nicmarlo
Freeper since October 22, 2001
I caught up with nicmarlo, notorious Republican and member of the Free Republic cult in a rare moment away from the hypnotic grasp of her PC. She was outside washing her car. When I introduced myself as the senior investigative reporter from the "National Inquisition," she was obviously overwhelmed to be in my presence.
(The dry-cleaning bill for the water stains on my expensive Italian silk suit will be delivered to her shortly.)
nicmarlo: The Exclusive Interview
dansangel: Inquisitional minds want to know: Where are you from originally?
nicmarlo: Although Long Island, New York, was my birthplace, New York would not be my home again for thirty years. My family and I moved to sunny southern California, when I was 9, where I literally "played on a freeway." Back then, "Pomona" was the new one under construction. Shortly after my first experience with a major earthquake, our family went through another. My mother unexpectedly passed away when she was 41, I was 12. After months of anger turned to soul-searching, I accepted Christ as my Savior at 13, a defining point in my life. My brother, a year older, was less fortunate; he turned to the self-destruction of drugs. If ever I was tempted to experiment, those curiosities were effectively laid to rest with him, two weeks shy of his 20th birthday. The tale, years later, has effectively kept my children from wanting to repeat their uncle's mistakes. Lessons learned are sometimes bittersweet.
dansangel: Whatever brought you to the decision to become, uh, er...ahem...a conservative Republican?
nicmarlo: My first political event was during the 9th grade, a rally for George McGovern, who was campaigning against Richard Nixon. My band teacher informed us we must either attend or "face the music" come report cards. His "liberal agenda," however, proved futile; McGovern impressed me not. What I do remember was lots of noise and being cold. At the age of 18, I eagerly registered Republican and have been a party loyal ever since. (I still think the liberals are all noise.)
dansangel: Well, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. On a different subject, how many children do you have?
nicmarlo: I have two beautiful and loving daughters.
dansangel: What is your educational background?
nicmarlo: When my oldest entered Kindergarten, in 1990, I returned to college, working toward an associates in Economics at the small community college in Palm Desert, California. I also became involved with a Republican group and with Concerned Citizens of the Desert, a grass roots organization which strived to make a difference in our community.
dansangel: You've managed to get in a plug for the Republicans again, I see. Where did your education take you?
nicmarlo: I served as Vice President on the Education Committee and, in that capacity, addressed the California Department of Education in Sacramento about curriculum development in the public school system. I also worked with two highly regarded professionals, William Coulson, Ph.D., and Lorraine Day, M.D., who assisted me with my presentation of reports to the community, political leaders, and educators.
dansangel: Just what were these reports about?
nicmarlo: These reports focused on: 1) the use of affective education in the public school system under the Hatch Amendment, and 2) providing updated information on AIDS, generally, and helping educators with curriculum changes, specifically.
Aided by Concerned Citizens and a local reporter, my crusade to change the school curriculum and parental notification procedures began as the result of my 5-year-old daughter being forced to hug a male counselor, against her will, while her teacher withheld her lunch until she complied.
nicmarlo's daughter, Maria
dansangel: So what's wrong with a little open display of affection?
nicmarlo: They determined, through "Magic Circle," an affective education application, she (my daughter) had "issues" (she refused to share her feelings in class). This program was implemented without parental knowledge or written consent. Research and investigation led me to Dr. Coulson, who has written numerous articles about the destructive practice of affective education. Both Dr. Coulson and Robert Holland (a columnist and editor with the Richmond Times-Dispatch) have since written about my daughter's plight in psychology journals and/or scholarly books. Concerned Citizens' crusade worked at the local level. The school district stopped some programs altogether and/or began sending home parental notifications for signature. Many parents and I were thus labeled "trouble makers" by the Superintendent and her cronies; we were, however, "dismissed" by the California State Board of Education. At least we tried.
dansangel: OK...getting back to your political orientation. When did you fall under the spell of the radical right wing?
nicmarlo: While in the desert, the Republicans asked me to volunteer to "man the phones" at its headquarters due to an impending visit by then-Vice President Dan Quayle. I was asked to credential the press the following day for Vice President Quayle's impending visit. I was excited to learn that I would meet him on the tarmac. He came straight toward us, nodding his head, shaking people's hands. Then he stood before me, tilting his head as if to question who was I? Then he broke into a genuine smile as he extended his hand, and realized, I was just "me."
