Posted on 08/18/2002 5:18:22 PM PDT by Auntie Mame
Dear Freepers:
I just returned from the First Annual Free Republic Network Convention in Las Vegas.
The Free Republic Network Cruise last October was the most fun I've ever had in my whole life. The Free Republic Network Conference I just attended was the most informative and inspiring two days I've ever had in my whole life.
The Free Republic Network is stretching its muscle, not by talk, but by action. The Free Republic forum is liberty's college. The Free Republic Network is liberty's workplace.
If you attended, please use this thread to post your observations, comments and highlights of the conference. I will give mine below. But before I do, I'd like to take this time to thank Bob Johnson and the FRN board for putting on this conference. It's hard for me to find the words to adequately describe how great this experience was--and how much I learned.
I'm all for women who stand up to be heard but I think it's obvious there's a dearth of pro-life women among the spouses and candidates who comprise the leadership of the GOP. That's a pity. No question but what the personal witness of women can be particularly effective for hooking the hopelessly subjective and bringing them round to receptivity, even, of the stronger arguments which make for a consistent defense of the inviolable and uniquely human Right to Life.
And we're definitely agreed that the witness of women who've opted to keep their children conceived by rape or who are speaking out as a means to repent of a deed they regret with all their heart is vital. They teach a lesson of individual strength and personal liberty, hope and Human Choice that puts all the empty empowerment language of the feminazis and calculated materialist appeals of deathists to shame.
But I still maintain men are the key. Even if women come to understand that abortion is not the answer, they still run the risk of embracing the State's "Right" to deny a child a relationship with his father (save for the child support with which the State hedges its bet the woman will make the right Choice).
For the State knows as well as I that it is the family, not the individual, which is the basis of society and the model on which all successful -- and strong -- human communities and states are based. To balkanize the right to life at the point of abortion as either a "Women's" issue or an issue best left to each individual's "personal values" serves only to further dehumanize we "Living" along with the unborn "potential people". It deconstructs the natural family bonds between man and woman, father and child, on which hang our independence from the state.
It's for these reasons I feel it particularly vital that men not be shut out of the debate and that we resist the urge to concede the war in order to better package our battles.
As a matter of fact, one of the most important "Tips For Dealing With the Media" I remember from the conference was:
"Never lie. If you can't tell the truth, don't say anything at all."
(Sidebar: There is very little difference in a reporter's mind between lying and "misleading").
Cut right to the meat of the matter?
Enjoyed meeting you and all the others. Before we "take back congress" perhaps we should take back this thread! Keep up the good work.
Hopefully I'll be able to get a copy of your video to present at the Chcago Chapter picnic, 9/8??
TUVM,
TRG
Seems to be thoroughly hijacked by one issue voters. Of course I agree with them philosphically, but tacticly....well look how convincing they are on this thread, for example.
My local AM news radio station (WBAP) sent people to cover our Sore Loserman Freep in December '00 at the Tarrant County Courthouse. They have 50,000 watts and millions of listeners; all we needed to harness a bit of that was one phone call.
When speaking to reporters in person, especially on TV, remember John Wayne's advice to young actors: "Speak low and speak slow." Do not look down at the microphones or at the cameras, look directly at the reporter(s) during the interview.
You have nothing to be ashamed of in presenting your message; why look like you are?
LOL. One of the funny things in Vegas was that WIMom had to keep going to get a sweater. It was 110+deg.F outside, but very cool inside. Some of the casinos were wide open to the sidewalk with cool air just blasting out.
Met one fellow at the Conference who was not a FReeper, not even a lurker; he had heard about the Conference from Chuck Muth's newsletter. (Very interesting fellow, an engineer working on the Yucca Mt. waste depository site.)
The TI also had water misters along the boardwalk (out by the Pirate Show venue) and just about everywhere you could walk outside. The apparent temperature under those dropped by at least 20 degrees. I made it a point to hang around near those during my walks outside.
From the beginning here, I've tried to extract myself from the debate precisely because I wasn't at the FRN conference. I was specifically invited back in to the debate at RedWing9's polite request - I make no apologies for being here. I see it as a personal shortcoming that I felt the need to respond to the ad hominem attacks, I'll work on that.
Now I'm listening to Anna interview Rich Galen. Once again stressing importance of local races - helps develop the "farm team."
See, that's on-topic on this thread. That's discussing the content of the seminar. The angry posts about abortion were not on-topic.
I am thoroughly amazed. Wish you were there. Believe me, at no time did the conference focus on a discussion of these issues. The whole goal was how to more successfully present our issues to voters and to the media -- whatever the issue might be. And it was a huge success!
I made no such posts and I simply let it go the first time you made that accusation. Now I'd like you to cite my abortion post on this thread or apologize.
There are certain things that you do at different types of FReeps. If it is a 9/11 or Support Your Troops Freep, you act agressively and try to draw people to you and your views, you work the crowd.
These Freeps are easy, neither side wants problems, the biggest problem that we have had is keeping those who join us from punchiing the lights out of the protesters on the other side.
Political FReeps are different, you can get hurt at these. These FReeps call for loud agressive activism, but the otherside is also agressive and they have the rent a thugs from the local union hall.
How does the press fit in? They know what FRee Republic is and they don't like us. We had a FReep at City Hall Plaza in Boston against the Palis' and the IAC, we had Homeless Veterans, Retired Cops, and many passer byes join us, many interviews done, coverage none, TV, 25 seconds.
The press lines out the organizations that might upset the status quo, in Mass anyway. There are nore conservitives in this state than most people realize, if they had a focus point it might upset our Rulers, and the press is hand in glove with them, and they will keep the FRee Republic off of their pages.
The only focus that I can recall on either issue during the conference was parenthetical in nature. I remember one of the speakers suggesting that I produce a simple sound bite-like statement about my views on abortion, then remember and use it. This was because I would certainly be asked that question at some point.
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