[judicial meanz]

Good for you John! Keep up the good work.

[Paradox]

Awesome! As a former liberal and Democrat, I'd like to congratulate you not only for your political persuasion, but for what you have actually DONE for your beliefs!

[BreitbartSentMe]

Welcome Jon!

You're not alone, there were many eyes opened on 9/11 and during the aftermath. I applaud your actions. We all need to take a cue from our president, lead by example.

[Desecrated]

Count me in that category. Never took much of a stand either way before 9-11, but the actions and words of the left since then have disgusted me. This was mainly caused by the chorus of voices saying, "What did we do to deserve this?" after 9-11.

Coming from a proud military background, having close friends/relatives on the ground in Iraq and Israel certainly made it a bit more personal for me.

[b4its2late]

I'm glad you left the darkside.

Welcome aboard!

[GOP_1900AD]

Indeed, sometimes it takes a shock to the system to be awakened. Prior to 1996, I was a "moderate" who believed in a squishy middle set of ideas that would have made both Bush Sr. and Klintoon proud. Well before the writing of "The Lexus and the Olive Tree" I blindly followed a similar naive, globalist, America-last policy and even helped to industrialize, and by extension arm, our enemies, most notably the PRC but also other players to the West of them who are now showing their true colors. What woke me up personally was being in Taiwan in 1996 when the PLAAF were threatening to nuke the island with IRBMs. That was the crack in the dam and started me along the road of questioning my assumptions. By the time of the EP-3 attack, I was well along the way. 9-11 hardened my stance even further. And hence, my handle, stating that I am un-PC even to many who call themselves "conservatives" but in the end who always compromise rather than fight. Which therefore begets the statement Right makes right. In otherwords, classical Rightism, which is the defense of our Western protective strata of church, home and nation state, puts one, ultimately, in the right position both morally and geopolitically. Welcome aboard Jon!

[spookycc]

Hey, John, way to go!

You story sounds a LOT like mine, except that you've done more with your newfound "politics" than I have.

I was a non-practicing 'cRAT until 9/11. After I saw Dubya at ground zHero on 9/14, I joined the RNC and signed up for the Freedom Corps (no one has EVER contacted me from that group, even though I've contacted the head of the local chapter).

I travelled to NYC in August of 2002 - a pilgrimage to ground zHero. It was empty, and sad. I'd never been to NYC before, but I felt *pulled* there.

I did some emailing for protests, etc, but not much until I found Free Republic, this year. Since then I've FReeped a local peace rally and have been to a Rally for America (Auburn, Indiana - 12,000-15,000 people).

I feel like I've found a home here. I don't post a lot, but so many people here feel like I do, post-9/11. My soulmate and I thought we were "the only ones" who felt the way we do, about America, about Dubya, about boycotts, etc...

It was great to find out we're not alone!

[foto]

Keep it up, alot of eyes were opened on that day including mine. Starting with my joining the NRA and GOA membership rolls during the campaign of AL Gore for president, every new event seems to push me further away from the darkside. Big question for myself is always, how the h*** didn't I see this all before?

[Tamzee]

You are an inspiration, now another among the many here at Free Republic :-)

[OldBlondBabe]

My eyes were opened during the 2000 presidential election. I'm not quite as activist as you, but I do my best to keep myself informed. I also write letters to my local papers, and to my representatives. (I've sent various E-mails to Senators Levin and Stabenow, although I know it doesn't do a damn bit of good.)

[WOSG]

Thanks for a great article.

We all have a duty to our country. 9-11 shook us out of complacency.

I am a Reagan Conservative and been a conservative since I realized that Socialism leads to poverty, high tax rates destroy prosperity, and Government should be supporting families not undermining them. ... but since 9-11 I am less concerned about my pocketbook and more concerned with the fact that many in the world LACK BASIC FREEDOM. I dont want them growing up to be terrorists. It's why even though I am a small Government conservatives, I fully support our current war on terror and the war to liberate Iraq.

Our interests (US security) and our Ideals (freedom) point in the same direction: We stand for human liberty.

