A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day 09-16-02

Carry_Okie and Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues;  salute
and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new
word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who
are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which
we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.  I
can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. The forum is read daily by tens of thousands
of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete
MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet

MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga

BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette

MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid

BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP

MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian

BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68

MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797
BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack

                     

All She Wanted Was
To Be A Real FReeper

In the Spotlight today is an amazing young lady that many of us first had contact with last year about this time. This is her story, as told by her FReeper dad, Carry Okie. Those of you who attended the FRIVA Convention last month might have had the privilege of meeting her in person, as well as her little sister, FReeper PowerBaby, who is eighteen months her junior.

NattieShea
At Freeva Las Vegas!
by Carry Okie
Thanks to Syncro and others who provided the FReeva photos!

She was so small when you first met her. Born 9-11, 1992. She had that spirit of wanting to belong to something larger than herself, wanting to do something to make a better world. She knew she was special, because it's hard not to know that when you've skipped three grade levels by the time you are six. With that, however, has come more a sense of responsibility than hauteur, something that the other kids recognized even in preschool.

It was her fifth birthday with fifteen kids at the table; NattieShea ran that party; gently keeping the others in line by handing them each one of her presents to open for her, in turn. In return however, they had to wait until she had read the card and made sure Mom had recorded the giver so that she could write the thank you notes.

The adults could only watch in disbelief.

At seven I had to pull her out of private school, because she was bored to tears and showing the stress of it. I was writing a book at the time and we had no idea how we were going to survive financially (still don't). It was hard at first, for both of us. She wasn't used to the flip side of school: total concentration upon her work and a daddy who consistently demanded nothing less than her best.

Celebrating the election of President Bush, Fresno, February(?) 2000.

By the age of eight, she had completed her first year of high-school algebra and was factoring quadratics in her head.

This kid has led something of a charmed life. I sent her on a trip to New York as a reward for the hard work. She had a private backstage tour of the Metropolitan Opera on the shoulders of a conductor, front row seats for Fosse, Blue Man Group, and a closed door tour of the Met, and the highlight to her was the Statue of Liberty. But to her, that wasn't her big reward: She got to post her first (typed) term paper on FreeRepublic.

All she wanted was to be a real FReeper. On her first post, she wouldn't let me tell people her age until someone asked. She wanted to be judged on her own merits and know where she stood. You were confused, but most kind (thank you Askel5).

It was Seven stars for Aslan, a little paper about The Chronicles of Narnia.

From the conclusion:

It's very clear to me that C. S. Lewis wanted to make the Bible and the commandments clear to children because he loved them. Mr. Lewis built stories around them. They were stories he thought you, I, or anybody would love, learn, and remember. His books taught me some of the morals and about the structure of the Bible:

• If you make a mistake, you will be given a chance to fix it, but it is harder than doing the right thing in the first place.
• When you are separated from your partners, have faith in them.
• Don't be deceived by evil because it leads to slavery.
• If you do right and love God, you will receive your reward.
• If you do that, all your life, when you die you will go to heaven, and live with Aslan, forever.

NattieShea's sister works at her desk... FReeper PowerBaby

...while NattieShea works, well, wherever. Reading "The Life of Patrick Henry", Mortar takes note (Dutch Shepherd).

Our little school has taken on quite a character, if only because it seems simultaneously so normal and unique. School starts at 8:30, sharp. No excuses. The kids arise, dress for school, cook breakfast, clean up, arrive, get hugs, and ask what to do. They get assignments and do them. Most of them are self directed (while I work). If they have a question, I'll drop most anything to answer it (except for the phone). If I am busy they simply sit down and read. It's that simple.

Cooking Spaghetti for Mom.

After school, they play, or (if Mom is running late) they cook dinner. You would have a hard time stopping them from doing that because they love to help. They get to feel like they are contributing to the household (I know, I wasn't that way as a kid either, but then, I went to public school and watched a lot of TV).

When I've done punishing them with school, they occasionally get to go to parties where they play with "normal kids." (Subversive, isn't it?)

You see, we live in the People's Repubelick of Santa Cruz County, California. We stick it out to drive the libberills crazy and because we like it here. To all the FReepers who stupidly write off California, well I have a bone to pick. There are decent, honest, hard working, and kind people here who don't deserve it. We will fight the beast on its own ground. We ain't leaving. We will defeat this beast on its home turf, where we know it best.

