A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....01-21-03...The American Idea

jwfiv and Billie | jwfiv

[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:  g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett.
MIDDLE:  fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick,Leroy S Mort, Mark17.
BOTTOM:  Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau.

TOP:  ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam,
dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony
BOTTOM:  rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang

TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx
MIDDLE:  The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law
BOTTOM:  deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68.
MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797
BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

         

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

GROUP 2A: TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

GROUP 3A: TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

GROUP 4A: TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

      

GROUP 9A: TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog. MIDDLE:  Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son. BOTTOM:  JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

GROUP 10A: TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon. BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

GROUP 11A: TOP: ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son. BOTTOM: AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset); WVNan's husband; ladtx' Aunt Eva.

                     

We Are The World

The American Idea by jwfiv

Always I've carried the memory of standing in our front yard, under the great tree, pondering the just-acquired information that my neighborhood was only a small part of a big, round planet, and there was a place clear over on the other side of it called India, which was full of first-graders just like myself.

---

A typical Grail Castle moment of wonder as
my world enlarged
that afternoon.

The thought I remember so clearly is:

"I could have been
born over there...
but, I'd still be me."

---

I learned that my corner of the globe was called America, and grew up to know that we are a country of free individuals, and the story of America is the tale of a brave and hardy people creating a Nation that embodied an Idea unique in all the history of nations.

That idea being that the individual person is endowed by the Creator with those famous and notorious "certain inalienable rights".

In the New World, it is the common man and woman who rule by Divine Right, not the king, emperor, priest, pharaoh or caliph, as in the Old World.

Holy smokes, what a grand thought... how reckless and bold and daring, yet how grounded in a faith in the worth and goodness of Man.

This revolutionary American Idea means that to be an American is to be guaranteed the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and to understand that all people have the same right.....
all, everywhere.

From the first colonies, on through nationhood, Americans were from the European ethos, with its history and tradition of conquest and empire. This being a way not just of Europe, but most all of Man gone before.

For the Nation to be true to our Founding Idea, the Cornerstone of that City on the Hill, our task has been to honor and carry with us the best of the inherited culture, but also to unlearn the lessons and discard the ways of our forebears when they conflicted with our own charter.

The American ethos is a tradition and history of freedom and opportunity for every citizen...we don't colonize but liberate, and share, as best we can, not just wealth and comfort, gadgets and cheeseburgers, but, the Idea, so that all people in all nations may know their own inalienable rights, and be empowered to pursue their own destiny.

Of course, not all soil is good soil, and the Seed of Freedom will sometimes not take hold and flower unless the ground is turned over, and over, and over. It is said the Tree of Liberty is watered with the blood of patriots.

The generations must pass before this unlearning of the Old World's ways can be accomplished. This is so for us, as well as others, but, as Americans, we have a head start..

---

Three world wars, two very hot and one cold but no less dark and bloody, were waged in the 20th Century and the American Idea has proven triumphant beyond anyone's hope or vision, save a few optimists and visionaries, the beloved Ronaldus Magnus chief amongst them.

---

Another generation brings us to now, today, as the world turns over again before our eyes.

America finds itself in a war for survival, not just of our Nation, but of the Idea.

The Old Ways of Man can sense, and they bitterly resent, the global spread of Liberty, American-style, so they rear their tails, like scorpions, to strike our lives and poison our faith in That which sustains, inspires and transforms the world.

With this war on terror now upon us, we have a President who chooses to stand and meet the challenge.

The American Military wrote a new chapter in the history of warfare with its campaign to crush the Taliban and free the people of Afghanistan, and in the year since has been tracking and killing and caging their terrorist kin all over the world.

The President may soon again send our boys and girls and men and women in uniform into fierce battle...an imperative, as he knows the scorpions intend to strike a blow more crippling than September 11.

I believe this weighs heavy upon our Commander-In-Chief¹s caring heart.

No one devoted to the Idea will be glad at the necessity of war. But, in the tradition of the reluctant warrior, leader, prophet or ring-bearer, the task is given him, and he rises to meet it.

As the President said, we wage war not to conquer, but to liberate ourselves and our allies from the threat of death and destruction. In turn, this will bring liberation to the people of those threatening nations now ruled by the despotic and insane elites devoted to the Old Ways.

Our necessary battle is to keep our people safe and free, to free the people now in bondage...and, to keep the Idea bright and alive and available to all the world, so that, just like that American kid wondering under the great tree long ago, first-graders everywhere may be guaranteed the right to be whoever they are, whoever they want to become.

May God always bless America, and keep our President and troops and all our people safe from harm, and victorious in war.

(And, personally, may I add: I'm damn grateful for the American Idea...Thank You, Lord.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



From St. Matthew, Chapter 7:

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men
gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit
is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you, JWFIV!
An outstanding, from-the-heart essay!
MORE! MORE!

---

Photo credits to Diogenesis and his "Gotta See This" threads for the following photos:

1. the children in the classroom;
2. President Bush and Condoleeza Rice;
3. the little girl above with the baseball glove
4. and our Pledge Graphic today.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 01-20-03 Puddleglum

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[ST.LOUIE1]

Do you really want a pouting Pippin? Or a pouting hobbit? LOL

Well, no, I guess not......and she was there first. *sigh*Awwww....but not with the 'most'. You're both the *mostest*. : )

But, maybe we should put a "Maximum Occupancy 3" sign on your branch?
Otherwise I am afraid we are going to be inundated with owls flocking in from threads far and wide to bask in the glow of your halo! LOL!! ;-)

LOL! No! A Louie branch full of Babes is just the ticket! : )

I need to take off for a little while. See you two later. :-)

You didn't wait for me to return. . Just might toss you off the branch. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

An honorary wolf? That is a title I gladly accept, and will proudly wear...)