A paraphrase from President George W Bush tonight, who I fully support.

[Susannah]

That covers a lot of territory. And an excellent reminder of how much we value FREEDOM.

p.s.: time for a replacement of one 'ism' for the lefties:


"Then there's the matter of the source of many of Joe's accusations – accusations being proved by release of the so-called Venona intercepts of Soviet cable traffic whose code was broken back in the mid-forties and remained top secret until recently.

These intercepted cables proved that there were over 350 Americans spying for the Soviets, and enabled investigators to identify about half of them. Joe McCarthy had access to the information contained in the top secret Venona intercepts – access given him by J. Edgar Hoover and others concerned with the extent of Soviet espionage and penetration.

But he could not defend himself against charges of recklessly accusing people of being Soviet agents by revealing the source of his information without alerting the Soviets that some of their most important secrets were known to U.S. intelligence.

One of the more revealing admissions recently made by the left was Carl Bernstein's quote from his father, who, with Carl's mother, was a top Communist Party member. Here's what Bernstein recalls his father warning him when his 1989 book, "Loyalties: A Son's Memoir," was published:
"You're going to prove [Sen. Joseph] McCarthy was right, because all he was saying is that the system was loaded with Communists. And he was right. ...
I'm worried about the kind of book you're going to write and about cleaning up McCarthy. The problem is that everybody said he was a liar; you're saying he
was right. ... I agree that the Party was a force in the country."

[exDemMom]

Welcome to the Right side.

As you might be able to tell from my screen name, I, too, have made the journey. For me, it was long and difficult, and the events which set me on the path culminated with the nomination of Klintoon, whom I perceived is a psychopath, and whose nomination and election profoundly horrified me. I'm so glad you have been able to join us.

Anyway, 36 might be too old to enlist in the Army, but it's not too old for a commission, if you're qualified. (I know this because I'm older than you and have applied for a commission...still waiting to find out if they accept me.) Goarmy.com has information on officer specialties and eligibility requirements.

[dubyagee]

A BUMP for your awakening! A good piece, I enjoyed it.

[moodyskeptic]

Welcome, my children. You have discovered the guilty pleasure of intelligent company. Freepers are smart, funny, kind people, if you've been to a public event with Freepers, you know what I mean. We love our kids, our country and the simple pleasures afforded by a free nation.

The left is desperate, hateful and humorless.

[OOPisforLiberals]

Fantastic thread. Thought I'd share my story. Not necessarily a "conversion" - more like a galvanization of views I never consciously knew I had.

I'm 27 and graduated from college in 1997. I'm a professional programmer/engineer and we tend to be fairly detached from real world events. I didn't really have a lot of strong political views - I just never really thought about it. I currently work in a weird setting - a video game company - where you tend to have this interesting dichotomy between artists and programmers. Artists, predictably, tend to be liberal to hardline-liberal. The programmers veer centrist to conservative. I suppose its odd because everyone really gets along with each other because politics are very much in the background.

Anyway, in the back of my mind I had the ghostly programming of "Republicans == white guys == bad for all the usual reasons". I was always skeptical of religion and the massively anti-religious views of the left were subconsciously appealing. I believed in non-discrimination and rights for all (still do!) since I saw them as self-evident assertions. The "common wisdom" is that evil Republicans are anti-all-that-stuff, right? I think -that- little gem is one of the left's most powerful weapons. Take clearly valid beliefs and say "but THOSE guys think they're bad!". People who don't tend to be involved in political discussion just buy it flat out. That's how they set the hook like a Flashking Wobbler on a smallmouth.

The clincher of the whole deal was simply : the NRA. Several years back the NRA ran a series of very long TV ads highlighting gun confiscation in Australia and Britain. The spokeswoman was a classic White Lady (its uncanny and ironic how the liberal mind is the one that immediately seizes on race) breathlessly talking about "owning guns!". I thought - wow, what a bunch of psychos. I even brought it up to a buddy at work - solemn nods all around. Only later would I realize that that was a purely programmed, reflexive response. You're -supposed- to hate guns and the NRA! (the irony here will become apparent shortly).

