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How Have We Become a Nation of Dumbies?
FreedomFriend | 10/21/01 | Freedom Friend

Posted on 10/21/2001 12:54:14 PM PDT by FreedomFriend

I'm posting this topic in an effort to try to get a grip on the insanity that plagues this country. Generally speaking, I know the reasons, but it is without logic why our country continues to spiral out of control towards oblivion in regards to political, social, and cultural traits. Thus, without further ado, I will try to explain some of the many examples.

In regard to politics, how can our politicians continue to promote policies that expand government control. Furthermore, how can they neglect to get involved in those areas that are constitutionally given? Not only that, but how can some politicians promote the elimination of various examples of American Rights and, or, Freedoms?

For example, how can our federal government neglect to protect our borders? They do this through their underfunding of the border patrol; a unit of a mere 7000 agents, whereas the NYC police has roughly 30,000 cops. Meanwhile, illegal aliens, non-assimilating individuals, enemies of America, drugs, etc. continue to easily "break-through" our borders. As a result, our culture is under constant attack and is continuously broken down. Not only that, but how can the government, under the guise of public schools, continue to promote an insane mantra known as "Multiculturalism" and "Diversity" despite the known damaging effects and divisionary tactics that have been proven throughout history? How can many of our politicians push for gun control, the destruction of the family unit through Homosexual marriage, benefits, etc, and the elimination of free speech through hate crimes legislation? How can our government be so in-line with what the liberal, socialist elite say and believe? For example, it appears that our policies align themselves up with what the media says, though it is on a ten year delay. How can all of these things be happening to such a great country, though the majority of individuals, deep-down, resent it?

As it appears, there is no "We the People". The people have so little say. It is the socialist elite throughout the media, the government, and the Universities that dictate nearly the entire direction of this country; a bleak one. If good, moral men speak up, the media silences them through the slandering of their names. If good men with GREAT ideas run for public office, many of the campaign contributers, aka big business, will not back them. Thus, they cannot get their views out to the people in comparison to the frontleaders who merely stand for the status-quo; that is, a continuation of socialism and the elimination of freedoms, morals, decency, etc. As it stands, it appears that the government, the media, the schools/universities, and big business (to less of an extent) has been sabotaged by people who hate traditional America and true Americanism.

I often think about the state of things. I wonder why many honorable businesses, organizations, etc. do not put their money together and purchase various thought-disseminating institutions such as networks, newspapers, etc. It simply doesn't make sense. Unless the haters of America do not want to sell, are there really too few financially-rich individuals who have America's best interests at heart, instead caring about how they are perceived or their financial assets?

Are there really too few individuals in congress to speak up for what's right? That is, the Constitution, honor, values, morals, Freedom, etc. I don't get it. Why don't some of our House and Senate members speak with angst on the House and Senate floors? Why don't they set the record straight and come out against the enemies of America by telling the American people what is going on, or by showing some emotion towards American haters in our own government?

As it stands, it appears that all it'd take would be for some honorable, dutiful men to occupy our government. Even the ones who are on our side often do not look like it. With God-fearing, Constitution loving men, we could stop the slide and reverse the trend. However, we're not doing nor seeing that. I only can pray that things change.


TOPICS: Announcements; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: classicthread; dumbies; greatthreads; hijackedthreads; thisishugh; thisisseries; zot
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To: FreedomFriend
Let's scrap this. I have no time for bs.

No time for b's?

Oh, but you had time to put the b in 'dumbies'....

381 posted on 10/22/2001 12:38:29 PM PDT by Cogadh na Sith
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To: FreedomFriend
No, it should be, "a vanity", as in "a vanity post".

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
- Ecclesiastes 1:2 (KJV)

382 posted on 10/22/2001 12:43:59 PM PDT by Ward Smythe
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To: ThreadKiller; FreedomFriend
It is important to remember that not all on-line communication is equal. For instance, I don't expect the same level of grammar and spelling in a chat room as I do in an on-line newspaper reporting on a feature story that has been in the works for weeks on end. In the former, one types on the fly, with speed being the essence, and without the expectation that the words typed will last any longer than the chat session (logs notwithstanding). In the latter, each word is expected to be weighted carefully as the novel is essentially forever. There is no real pressure to type something "right this instant", and there is a staff of proofreaders whose sole job is to eliminate errors such as typographical and grammatical.

