A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-20-03...What really scares the bejeebers

JohnHuang2 and Billie | JohnHuang2

[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

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 5A: TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68. MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797. BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack.

GROUP 6A: 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.

GROUP 7A: 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.

GROUP 8A: 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.

      

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.

                     

What really scares the bejeebers out of Lefty "protesters"

by JohnHuang2

"I've been to demonstrations and rallies all over the country. . . people just want to be heard," Michael Callandrillo tells the New York Times. The 53-year old teacher from Dover, N.J., traveled across the Hudson to attend Saturday's anti-U.S. demonstration in neighboring New York, amid blustery speeches, sign-waving and blaring banners decreeing "The World Says No To War, others demanding a "Free Palestine!" The anti-Semitism/pro-militant Islamism of the crowd was only thinly disguised.

"It was so wonderful to see the turnout in Europe and New York," chirped Miriam Hutchins, 59, also quoted in the Times. The Petaluma, Calif. teacher was part of Sunday's anti-U.S. mobilization at the Civic Center in San Francisco, scraggly crowds singing John Lennon's "Imagine" in Arabic amid shouts of "we will not turn our sons and daughters into mortar" angrily piercing the air. (The event, initially set for Saturday, got pushed back a day "to avoid conflicting with the Chinese New Year celebration," reports the Times. Political Correctness, in this crowd, is paramount.)

"An attack on Iraq will stimulate terrorism against the United States," declared Joan Buell, attending the same event, also quoted in the Times. The 77-year old of Cupertino, Calif., predicted "the consequence [of war in Iraq] is going to be World War III, and I am very depressed about it."

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

Question: Besides their hatred of Bush, and being whiners and bedwetters, what two things do Michael, Miriam and Joan all share in common? Yes, the 3 joined throngs of scraggly protesters clogging city streets from New York to L.A., from Miami to Seattle over the weekend. But besides that -- specifically, what are those two things all 3 share equally?

Fear and loathing, that's what.

Fear of what? Fear of victory -- America winning another war of liberation (a la Afghanistan) in Iraq, another major advance in the War on Terror. (Shhhhhhh! Judy Woodruff doesn't want you to know, but let me share a secret: A.N.S.W.E.R. and affiliate groups organizing the rallies virulently opposed ousting the Taliban after 9/11 -- a fact seldom, if ever, reported anywhere by the media).

The mere thought of Saddam, a fascist dictator who gasses women and children for sport, being removed by U.S. military force, liberating 24 million long-suffering Iraqis, makes Lefties curl up in horror.

They realize Saddam's forces -- scruffy, ragged, demoralized, timely as 8-track tape -- don't stand a prayer against the mightiest and deadliest fighting force ever known to man: The U.S. military. Saddam's army, against computerized tanks and smart munitions, against highly motivated, exceptionally trained men-at-arms, is about as useful as a losing lottery ticket.

That's what scares the bejeebers out of Lefties. Without the hope of massive U.S. casualties quelling their anguish, they know US. victory will be swift and certain, that Saddam's days are numbered. Fear of victory is why the Left so vociferously opposes this war. If Iraq had a smidgen's chance of winning, or inflicting heavy casualties on U.S. soldiers, the Left would be beating the war drums.

'We're not really pro-Saddam,' the peaceniks retort. Saddam knows better. The Butcher-Of-Baghdad expressed his personal gratitude Sunday for their efforts. In all the protests, moreover, not a vague hint of criticism was ever directed at Saddam, the new darling of the Left.

Michael, Miriam and Joan also share a common loathing -- of our military.

Will they -- or any of these protesters -- show up at victory rallies on the streets of New York, flashing 'Welcome Home' signs in a national outpouring of celebration, honoring returning U.S. troops after Desert Storm II? Oh, yeah, right -- and Barbara Streisand makes an excellent spelling instructor and 100,000 shares in WorldCom stock makes a superb investment.

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

"War is my last choice," Bush said Tuesday at the White House, reacting to the weekend protests as U.S. and British diplomats begin crafting a final U.N. resolution, daring France to veto. "But the risk of doing nothing is even a worse option as far as I'm concerned."

'Ouch!' squealed the peaceniks. In two brief sentences, Bush knocked the wind out of their sails. They were back on defense, the spotlight -- and onus -- was back on Saddam.

Without a hint of wavering, the President noted that "some in the world don't view [Saddam] as a risk to peace. I respectfully disagree."

During his daily White House press briefing, Presidential spokesman Ari Fleischer whipped out newspaper clippings of mass protests in Europe against U.S. deployment of missiles in Germany during the Reagan administration. "This," said Fleischer, "is not the first time there have been mass protests and in a previous instance America stood on principle." Result? We won the Cold War.

With Bush's unflinching leadership, we'll win the War on Terror, too.

God bless our President, God bless our Troops and God bless the United States of America!

My two cents..

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 02-17-03 President's Day 02-18-03 Political Pictionary...Redux 02-19-03 Brad's Gramma

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

[Billie]

[Billie]

Good morning, FReeper FRiends. Another Fine Essay by JohnHuang2. Hope you'll join us.

[Aeronaut]

Hi Billie.

[FreeTheHostages]

Good morning!

[ladtx]

Good morning. Right on John. It must be a hard and miserable life being a leftist, they always seem to be either angry or depressed. Your graphics are perfect again Billie, you have a true artist's touch with them.

[ru4liberty]

'Morning, kids! Another great read, JH2. You know what scares the bejeebers out of me? That these people vote!!!

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY!!!

