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.
Thanks, Tonk, well said.
There were folks who truly shocked & surprised me with their arguments for letting Terri Shiavo die..
I still wake up, disbelieving, that our nation let this poor woman starve.
Bob, your point is well made and I understand why you needed to say this...
..but I have to wonder if I'm in the foxhole with some of these people (that I thought I once knew)...maybe I would need to watch my back.
Speaking of taglines, check out this new one.
***
Remember the Alamo and the girl. ;-)
Please tell me your pulling legs here.
Oops, meant to go to Tonk.
Thanks,Tonk, well said. Mind is not fully engaged yet.
#313..I think that was for me :)
When I read that Fancy Pants Berger's "sentence", I thought it was an April Fool's joke....... a bad joke.
Awwww .... how sweet of you, beyond the sea! Thank you so much!
Eschoir would tell you that the worst was TICKET TO RIDE. Good parody has a least something to do with the theme or lyrics of the original. In that one, I took the opportunity to slam Clinton as rapist, and it had absolutely nothing to do with the original. Eschoir went insane over that one.
Well Said, Bob!
Well said Alamo-Girl! No matter what, we must keep moving forward.
For some odd reason, I really feel terrible about the deteriorating health of John Paul II, and what looks to be his immenent death. This is a day I haven't been looking forward to. That old dude was as tough as nails, yet as warm as a teddy bear. I can't imagine anyone replacing him that could even be half the man he was.
A new era is about to dawn with the death of John Paul II, and I don't think it's going to be all that wonderful. As a matter of fact, I see things becoming even more bizzare in the days and years to come. The LEFT, as a world force, has not rolled over and died because of people like John Paul II and Ronald Reagan. They seem to go into hibernation, get crazier, then come out spewing even more venmon than ever before.
So that's why I'm staying on with the Free Republic, NO MATTER WHAT. When it comes time to be amongst those who are some of the greatest people I know, there is no better place than the Free Republic.
Want to share just how you got it. I'm still looking for mine.
*****
yes............ and some of the wittiest.
And yes, there have been some radical posts, but then people tend to get overheated on some issues.
Ditto Brother.
Indeed! Thank you for the ping!
It's not that I have a thin skin or anything. I take this kind of online discourse as what it is and for what it's worth, and I don't let arguments, insults, etc., get my knickers in a wad, you have to do the old "water off a duck's back" trick and move on. And I'd like to think that I can give as good as I get when things get heated.
The thing is, I neither have the time nor inclination to take part in useless flame wars which, IMHO, if they get to the personal level do absolutely nothing toward fulfilling the goals of this site or what I've always thought have been the goals of the conservative movement.
I purposely avoided discussing the Schiavo case here because I ended up finding myself somewhat at odds with the majority opinion here and the discussion did get over the top, although I'm not going to discuss the reasons and turn this into another Schiavo thread.
Here's the thing, though. Should it not be possible in settings like this for sincere people to have sincere disagreements on specific issues, but still be able to discuss those disagreements not so much in a "nice" manner, because people should be passionate in defending their points and being imperfect human beings sometimes tempers are going to get a little short and feelings are going to get a little high when passion gets involved, but in a civil manner and without being utterly disagreeable and demonizing each other as (insert the insult or loaded buzz-word description of your choice here)?
Because I do think it has gotten to the point here sometimes where there are certain issues where no disagreement is tolerated, "you're either with us or you're the enemy," and you toe the line or else. And maybe it's my age showing ... I've been in the conservative movement literally since childhood, going on 40 years ... but IMHO, there is too much at stake in this country right now and we're too close to winning this overall battle for me to fall on my sword like Saul over ANY single issue, period.
Sorry for the rambling and sorry for the length.
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.