Around a year later I found myself bored. I started looking for a new hobby. At one point I came up with - shooting. As a kid I spent MANY summer months up in Maine with my dad terrorizing Pepsi cans with a .22. I absolutely loved it. I thought "you know, I'd like to get into target shooting with some -real- firepower". Research began. It didn't take but a day or two on the internet and a HUGE light bulb dinged over my head. "Wait a minute, I hate the NRA don't I?". I live in Illinois - gun control Mecca of the whole US. Can't even own a .22 (can't even SHOOT one with a friend) without a state-issued license (the FOID). I plowed through reams of gun control stuff on the net. I realized that gun control was truly anathema to me - the NRA mirrored my views -exactly-

And from that point, it was all over. I was so intensely shocked to see that a.) I absolutely loved shooting and always had since I was a kid b.) I reflexively, almost instinctively thought the NRA and everything it stood for was crazy. A big WTF moment. Like the sun coming up, it dawned on me - I was a conservative - and moreover I was PISSED at having been so manipulated by liberalism. The more I learn about the effects of liberalism - its "plots" and plans - the dirtier I feel. Ugh.

Guns were simply the catalyst which opened my eyes WIDE on how things really were. One issue after another - I realized what a crock liberalism is. Its a -shadow- of what it used to stand for. These days its simply about controlling others. Liberalism is frankly, anti-liberal. I'm not particularly religious these days, but that's the closest thing to an epiphany I could ever imagine.

As for 9-11 : I was long past my conversion. But there was one significant change I made in my life. I own several guns. I never kept ammo around unless I was going shooting in the next few days. On my way home from work early 9-11 morning, I CHANGED that policy for good. I always keep a little reserve ammo around these days.

[Rate_Determining_Step]

Acutally a lot of people are in the same boat. Hey, I, my partents, their parents, etc. never thought much about politics. There's more important things going on right now.

Whether or not we admit it, we've all been there. Then there's Ron Silver who went from being a no-think shrill for the Clintons (with a bit of self-study and re-examination of what's important) to an articulate, staunch defender of the President and our policies. You could have bet me a thousand dollars Silver would have done this and took my money. He appears to not lost any of his fire. It's just refocused. And, of course when coupled with the facts makes it even more potent.

I also think a lot of American Jews woke up on 9/11. I know a dozen people who never gave a second thought to politics and international affairs, but now are plugged in like the best of us. You're not alone.

I however, saw this coming. After 8 years of Clinton and Les "What will they think?!" Aspen I knew our enemies were embolden like never before. I only shudder what would have happened had Gore won the state of Tennesee.

[LibWhacker]

You are the reason why I predict Dubya will win in a landslide in 2004. 9-11 shocked a lot of people out of their apathy and/or out of their leftwing mindset. Even many democrats will vote Republican in '04, because to vote for a democratic presidential candidate at this point can only suit someone with a death wish. Welcome aboard, Jon -- and thanks!

[wayoverontheright]

Great Post!.

Reports of innocent stewardesses being slashed with box cutters infuriated me. The cold-blooded murder of 3000 of my fellow Americans filled me with rage.

I too, felt rage and couldn't believe the obvious lack of any feeling whatsoever from those on the left. I said to myself and others,"It's as if it wasn't their country that was attacked".

What we all have to realize about the left is that it WASN'T their country, because membership in the left requires an anti-capitalist bent, which dictates that over time, anything which involves American might also involves the possibility that the CAUSE of capitalism will be furthered, and those on the left have to, little by little, establish mental residency somewhere else in order to continue to receive the warm fuzzy associated with being a part of the left, perched as it is so high above the rest of us.

[jhw61]

Excellent! Your an inspiration...truly. I find our Commander-in-Chief so inspirational too. He is constantly talking about bettering neighbors, kids, in a such a real regular way...I find myself constantly talking out loud and cheering him on, cheering myself on too!