Yep. Our home school curriculum is subversive as hell. We even conduct clandestine PC survivalist training sessions.

Her political education in political economics is taking a serious turn to the right. She started a college-level economics text last year and is learning ever more about how liberals think. Last year's term paper concerned five books by Charles Dickens, An Angry Boy Who Changed the World

Here is the conclusion to that paper:

Dickens was so distracted with his anger over his childhood, that he couldn't see the benefits of the Industrial Revolution. Industry gave work to poor people so that they could provide children food and shelter. Technology made essential goods available to those who couldn't otherwise afford them. The migration of workers to the factories spurred business for remaining farmers. Industry created demand for interesting new skills. Technology created new opportunities for professionals to solve complex problems. The Industrial Revolution produced the wealth that, in time, improved living and working conditions for everyone. ^25,26

Through his novels, Dickens’ subjective perception of the Industrial Revolution created a culture of hostility against industrial development and a habit of depending upon government to solve the problems by restricting business. That cultural bias has the capability to harm the poor and middle class workers whom Dickens was trying to help.

It took WAY too long, but she did OK.

We occasionally travel to promote THE BOOK. The kids get to witness the damage wrought by government environmentalism upon the West. To see the spreading desertification of the Great Basin as a consequence of grazing regulations, gives them a real appreciation for the food God puts on our table and a passion for the blessings of liberty.

Here is one little gem from the Rodeo/Chediski Fire:

We just completed a grueling tour of the Southwest, 16 days, 3500 miles, much of it camping out (to save money besides enjoying the scenery). There were 11 speeches. The kids took the money, handled the VISA orders, and were so durned cute that people couldn't resist. Many times I was asked if they were home educated, with the comment, "It is obvious." Here we are on the last leg (and I was well beyond mine).

So imagine how this kid felt when last year she woke up on her ninth birthday to this...

And you can only imagine what I would do to the wretched bastards who did it.

Her conclusion? Every night at thanksgiving she offers, "I pray that America comes back to God." Amen. ~ Carry Okie

THIS WEEKEND'S THREAD

09-14,15-02 A Memorial to the Victims of 9/11

[ofMagog]

It has been a day or three since we keelhauled anyone, the last being to scrub Scuttlebutt and Thud, and months since we did such to any wimmin, but...

;-}

[Feiny]

Alright, I'll do it...but the XXXX's are on YOU!

[Carry_Okie]

Knowing NattieShea, I know you'll appreciate this.

[Carry_Okie]

You too!

[Aquamarine]

Heaps alot, Joey. You must have kangaroos loose in the top paddock! Or maybe you're just full. Hoo roo!

[EternalVigilance]

Hello, my friend. Staying very, very busy here in WV working to elect fellow FReeper Jay Wolfe to the U.S. Senate--and to defeat the incumbent liberal Democrat Jay Rockefeller.

This is a link to the transcript of a speech I gave on Saturday at the State Fairgrounds to the Rally for Enduring Freedom--hope you enjoy it:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/751303/posts?page=8

[Feiny]

Wow! What a fabulous freeping family!

NattieShea, I have not seen you post before and that is my loss. I live in the Peoples Republik of Santa Monica so maybe the next time we have a CA event, I will have a chance to meet you.

[MeekOneGOP]

Great article, imho......

September 11, 2003

Dispatches from the future: Sept. 11, 2003

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | Two dispatches from next year's Sept. 11 anniversary landed on our desk this week. We can't determine which one is accurate so we present them both.

SEPT. 11, 2003, NEW YORK Scientists believe they have now located the epicenter of the nuclear explosion that destroyed this city last week. It was believed to be somewhere around mid-town Manhattan.

Federal officials now estimate that the nuclear device that immediately killed an estimated 200,000 people and injured an additional 2 million to 3 million was smuggled into the United States by a variety of means over the past year. It was then likely assembled on the site.

"We are convinced that Iraq provided this device to the terrorists and I intend to pursue the culprits to the source," vowed President Bush.

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein denied any responsibility for the nuclear explosion and challenged the United States to find a link to Iraq. "Any effort by the United States to use this explosion as a pretext for attacking Iraq will be met by the firm resolve of the Iraqi people," he said.

