Hi, Jim!
I thought I should follow up my unabashedly Silly post [184] with a more thoughtful one. Those who know me understand I have a serious side, and that -- although I am always "Silly," I am not always silly with a lowercase s.
During the Florida recount, when I started becoming politically active and meeting other NYC Republicans, I kept hearing about FreeRepublic.com. It didn't really sink in with me, and kept brushing it off. I did, however, begin refreshing my browser at DrudgeReport.com so frequently that I am sure I got no work done for a month. I was obsessed with the excruciating and harrowing election event of all time, and something inside me clicked, telling me that the cause to thwart Gore's dishonest attempt at stealing the election was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to either get loud and be counted, or watch Marxist liberals take over our country.
Looking for something constructive to do, I helped LoudCitizen.com organize and publicize one of the few pro-Bush rallies in Washington D.C. on inauguration day, in front of the Supreme Court. Seeing my picture in the Washington Post, leading our group in "God Bless America" felt pretty darn good. It was an exciting experience and I became an activist in my blood.
One of our rallyers had to cancel his plans to join us in D.C. at the last minute, and said I could use his ticket to the FR "Count The White House Silverware Party." As it was an open bar, I gladly accepted.
What a wonderful time I had that night! I actually ran into people with screennames I recognized from years before on CNN.com, to my complete amazement. People were so authentic, lively, genuinely warm and eccentric. I fell in love and knew I had to join them in whatever it was they were doing.
So began the dipping of my toes into FR's revitalizing, effervescent waters. What a curious on-line culture it was, with such odd tics, strange lingo and passionate personalities. I lurked a bit before posting, but eventually I got the hang of it and learned to truly engage people on a personal level.
The best thing about FR is the people and their dedication to a return to constitutional government, based on the timeless, fundamental rights of human beings to be free, safe, and self-determining. FReepers are highly intelligent, fiercely protective of this turf, creative, funny and fearless. There are things about FR that aren't perfect, but I try to counter them and refocus my attention to the overwhelmingly positive merits of this site. FR is certainly unique, but more important, it is uniquely valuable.
Our country seems to be turning a corner. Today's indication of that turn is Drudge's story about Bernard Goldberg's Bias : A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distorts the News, to be published in January. As with FOX News' domination over CNN, another liberal chess piece in the media has been knocked off the board, and a conservative chess piece has advanced thereon, threatening the Red Queen. The White Knights on their White Horses are persistently beating the Red Army, clearing the way for members of the White Court to take back the Palace and reinstitute true liberty.
FR now has an opportunity to do so much more. This is not a complaint, but an invitation and call to seize the opportunity in front of us.
How will we accomplish our goals? Not by chatting, arguing or rehashing news, but by getting seriously organized and professional, and systematically moving our agenda ahead, reeducating Americans, reframing the issues, and getting on the offensive -- thereby beating the Marxist liberals at their own game.
Jim, I support what you and your members are doing, and am proud to keep your company. Feel free to set your goals as high as you want, and we will join you on the climb up the mountain. You lead the way. We will be with you at the top.
Still being,