The Free Republic forum is a lot closer to the latter than the former. The words typed here do last forever (unless yanked by the moderators for violating the posting guidelines), and there is relatively little pressure to type something "right this instant". However, there is no staff who looks for typographical errors (unless you happen to have someone else at the desk while you preview your post), and there is no spell-check or grammar-check built into the posting system.

What is truly key on the forums is having a coherent and well-supported point. Proper grammar and spelling do help a lot in making the point coherent, but the occassional slip usually doesn't ruin the point beyond the point of readability. Conversely, you could post something that is grammatically and typographically perfect, yet if it doesn't have a coherent, well-supported and persuasive point, you'll almost certainly be ridiculed for it.

383 posted on 10/22/2001 2:01:17 PM PDT by steveegg
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To: FreedomFriend
Well gee......look at it this way.....your post was not in vain.

This is the best, most genuine laugh I've had all day.

...sorry, not at your expense.....but gee louise, our FReepers can't be reigned in when they start with the sarcasm & humor.

Just chill & enjoy!........you'll be long remembered :))

384 posted on 10/22/2001 4:51:45 PM PDT by Guenevere
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To: FreedomFriend; Cuttnhorse
...I felt like I articulated my thought rather well in "a couple of paragraphs". At least many others thought so...

The fact that "many others thought so" is irrelevant. They were wrong. This essay is not well-written.

Here's an example of what I mean from your first sentence:

I'm posting this topic in an effort to try to get a grip on the insanity that plagues this country.

Using four (4) prepositional phrases in a row is not usually the best way to say something clearly

And from the very next sentence:

..to spiral out of control towards oblivion in regards to political...

You did it again.

Your informal style is fine, and your writing really does show signs of your trying for clarity (like using questions and transitions to help the reader). But for me, it is virtually unreadable.

Your writing reminds me of a guy who has posted here many times. I can't recall his name, but he is a Star Trek fan and he writes editorials for a Star Trek web site. Are you the same guy?

385 posted on 10/22/2001 6:04:36 PM PDT by Flashlight
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To: Flashlight
was that person pompous? I thought it was a female...but he/she appears to have a dictionary that says that dumbie is acceptable...LOL
386 posted on 10/22/2001 6:36:36 PM PDT by ruoflaw
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To: Fred25
You are not alone

If you think you're being watched, you're not alone.

387 posted on 10/22/2001 8:54:36 PM PDT by Richard Kimball
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To: steveegg
Yes...we usually communicate in the vernacular of the chatroom! When friends "sit around the fire" to bat around some ideas, we don't usually feel the need to edit and do re-writes! That's just TOO DAMNED MUCH WORK!!!!
388 posted on 10/22/2001 9:07:13 PM PDT by bannie
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To: ruoflaw
was that person pompous?...

I wouldn't say he was any more pompous than anyone else. His reactions are perfectly normal.

When I graduated from college I worked for weeks on a resume, and I was proud of how great it was. My friends were impressed with it. I proudly showed it to a career counselor. Her immediate reation was: "I wouldn't hire anybody who gave me a resume like this piece of junk."

Of course, I thought, "What does she know?".

In later years I realized she had done me a great favor in bluntly tearing my proud work to shreads. When I look at it now I realize it *was* a piece of junk, and she did me a great favor in bluntly telling me so.

So, I guess I wouldn't call that "pompous", only a "normal reaction."

389 posted on 10/22/2001 11:42:10 PM PDT by Flashlight
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To: Flashlight
Your informal style is fine, and your writing really does show signs of your trying for clarity (like using questions and transitions to help the reader). But for me, it is virtually unreadable.

If you can't read it, then there is something wrong with you. Perhaps Hooked On Phonics would be more up your alley. Or for an alternative, the "Little Engine that Could" might suit you better.

390 posted on 10/23/2001 10:00:31 AM PDT by FreedomFriend
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To: ruoflaw
I don't why you had the idea that I was a female. I'm one hundred percent male.
391 posted on 10/23/2001 10:02:23 AM PDT by FreedomFriend
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To: Flashlight
When I graduated from college I worked for weeks on a resume, and I was proud of how great it was. My friends were impressed with it. I proudly showed it to a career counselor. Her immediate reation was: "I wouldn't hire anybody who gave me a resume like this piece of junk."

Of course, I thought, "What does she know?".