It’s going to be 45 degrees here in the Baltimore area, though it’s going to be cloudy and they’re predicting rain beginning tonight. Folks! Here comes the BIG meltdown!

There’s still no place for me to walk to the light rail stop except the middle of the very busy road (B&A Blvd.), so I can’t get to work still! GRRRRR! I’m getting cabin fever!

Whoever wrote the song, “Let it Snow” ought to be shot, LOL!!

Later on I’ll have a commentary of my own to write up, that is, in between doing laundry, sorting papers, cleaning the bathroom, ect. Y’all know the drill!

Anyhow, HAPPY THURSDAY! It’s going to be a long, busy weekend for me!

Anyway, I’ve got (((((HUGS))))) for everybody today!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

LET'S ROLL!!!!

And may God bless all who post and lurk on FR!

[Temple Owl]

Good morning everybody. Great essay John. Much thought and talent involved. Keep on writin!

[ofMagog]

Excellent read above!

MeeknMing still checking local pubs, jails, and with Tiajuana contacts concerning a few of missing crew. Supplies arriving and being loaded aboard ship for early Tuesday sailing. LadyX not back from predawn run up beach with crew after their delicious breakfast of WWI C-Rations on the beach. Thud and Gizmutt asleep. I'm off to the Coronado dining room for a late breakfast.

[JohnHuang2]

B-R-E-A-T-H-T-A-K-I-N-G graphics work! G'morning, Billie!

[Billie]

Good morning, Aeronaut - first here again. :)

[JohnHuang2]

Aw, shucks -- thanks! :^)

[Billie]

Hi, Free - got your mail and will make those changes to tomorrow's thread. Thank you.

I like this calendar page, too!

[JohnHuang2]

Check this out.

USA Today reporter Richard Benedetto wrote what I thought one of the finest pieces illuminating vividly a side of Bush seldom, as Benedetto notes, conveyed by the media:

Here it is:

President Bush shines spotlight on softer side of U.S. military

Richard Benedetto

MAYPORT NAVAL STATION, Fla. ? When President Bush came here Thursday to rally the troops, the news media focused largely on his speech about the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, the possibility of going to war soon and the display of American military muscle arrayed around him.

But what most missed, or at least failed to report, was a poignant sidelight to the event: the president's attempt to show, honor and encourage the softer, more human side of the men and women who serve in U.S. armed forces.

Lets' begin at the beginning: When Bush arrived here on Air Force One, he walked down the gangplank, greeted waiting dignitaries and saluted the base commander. But then, rather than enter the black limousine ready to whisk him to his first event, he walked briskly over to a lone sailor standing at attention just to the side of the gangplank.

The sailor smartly saluted his commander in chief. His commander in chief smartly saluted him back. But then Bush reached out and shook the man's hand, put an arm around his shoulder and talked quietly with him, well out of the earshot of those on the tarmac. They posed for a picture and then the sailor presented the president with a black baseball cap emblazoned with the name of his ship, the USS John F. Kennedy, an aircraft carrier better known in Navy circles as the "Big John" and now in port here.

But later, with Bush, in Navy flyer jacket over his shirt and tie (he is a former jet fighter pilot), two flag-bedecked warships docked behind him and a cheering sea of thousands of sailors gathered before him, told us who the sailor he met earlier was. We'll let the president's words speak for themselves: "Today, when I landed on Air Force One, I met a fellow named Arden Battle. He is a machinist mate, senior chief, U.S. Navy.

"Let me tell you something. He represents the spirit of this military that makes me proud. Not only are we tough and good fighters; he leads hundreds of your fellow sailors into volunteering in the community in Jacksonville, Fla. He and others like him serve as a role model for young kids. He mentors. He and his group teach children how to read. He not only serves this country to keep the peace, he serves this country to be more compassionate for all of our citizens.

"My call to you is a lot of people look up to you because you wear the uniform. Do your duty. Not only work hard to be a good soldier and sailor but also love somebody like you'd like to be loved yourself. "I want to thank Arden and all those of you who have heard a call to become involved in your neighborhoods and your communities to help somebody who hurts. America is a better place for your compassion and your love."

So amid all the bellicose rhetoric of war, we have a president out at a military base talking softly about "compassion and love," and highlighting the good works of those who wear the uniform in service to their communities.

He does it all the time. Each time Bush visits a city, he pays tribute to someone who volunteers to make his or her community better, hoping that by highlighting their example, others will follow. We just never report it.

His remarks here were greeted with strong applause from the troops. One woman holding a little boy in her arms, more than likely the wife of a sailor who soon may be in harm's way, wiped a tear from her eye. Some of these tough sailors did the same.

Yet, for all the soft talk, Bush did not minimize the dangers that lie ahead of them. But he expressed confidence in their skills, the justness of their cause and the goodness of their hearts.

Little of the story of Arden Battle made its way onto your televisions sets or into your newspapers. And that is too bad ? because there's more to this latest crisis than just whether or not we are going to go to war with Iraq.

[Billie]

Thank you, L - and I'm looking forward to your next one, too. I know it will be another winner.

I love this one of John's, but they're always a great read!

[dutchess]

Great essay John. Right on target. Billie, GREAT prsentation! You certainly have been a busy bee this week!

[Pippin]

I get chills of pride every time I hear or read of acts like this!

What a graet man!

Thank You, John, for posting it.

[JohnHuang2]

My pleasure, friend :^)

[JohnHuang2]

I went ahead and posted the article: click here

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody !! Happy Thursday !

47 degrees and raining today...

Have a cup while you FReep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....