Posted on 04/01/2005 9:51:33 PM PST by Bob J
For those of you who don’t know, Jim and the mods treat old timers a little different than newbies. They get a little more slack, a few more mulligans than those who signed up in last four years or so.
I always wondered if that was a good policy. After all, why should the crusty buggers be treated any differently than someone who signed up last week? Are they more intelligent, are their arguments more cohesive…persuasive? Do they have any more or less to contribute to this community we call the Free Republic? Not necessarily.
But they do have one thing new participants don’t and that is perspective. In a way us curmudgeons can help provide a sense of continuity and historical perspective to events that newcomers cannot. Sometimes, we are the glue the bridges Free Republic from one crisis to the next. I believe the recent Sciavo issue is one of those times so I am going to ante again and prove to Jim that his investment is worthy of it’s returns. I ask other old timers to chime in and pull their weight as well.
The Forum has a history of going through upheavels in terms of political philosophy and/or cultural standards, this is not unusual for a community such as outs. The first thing we need to understand is that the conservative movement is made up of many individuals with different motivations. For example, some are economic minded, some are culturally based, some are second amendment supporters and others view their vision on religious principles. Sometimes these differences can cause us to reevaluate our alliances. But that would be a mistake. The left is counting on us tearing ourselves apart from within for that is the very philosophy upon which their strategy is based…foment division and hatred then attack at the breach. It has worked well for them in the past and they count on it working again for them now and in the future.
My humble opinion and suggestion to all is in these times of contention and confusion, that we remind ourselves who the real enemy is and where the battles ought to be fought. On more than one occasion I have had firefights on FR with individuals who later I found myself sitting next to in a foxhole when we were fighting the real enemy…the militant left. I berated myself for some of the things I had posted and wished I could take them back. For here was my true brother or sister, sitting in the foxhole with me, taking hits with me, helping to lead the bravest charge at our direst moment. How could I have been so thoughtless in my moment of indulgence?
We may divided, on occasion, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that we are all brothers and sisters fighting the good fight against those who would enslave us and our children into bondage for generations. Argue the good argument, stand on principle, but let’s not forget we are all ultimately on the same team. The man or woman you trash today might be the brave soul who saves your behind tomorrow.
Let’s keep out eye on the ball.
I had a post removed the day Terri died ... I did ask the admin to remove it though
Myself joining on 11/01/01 lurking for about a years time before.I think back then most lurked for a longtime before they joined Now so many just find us join and post. Sometimes I wish The mods and Jim were tougher with those gnu-b's. I aint so sure I'm still not a gnu-b when I see a thread you or some one else from the 90's post.
I guess I'm saying thanks for sticking it out.
RB <><
Darn ... I missed by 27 days .... can I get a waiver
Great "anti-opus" thoughts. And, oh, so true as I rely on most of the "old-timers" perspectives to keep my point of view in based in reality.
You are so VERY right ...
I never want to hear another word about Terri Schaivo as long as I live. The whole matter has turned into a schoolyard brawl where people are kicking dirt on each other and calling each other names, and there is no room at all for honest dissent. And the phrase "value life" is narrowly defined by the people who are screaming the loudest and least interested in honest debate. Either you agree with them 100% or you are a Nazi who doesn't "value life". That's not a discussion.
If you are so convinced that you are right, why do you have to beat other people over the head and demand that we all agree with you or you'll kill us?
Well said Bob. Just thinking back to some of the huge topics that dominated FreeRepublic...Y2K, *every* election, Elian, Whitewater, Vince Foster...etc. one comes to realize that what is constant is the thread of conservatism that runs through them all. Us old timers are the conservative base that helps to guarantee that the board never goes to far leftward no matter how far politics and culture go to the left.
Give it another year and then I might pass the test.
Count me in.
I'm sure a thunderous hoard would agree! LOL.
If they didn't monitor here, they would indeed be foolish. And since they're really not as stupid as their actions would suggest and some here say they are, the old/Dem/liberal/socialist media surely does check out FR to see how things are effecting FR.
I would ask everyone to think that this forum is for persuading people of differing points of view; one cannot persuade by insults and attacks.
That is the truth.
At any rate, when things get too nutty here, I find it helpful to work in the garden
Same here, I have a four acre perennial nursery here at my residence which is a great place to find calm.
Quite right.
One Team dedicated to the preservation of our Democratic Republic - not for the formation of a Socialist nanny-state.
Wonderful post. I don't think I'm an old-timer, but I'm not a newbie, either. We've got to keep our eyes on the larger picture.
That sounds really pretty, but having a minority opinion in the Terri case and stating it on FR only invited meanness, insults, name-calling and belittling!
That has really turned me off! I'm hanging around, but I have a new perspective now! ...follow the FR majority or be ready for the verbal assaults and abuse!
Thanks Bob. Amen.
Oh, my....
Leni
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