Lest you forget....it's only an 'honorary' title.

It doesn't include any perks such as howling at the Ladies of the Finest.

[iceskater]

do come back later for tea and tell us what you thought of the Figure Skating Championships last weekend.....I thought Michele Kwan was awesome...and I am a Sarah Hughes fan!!

Here I am for a brief visit. I'm at an impasse on my project for the moment (waiting for info from other people).

I thought Michelle skated the best I have seen in ages. She really looked like she was just skating for her own joy than for medals. Sarah has had a difficult year with injuries and illness, and unfortunately it showed. But she'll be back, I'm sure. Sasha Cohen did pretty well but didn't have the spark Michelle had. Ann Patrice McDonough is someone to watch in the future. She is so elegant. And I hope Jenny Kirk (she's the one whose mother died from breast cancer) can keep going - she has a lot of potential.

Of course, I can't do half or even a fourth of what all these young ladies can do, so I stand in awe anyway. LOL.

The men's final was the weirdest set of circumstances I've seen in a long time. I hope Johnny Weir can get over these injuries - he's another one to watch (I have a certain bias towards him since I skated to the same music he did last year - unbeknownst to me until after the season was over). And I had hopes for Steven (or was it Scott) Smith? Eeek, I've blanked on his name. Anyway, he was great in his short program but I think his nerves got the better of him in the final. Another one to watch. Michael Weiss got a reprieve from all the weirdness. He should go to World's, skate his best, then turn pro. I think he's done w/his amateur career.

Then there was the ice dance team where the girl was literally falling out of her costume. THAT should never happen! One should always take new costumes on a "test drive" just to make sure things like that don't happen.

And as I side note, I am totally psyched about World's. I have tickets! Center ice!! Woo hoo! I will probably even do some volunteering so I might get to meet some of these folks. What a treat!

[LadyX]

How kind of you to make mention of that, jwfiv, and the positive feedback is much appreciated.

The Internet can indeed present things we regard as objectionable, full of liberal and even unholy things.

On the other hand, though, it is being used to 'plant those seeds' you mention in your essay - to educate, inform, exhort, amuse, refresh, encourage, impassion, and inspire!
That surely is God's doing, enabling His principles to be heard/seen/spread around the world at a faster rate.

Keeping in mind in my early childhood communication was limited to the printed word (books, newspapers, magazines) and some films and the radio (no television), the Internet is a true marvel!
Especially on this forum, our words are seen by many of every possible description.

Generations interact and share their experiences and beliefs, and all benefit, surely.
Understanding and appreciation are fostered, and minds and hearts are strengthened - and as individuals are, so is the America we remember and the one we envision, despite the constant undermining.

It does not matter how few or many we are in number.
Only that we pick up the torch and advance it to the best of our ability.

[jwfiv]

Thanks for the caution...be sure an honorary wolf like me knows his place in the pack.

Howling at the Ladies of the Finest is a perk reserved for the Alpha Wolf...so I'll just tag along and, if I may, learn from the Master.

[Billie]

VIM (Very important mail) :)

[jwfiv]

D., kind sir, I wanna ping you to this thread, for I used a couple of pics from your Gotta See This threads over the past year or so, to accompany my essay.

Have always been grateful to you for the service you render us Freepers...thank you, immensely.

[Billie]

If I had to name the FReeper who writes the 'prettiest' posts, that would be a very tough decision! Yours would be right up there. :)

[Billie]

Of COURSE with Mam_Bear down there on your limb, you'll also have to add daisy, dansy, dutchess and Free! I'll just stay up there with J, J, and M!

[ST.LOUIE1]

Thanks for the caution...be sure an honorary wolf like me knows his place in the pack.

Yes! You're smart enough to be a wolf. LOL

Howling at the Ladies of the Finest is a perk reserved for the Alpha Wolf...so I'll just tag along and, if I may, learn from the Master.

And wolfie is smart enough to know when he's havin' his tail pulled by a 'Master' *Con Artist*. LOL

[Billie]

Too late! You just want more gifs. : (

Did somebody mention "pouting" earlier? :)

[Billie]

LOL! It's always nice to be appreciated.

WOW! Someone APPRECIATES you??!!!!!

[ST.LOUIE1]

Of COURSE with Mama_Bear down there on your limb, you'll also have to add daisy, dansy, dutchess and Free! I'll just stay up there with J, J, and M!

If you say "pretty please", I may drop you down on my perch. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

Too late! You just want more gifs. : (

Did somebody mention "pouting" earlier? :)

No pouting here. You'll miss the gifs. : )

[jwfiv]

You mean...me?

Oh, goodness, I been found out.

[Billie]

... if I could just get off the interenet :)

If you discover the secret, you might want to patent it - would probably be a bestseller for Freepers' spouseswhodon'tknowwhatallthefussaboutFRisabout.

[Billie]

Many thanks, Thin Man...yer right, Billie sure didn't spoil the essay...but, she and our Hostesses surely spoil us Freepers.

Take THAT, T Man! ;)

[Billie]

Hi, Gail! Wouldn't want 'Da Bear to miss your post. :)

[ST.LOUIE1]

You mean...me?
Oh, goodness, I been found out.

Yes, you have. Now stop tryin' to charm a 'charmer'. LOL

[Billie]

Lest you forget....it's only an 'honorary' title.

It doesn't include any perks such as howling at the Ladies of the Finest.

Not to worry! As long as j keeps on doing what he's doing, writing what he writes, he doesn't need to howl. :)