our American legacy, underscored by the true life experiences of those who gave up everything for the chance to drink from the unique well of American freedom.
Cory’s View (aka bootless, proud granddaughter of a Polish immigrant, and descendant of Signer Arthur Middleton):
Hello, FRiends. It’s been quite a journey! I know quite a few of you participated in my thread from about a year ago, inviting first-person accounts from Americans who immigrated from communist and other tyrannical countries. I truly appreciated your input and ideas, and have Freepmailed with a number of my FRiends throughout the process.
I was truly shaken after this last election. How in the world could so many people have been taken in? We now know there’s been a lot of buyer’s remorse, and many more people who weren’t surprised at what unfolded almost right away.
The idea for “Pursuing Liberty” came when I was on hold to talk with KSFO host Brian Sussman about a month before the election in ’08. (Brian graciously wrote the foreword to the book.) Alex, one of his regular callers, was on the line, and what he had to say stopped me in my tracks. You see, Alex came to America from the former Soviet Union. He said, “Please, don’t do this. Don’t elect Obama. He says he’s a moderate, but he’s not. I’ve heard these words before. I’ve seen this movie before... and it always ends badly. I came to America to escape communism. It’s the last, best hope for freedom on earth. If America isn’t free any more...where do I go?”
What could I have possibly said to follow that? Alex said it all. I was so moved by his story that I thought a collection of these stories needed to be published. It’s been a powerful, illuminating and truly humbling experience. Rick has it right. It’s become a cliche that we don’t appreciate what we’ve been born into: the freest nation God graced humanity with. The cold reality is, if we aren’t aware of what people are willing to leave to be free - and how it got that way - we’re in real danger of giving it away.
I was surprised to find a panel discussion on the CPAC schedule that addressed exactly what “Pursuing Liberty” is about: “Saving Freedom from Tyranny: Real-Life Experiences.” The ballroom was packed...and quiet. Three young men spoke: a future naval aviator who grew up in Russia, a young man from Britain whose intrusive government is already beyond immediate redemption, and another fine young man from Hungary. Their stories are everywhere.
Rick and I were both quite moved and inspired by some of the visitors at our booth. Some were tremendously motivated and enthusiastic. Others became visibly moved and almost shaken. A young lady dressed as Martha Washington told Rick about her former life in Serbia. Her words were urgent: “This is important!” I believe her.
After all these years, we’re each honored to be in the company of you patriots. Thank you. This book is not only something that we’d like to see each conservative read and share, but also the people in the middle, as well as the salvageable left. And especially, we’d like young people to read it, and share it. There were so many motivated, energized young people at CPAC, eager to rebel and take their country back from their radical progressive elders. I think armed with information like this, they can simply and effectively keep their friends from joining those radicals who are actively working to destroy our country. Many of them, like sn Freeper son bauerpauer, will be voting for the first time thsis year. Wouldn't it be something to have a better informed yong electorate this time around?
If you’d like to find out more, or to pre-order, we’ve got an active page on Facebook, as well as on Twitter. (It’ll be released on March 15.) Our website is live and being developed, but all the essential information is there. There’s a promo code for extra goodies, and even a discount for bulk orders.
Thanks, everyone. Freedom!
BUMP!!
That’s nice. What did the phags and the ACLU think of it?
Thanks! I’m trying to work the HTML to post the cover art. It’s beautiful.
I don’t know. I didn’t talk to them. There were a few pathetic lefty protestors and a couple of NPR types, but no one really paid much attention to them.
You are awesome. Thank you!
A bump for American Exceptionalism!
Ping for those interested!
Ali Veritas, would you be kind enough to hit your ping list?
Thanks so much! You were next on my ping list - thanks for beating me to it.
You’re welcome. We’ve got to support these conservative authors. I know many on the list will definitely want to buy it.
Thanks again! We’re excited and motivated. The new principal at my son’s school escaped from Bosnia when she was 14... I hope we can introduce this into the schools. My son’s Government/Econ teacher wants me to speak to his class of seniors this semester. I can’t wait.
Nothing overcomes propaganda like the straight truth.
To my FRiends of Lloyd Marcus.
Excellent.
To my FRiends from the original thread in May 2009...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2252510/posts
Thanks for the ping. This is beautiful.
You’re welcome. It is beautiful.
Elk: Yes, we have a story from Vietnam
All: sorry about the sticky keys towards the end of my post. Laptop is tired.
To more of my friends from the original thread...
:) Thank you... We have an interesting Facebook page going, too. We’ve been reposted by Cuban emigre Andy Garcia ... yes, the Oscar-nominated, freedom-loving, multiple-language-speaking gentleman. He’s been gracious beyond belief.
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.