Happy Thanksgiving from a Newbie.

11/28/02 | Me

[Sparta]

I've only been on Free Republic for slightly less than a month. I've had some interesting flame wars, met a lot of interesting people, and found a refuge from the politically correct. BTW: I've learned a lot and had a lot of fun doing. All I want to say is Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and yours and God Bless everyone of you.

[knak]

Same to you! Happy Thanksgiving freepers!

[Cindy]

Thanksgiving Blessings to Everyone on FreeRepublic.com

[JohnHuang2]

Same to you and yours, and welcome aboard!

[Taiwan Bocks]

Thank you kindly!

God bless you too, and God bless America.

[jdontom]

I've had some interesting flame wars.

Only one month on board and you'er holding your own without getting banned. Thats an accomplishment!

Welcome to FR and Happy Thanksgiving to All FReepers.......

[Dubya]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU SPARTA.

[Sparta]

If this means anything, I'm averaging one pulled post a day.

[jla]

You have a very Happy Thanksgiving, Sparta.
And don't ya forget to rally the troops for our next U.S. Senator...Suzanne Terrell!

[HighRoadToChina]

Happy Thanksgiving to the great one! Didn't even know that you are new. I am also realtively new to FR.

Wouldn't it be cool if Mel Gibson directed and starred in a movie on the Battle of Thermopylea? The Gates of Fire!

[Reagan Man]

So far, you've had a lot to say. Problem is, its been mostly whining, complaining and bitchen. =^)

Having said that, I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving and may God bless you and yours.

[Sparta]

Thermopylea=Thermopylae

Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

[JennysCool]

Happy Thanksgiving! I notice you mentioned the "flame wars" very early in your post, and I would just mention that although "wars" there may be, FR people usually are the ones who reinforce your right to your opinions, offer constructive criticisms, assist with your struggles, and just generally keep you moving. Other sites may pride themselves on the intensity of their "flames," but FR is a WHOLE different animal. I'll be hittin' the showers, now, cause this has been WAY too series...Enjoy the turkey!

[Sparta]

Thank you and the same to a honorable foe.

[Sparta]

BTW: I went on your profile page and saved the picture of Bush's speech. Thanks for putting it there.

[Libertina]

Happy Thanksgiving!
Glad to have you here, Sparta!

[Billthedrill]

Happy Thanksgiving and welcome to FR. Something extraordinary is happening here. It's the time, it's the technology, it's the people. Nothing quite like this has happened on this scale before in history, and I do not exaggerate. JimRob's got him a rocket ride here and I hope it doesn't kill him. The rest of us, well, we're the beneficiaries, and if we're good enough, maybe in a small way each of us can help build it, whatever the hell it is. Welcome aboard, strap in, and hang on.

[Valin]

You're not REALLY a freeper until you've been flamed. :-)

[Reagan Man]

You're welcome.

[chnsmok]

The Battle of Thermopylae took place during the Greece-Persia war in roughly the 5th century BC. Some 30 city-states of central and southern Greece met in Corinth to devise a common defense (others, including the oracle at Delphi, sided with the Persians). They agreed on a combined army and navy under Spartan command, with the Athenian leader Themistokles providing the strategy. The Spartan king Leonidas led the army to the pass at Thermopylae, near present-day Lamia, the main passage from northern into central Greece.

One of the best points at which to hold off an invader was at Thermopylae, a narrow valley adjacent to the sea. The attacker could not pass to the seaward side, and to go inland would mean a significant detour. Other armies could risk this, but Xerxes could not.

On the other hand, a defender could take a stand with comparatively few men. A wall had once been built here, and a small fort. The Greeks rebuilt the wall and waited.

The Greek strategy was to delay the land force and to defeat the Persians at sea, then starve the Persian army. It should have worked, but from the beginning everything seemed to go wrong.

To begin with, the Greek army was surprised to see the Persians arrive so soon. They had hoped to get more reinforcements. On the other side, Xerxes had excellent information and knew that the Greeks were waiting for him. He set up camp on the plain below the pass. He was confident, but the army was so large that it could not afford to wait in any one place for very long.

He sent scouts up the valley to ascertain the nature of the opposition. The Spartans had duty on the outside wall, where they were waiting watchfully. The scouts were astounded to see the Spartans doing calisthenics and braiding their hair. Xerxes could not believe they intended to fight against hopeless odds. He announced his presence and waited four days for them to leave.

The Greeks did not leave. Exasperated, and aware of his supply situation, Xerxes ordered an attack on the fifth day. He sent the Medes against the Greeks, ordering Spartans be taken alive, so confident he was of easy victory.

The Spartans retreated, running away, even to the point of turning their backs on the enemy. The Medes, sure that they were winning the victory they had expected, broke ranks to pursue, whereupon the Spartans turned and fought savagely. After sharp fighting, the Medes were defeated.

Xerxes now sent in the Immortals, his best troops. The Spartans employed the same strategy, with the same results. Xerxes was furious. Another day's fighting yielded no better for the Persians.

The fighting was all the more remarkable in that the Greeks had failed utterly in the sea battle and the Persians had complete control of the sea. The sole purpose now for the battle was to delay the inevitable as long as possible.

At this point, treachery undid their heroic efforts.

Ephialtes, a man from Malis, went to King Xerxes and told him that he knew of a goat path that went around the Greek position and debouched behind their lines. After initial skepticism, Xerxes discovered the man was telling the truth. He made his preparations.

The Greeks knew of the path, of course. There were, in fact, more than one path, winding among the mountains. The men of Phocis were posted on the most likely path, but the Persians slipped past them by way of a different path under cover of night.

The Greeks learned of the treachery near morning. They would barely have time to escape from the trap. Leonidas told the other Greeks to return home, to fight another day, but the Spartans stayed. The Thespians and Thebans joined them. There were no more than a few thousand who stayed.

Greeks knew they were about to die and they fought all the more fiercely for it. The Spartans put up the stoutest resistance, taking their stand on a little hill and fighting in a circle facing outward with enemies all around.

When Leonidas was killed, he was some distance away. Some of the Spartans formed a tight group, fought their way to his body, picked it up, then fought their way back to the main group on the hill.

The Persians seemed utterly unable to annihilate the last 300 Spartans. They demanded the body of Leonidas in return for the Spartan's lives, but the men refused to abandon the body of their King, declaring: "A Spartan leaves the field with his shield or upon it"

At last, the Spartans were killed by a hail of spears and arrows, the Persians fearing to close with these fearsome warriors.

I can see Mel in this movie.