Relocating from California to Grand Junction, Colorado, in 1992, I was able to attend a rally held at the local state college where I later received my bachelor's degree. This was when Dan Quayle stumped for President George H. W. Bush. I attended yet another in 1996, when Bob Dole campaigned for President. Senator Dole was greeted by hundreds of faithful Republicans at Grand Junction's Walker Field Airport, despite his arrival time well past midnight (and I was cold, again).
dansangel: Poor baby....
nicmarlo: My last "rally" was a weekly event in Grand Junction. The years were 2000 and 2001; the months, September, October, November, December, and January. And this became another defining point in my life. I realized how close we were to losing everything our Country stood for: the Rule of Law, honest elections, and judges who ruled wisely; things I had been foolishly taking for granted. No more. To my teen daughters' horror, our windows, both at home and in the car, did not display banners for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's; instead, we had an upside down United States flag and handmade posters, including "Sore Loserman," that catchy slogan I spotted on televised protests. Little did I know.....
nicmarlo's daughter, Nicole
dansangel: So, your own children have resisted your efforts to indoctrinate them?
nicmarlo: I take great delight in knowing I have raised two children, socially and politically aware, much to their own chagrin. My oldest daughter (a senior now in high school) once told me "it's pretty bad when teachers single me out to answer questions, governmental or political, because there's no one else in class who knows the answers to their questions." I, however, detected a slight gleam in her eyes at this. There will be two more Republicans, I believe, let loose in the world, who are already condemning things Clinton. In this, I also take great delight as the Clintons are the antithesis of all things Christian or American. To date, my only vanity post is on that subject ("What IS Wrong with Clinton (and those like him)").
dansangel: Fortunately, you reside in a state represented by two Democratic senators. Don't you think this has had a positive affect on your life?
nicmarlo: After having come full circle and returning to the state of my birth this past summer, I find myself in the unfortunate predicament of having not one, but two, New York senators in whom I find nothing likeable, admirable, or trustworthy. Nevertheless, I am undaunted, for although I do not yet know the "hows" or "wherefores," mine is an admirable goal: their defeat. (And for some reason, I have this feeling that my political crusades in upstate New York will be coldest yet.)
dansangel: So, tell us how you were brainwashed, er…"persuaded" to join Free Republic?
nicmarlo: I don't know. I happened upon this "little" place some time during the summer of 2001. After lurking awhile and reading various threads, it seemed to me to be a place I belonged and could grow and, perhaps, help others do the same.
dansangel: It's my understanding that there are far more informative and less confrontational venues than Free Republic. Wouldn't you agree?
nicmarlo: I enjoy keeping abreast of what's going on in the world through FR, my reliable news source. Although the passion here, at times, can lead to some less-than-temperate "discussions" (of which I am not immune), most everyone makes a concerted effort to get along and logically reason. We all, I think, seek to encourage, inform, and equip each other to take action for the good of our Nation and families. Of course, there's always the comic relief, spontaneous silliness, and the jokes. Many a time, we are left in stitches or tears of laughter in our eyes. (One of my favorite "mistakes" is when a Freeper inadvertently posted the "Hoover Dam Is Stolen." My stomach ached for days at the clever and witty replies.)
Through the toils of my life, I have learned to not give up, to continue to believe, and to hope. I think my role in life, and here in FR, has been to inform and encourage others. By helping others see that each one of us does leave a mark in this world, we can accomplish the seemingly impossible. We must all continue the struggle to believe, to care, and persevere.
Please join me in giving another deserving FReeper a warm welcome to FR's Finest...
Today that Finest is
nicmarlo!
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A Few of FR's Finest.....