Responsibility for the explosion was claimed last week by al Qaeda operatives in an interview on al Jazeera television. "This was in retaliation for the brutal and unprovoked American assault on Afghanistan in 2001," said the statement by an unidentified al Qaeda spokesman. "Our jihad against crusaders and Jews continues."

Speculation of a pending American nuclear strike against Baghdad mounted in the immediate aftermath of the explosion, but world opposition to such a strike mounted as well.

"The United States may be charging that it was Saddam Hussein who provided the nuclear device to al Qaeda, but until there is hard evidence, no military action is justified that could impact innocent Iraqis," said UN Secretary General Kofi Annan from Geneva.

 

SEPT. 11, 2003 BAGHDAD Iraqi President Ahmad Chalabi took the oath of office here today, vowing to bring "peace, stability and democracy to long-suffering Iraq."

Chalabi, speaking in the name of the broad coalition that took power in the aftermath of the overthrow of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, said he would build a federated Iraq free of terror that provided autonomy to Kurds, Turkomans and both Sunni and Shiite Muslims.

"It's time that Iraq took its rightful place among nations, not as a rogue state bent on terrorizing its neighbors but as the enlightened scientific, economic and technological leader of the Arab World," he stated in his inaugural address.

The change of regime was widely hailed by American allies in the Middle East, most notably King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who said that it was long overdue and would finally bring stability to the region.

U.S. and British troops, accompanied by Turkish, Kurdish and Turkoman allies, continued mopping up actions in the Baghdad region.

Special operations forces and nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) weapons experts continued unearthing, dismantling and destroying vast quantities of NBC materials. "Saddam had enough here to destroy the region and its people several times over," said one inspector. "It went way beyond deterrence - he was clearly intending offensive actions."

U.S. pathologists continue to examine Saddam's body, found in his presidential palace. "We think he died the way terrorist Abu Nidal did," said one U.S. agent in Baghdad. "He committed suicide with three or four shots to the head and chest."

The U.S. Central Command yesterday brought the campaign to a conclusion with a dispatch sent to the White House: "Saddam Hussein has been destroyed."

[sauropod]

Famous kids! 'Pod

[MeekOneGOP]

Just fyi regarding the murder of Danielle van Dam...........

Westerfield Jury Reaches Verdict - DEATH

[Askel5]

I've got tears in my eyes, of course. You've got to be one of the most blessed men on earth to enjoy the company of two such beautiful and extraordinary girls.

and were so durned cute that people couldn't resist.

Lol ... you're no dummy either, Dad.

Many times I was asked if they were home educated, with the comment, "It is obvious."

This is very heartening ... I trust they have inspired many to wrest their children from the maw of the beast and bring them home.

Carry_Okie ... more than once I've referred to my sister's children as "intelligent heat-seeking missiles" she is sending out into the world. They are bright, beautiful, engaging, curious and truly compassionate children who I know will touch the lives of many.

I know the same is true of Nattie Shea. I've no doubt her entire life will be one grand counter of goodness, strength and hope to the terrible evil, cowardice and despair of the tragedy that occurred on her 10th birthday.

Congratulations and all my best to you and your lovely daughter!

Chris.

[LadyX]

There you go - the first chuckle you got out of me today, AmyAmyAmy..:)))

[Carry_Okie]

You've got to be one of the most blessed men on earth to enjoy the company of two such beautiful and extraordinary girls.

God bless you, Chris; it is wonderful, but I wouldn't wish upon anyone the price that I've paid.

[Feiny]

I think so too....thanks!

[Billie]

Taking us for granted, I see! I laughed anyway. ha ha! Take that!

[ST.LOUIE1]

"Then I won't laugh at your joke."

What's new? You didn't laugh at the ones I pinged you to! LOLOL

Sure did!

But if I posted a LOL every time you post a joke....

I wouldn't have time to post to anyone else. : )

[lodwick]

Hey there - nice to see ya here. ;-)

[Billie]

That's the kind of lunch I eat when my husband's not here to make me eat healthier. :)

[WVNan]

Wow! Your girls are so intelligent and pretty as well. CO, the price you are paying is temporary, the reward will be forever.

NattieShea (I love your choice of names), you have been mightly blessed by God. I have do doubt that you will do honor to your God and to your family. I enjoyed reading about you and seeing all the pictures. God Bless.

[Billie]

It is there, isn't it? :)