In later years I realized she had done me a great favor in bluntly tearing my proud work to shreads. When I look at it now I realize it *was* a piece of junk, and she did me a great favor in bluntly telling me so.

I'm sure that your resume was fine. I've seen examples of "superior resumes" that similar counselors say that we should model. In my opinion, there is very little difference. It's all a matter of perception. I could understand if there were major flaws. However, most of the time, the "flaws" are a few words structured differently. Neither way is correct, and most employers agree. The counselors are critical because it guarantees them a job. Look at it like this. A friend of mine, a grad student English instructor, took his resume to the career center. They verbally chewed it up. It goes with the territory. I'm convinced that they "rip" every resume.

392 posted on 10/23/2001 10:13:26 AM PDT by FreedomFriend
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To: FreedomFriend
Come to think of it, didn't a pregnant Chad have twin Chaddies called DUMBO ansd DUMBIE
393 posted on 10/23/2001 4:12:04 PM PDT by exmoor
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To: FreedomFriend
...if you can't read it, then there is something wrong with you....Perhaps Hooked On Phonics ...(or) the "Little Engine that Could" might suit you better....

Thanks for the reading suggestions. Though I have the reading disability you mentioned, I do read a lot, and I always love to get recomendations from others. If there are any other books that you've enjoyed and think that I would also, please let me know. To return the favor, I think you might enjoy any book by Louis Sachar (especially "There's A Boy In The Girl's Bathroom" and "Sixth Grade Secrets"). I've read these many times and they're still my favorites.

Also, interestingly enough, my reading disability makes it very easy for me to spot bad writing. It's like I have a built-in bad-writing radar. I seriously tried over and over to read your essay and understand it. But it was just so painful, I had to give up. I'll admit, though, that I read it again today, and I'm understanding more of what you're trying to say.

394 posted on 10/24/2001 1:28:31 AM PDT by Flashlight
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To: FreedomFriend
I'm sure that your resume was fine. I've seen examples of "superior resumes" that similar counselors say that we should model. In my opinion, there is very little difference. It's all a matter of perception. I could understand if there were major flaws. However, most of the time, the "flaws" are a few words structured differently. Neither way is correct, and most employers agree. The counselors are critical because it guarantees them a job. Look at it like this. A friend of mine, a grad student English instructor, took his resume to the career center. They verbally chewed it up. It goes with the territory. I'm convinced that they "rip" every resume.

(note: I am *not* kidding or trying to be funny or sarcastic in this post. If there's a smiley-face for "I'm being serious" then imagine it here.)

I had to copy an paste your entire reply here because it was written so well. *This* is what I call good writing. I'm now wondering why, if you have the ability to write this well, you wrote your essay in a way that, for me anyway, was so much harder to understand.

As to the substance of the post, I agree and disagree. While it's probably true that my resume would have worked fine for most employers, at the same time I can assure you it was nothing to be proud of.

But anyway, don't take offense at anything I say. In my humble (yeah, right) opinion, your reply-post above shows you've got the talent and ability to write very well.

395 posted on 10/24/2001 2:18:32 AM PDT by Flashlight
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To: Flashlight
Thank you. Furthermore, I apologize if I was a little hard on you.
396 posted on 10/26/2001 12:36:39 AM PDT by FreedomFriend
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To: AMERIKA
I was wondering how long it would take...

(lol!)

397 posted on 11/06/2001 6:38:09 PM PST by jonno
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To: gcruse
Fifteen yards for piling on, and replay the down.

Since this has officially become the "correct every mistake you see" thread, I want to point out that this penalty came after the play so you don't replay the down. (It might an automatic first down - he had better hope so because it's 3rd and about 50 after all of the false start penalties he took.)

398 posted on 11/11/2002 1:58:40 PM PST by Gil4
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To: Gil4
Good heavens! You are currently reading October of last year? Hurry and get caught up. The 2002 election turns
out great!
399 posted on 11/11/2002 2:16:21 PM PST by gcruse
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To: gcruse
How about that - that is a 2001 there, isn't it. Someone linked to it today and I thought it was just a couple of weeks old, so I figured I'd bring it back to life, especially since post #379 said "This thread will go on fourever.........."

The thread that sent me there was another classic - even the admin moderator got into the spirit of things..

400 posted on 11/11/2002 4:03:01 PM PST by Gil4
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