For those of you leaving, staying, watching the show.

FR | 4-1-05 | Bob J

[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.

[blam]

"I've learned that if you can somehow toss in the word sex in the title of your post, the activity afforded that thread automatically increases 10 fold."

You mean, bait and switch?

[spodefly]

BTTT

[hole_n_one]

Don't forget that punk, Hannity.

[nopardons]

Perhaps, but I think you're wearing some heavy duty rose colored glasses there,my friend.

But yes, the old timers SHOULD be the bridge between chaos and sanity.WE know what no newbie does; the for real history of FR,its ins and outs,the slang, special insider jokes, and we should calm the turbulent and muddy waters. Some of us try to do just that and help newbies to become part of the fold; but some newbies don't want any help...usually the ones who need it most.

[jveritas]

When Elian Gonzales split FR right down the middle, with venom and anger that made this last little spat look like a Nerf™ War, people said FR was over.

This was before my time on FR, why did the division occur on FR during the Elian Gonzales case?

[centexan]

No surrender. No retreat. Remember the Alamo!

Amen. Whenever I get frustrated with some folks on this site I just stroll over to DU to refresh my memory about our real opposition.

[Bob J]

Ya, but it's what we get paid for. We must do our duty...there are higher callings than being the most popular poster on FR.

[adx]

How long does it take to be considered an Old Timer?

Four digits or less for your userid, noob. :-)

[Bob J]

J, take out Terri, insert Elian...mix and match.

[jveritas]

I see, thank you.

[ASA Vet]

Maybe in your recent thread you should have had the word "sex" after "dwarf." That would get them.

[AAABEST]

What will hold us together Bob is our creator. There is no idea, or ethos or plan that can exceed this natural law.

Whatever we posit here will mostly go in one ear and out the other - if not in the next 5 minutes - maybe in the next century. However long it takes, all of what we do here is very fleeting if we look long. Nobody really cares what most other people think about anything and none of it will matter given enough time.

People today put all follow all kinds of gods. The god of "freedom". The god of patriotism or nationalism. The god of wealth. The god of ideologies, capitalism, socialism, sports whatever.

The only thing lasting for us as individuals and for those who come after us is God Himself. Once people's hearts are with their creator, all else falls into place. All of these discussions we have amongst ourselves become non-sequitors. Once the heart pursues natural law and the creator, the minds follow. No argument or debate needed.

Why do you think the left, secularists, deviants, and evil amongst us fear God more than anything?

I think we had this discussion once before in person. You may have had a Cuban cigar in your mouth at the time.

[Howlin]

When BatJack threatened to sue everyone in sight ( including their pets) people said FR was over.

Ah, those were the good old days.

[BlessedBeGod]

Thank you for the best thing I've read all day.

[hleewilder]

I dunno. This last week really depressed me. To be called a "barbarastreisand" by someone who equated the 15 year odyssey of Terri Schiavo with the systematic murder of millions of people during the second world war (and with pictures of the death camps, just in case anybody missed the connection) was, frankly, a shock. Especially when it became obvious that this wasn't just one person who felt that his Bible trumped our Constitution.

I'm afraid this isn't some mere fraternal squabble between those of a Conservative bent. We're not talking about a free exchange of ideas with a little give and take on the finer points, here.

Since the only political outlet that espouses Conservative values appears to be the Republican party, what we're talking about is what the mission statement of the Party is going to be from here on out.

If it's an advocacy of some sort of theocracy in this country, as what seems to be vaguely alluded to, then it needs to be spelled out, loud and proud.

But if the Republican party is just cynically stringing the ultra-religious wing along for votes, then the leadership better get with the program and make some unequivocal public stand to that effect, because, frankly, the general public doesn't quite know what the party stance is.

Constitutional Conservatism or Theological Conservatism, what have we got here, people?

[Lancey Howard]

Baloney!

The sign-up date "pop up" helps some of us "old curmudgeons" sniff out the mischief-makers a little easier. Sad as it is to say, this site is considered very, very dangerous by the scum of the left and the Democrat party and they will do anything to disrupt it or attempt to damage its credibility. And I'm not just talking about the illiterate morons who drift over from DUh - - they're easy to pick out - - I mean real live, real clever Democrat operatives. No joke. Constant vigilance is a must.

That's my 2 cents.

Regards,
LH

[TheDon]

I believe a sifting out has come, however, over the issue of life.

Quite true. Terri has definitely brought out the differences over euthanasia among FRiends.

[nopardons]

Good post !

[spinestein]

Since I've been here less than a year I guess that would make me a newbie, but from my very first post I made a conscious effort to learn the etiquette and emulate some of the "crusties" who seemed to be well respected and to treat other posters with respect and not get involved in flame wars. This, of course, serves to facilitate the purpose of the forum; the advancement of our ideas.

Other newbies like me who expect to be here a long time, should not lose sight of this and should heed Bob J's message and also be aware that Free Republic is unique among political forums. I don't know of any other site that has so little rudeness and so much tolerance of honest difference of opinion.

[little jeremiah]

"The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among
old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a
sun beam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the
Divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal
power." --Alexander Hamilton


It's not an "either or" choice. Basic morality, which is, willy nilly, the source of all laws and rules which make human civilization humane and civilized, is essentially universal in nature. To try to erase religion from informing public weal is to commit suicide en masse.