Posted on 05/03/2012 8:55:00 AM PDT by Lazamataz
About 17 years ago, in Rochester, NY, I befriended a small group of people. It was in my druggie days, and they were all big potheads. There was one couple in particular, the T's, I will call them.
I used to go to their frequent dinner parties, and all of us would have a grand old time. They loved inviting me, they called me the 'life of the party'.
Fast forward to now. I happen to look them up on FaceBook. We are all delighted to have reconnected. Things are cool. Over the course of time, the female starts bringing up politics, decrying those 'awful, racist TEABAGGERS'. I tell her my sympathies are with the Tea Party and all we want is a return to the Constitution. When she starts going on about how the Constitution was written by a bunch of racist, evil white men and that it needs to be completely rewritten, I advise her that we probably should avoid the politics discussions if we are going to remain friends.
She ends up being a founding member of Lincoln, Nebraska's Occupy Movement. She contacts me about it and wants me to celebrate it with her. I tell her that I am very happy she's found something that works in her life to avoid depression and her other issues, but I am opposed to the movement as a whole. Still, I stress, I'm happy that she's happy.
Over the course of time, I do my usual thing on facebook and post occasional taunts and jokes directed at the Occupy Wall Street movement. Then one day I notice that she's been missing in action. I go look her and her husband up.
They de-friended me.
Well, to that, I say, good freakin' riddence. I like to leave politics out of friendships, but you know what? OWS and the left are my ENEMIES. I cannot be friends with my absolute, mortal, hated enemy.
Good for you....he obviously got the message.
Most of the people that stayed in New York, stayed because they like the liberal policies of that state. Me, I couldn’t stomach the place NO MO.
The one who went to Nam is interesting.
Oh, and his wife from one of Europe's smallest minority groups.
My Christmas card list includes an old friend who did 3 or 4 tours in the Nam, and ended up in prison for his art work. We've never missed cards even when he's in a different prison. Hard to keep up with his usernames.
You just have to keep in touch with these guys ~ when they're gone real history is gone ~ the warp and woof part that keeps the rest of it together.
Somebody here the other day was teasing me about trying to sound like a scholar ~ and maybe so ~ I think by now half the guys I went to grade school with are dead, or on life terms. That was Indiana's worst ZIP Code area then, and it is now. The other half are grandfathers living a long way away from that part of town. Every now and then though I call up the memories on the four guys who died in Nam. They're not around for the internet and probably wouldn't have had that much fun here, or Facebook, or whatever. I haven't forgotten them though.
Thanks for the title correction. This thread has been a real hit. Apparently this is something a lot of us are experiencing.
What meaning does friendship have if it is detached from the concept of values? If values of others are the opposite of yours, then they might be acquaintances, but true deep friendship is impossible with them.When one evaluates the moral character of others, one responds emotionally, feeling esteem and affection for those individuals whose values one shares. The result is the phenomena of affection, admiration, and friendship.
WOOOHOOO Laz!
It wouldn’t surprise me one bit.
Just for you, Laz...the best “see ya” song ever...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUHPFgwn9d0&feature=related
“You know, none of us is gonna cry,
It wasn’t even worth a try.
So long, baby, goodbye!”
Play it loud as you drive away and they get smaller and smaller in your rear-view mirror...
It’s simple:
1. Political commentary for me is read and posted here.
2. Personal events are read and posted on Facebook.
I usually don’t mix the two. My 60 or so FB friends usually don’t either.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now why didn’t I think of that———before I had to re-reload? . . . . . . . LOL
You choose who your friends are and what they post is what you see. I have 99% conservative friends on mine... The libs that are there, all 3 of them, are actually very well spoken and manageable if they engage in debates on my page. you can delete or add any info you want. I have some liberal stuff show up on my newsfeed there but that’s because I added them do I can go on their pages and stir the crap when they straight up lie. The conservative movement is a HUGE force on Facebook.
I too appreciate your posts, Laz... And this is a highly enlightening thread. It’s one in which Freepers talk about the price we’ve paid to defend liberty.
Sort of cool to remember that when our founding fathers pledged their “lives, fortunes, and sacred honor” their lives really were at stake, their fortunes vast...
And their honor like steel.
Not perfect men, nor are we, but I like to think we emulate them.
You got me there. It was too early in the morning. Oh well, I’m glad I didn’t have test coming up!
“Friends” are one thing. Family members are another, which I’m sure we’re all aware of.
Yes, why yes I do.
Right on, golux. I'm not worthy to carry my ancestors' powder horns, but I still want to walk in their steps, and do my part to defend liberty, the rule of law, and the moral civil society.
Hope you didn’t miss this one ... G.R.I.T.S ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDs__hXizvk&feature=related ... Enjoy Your G.R.I.T.S.!
liberalism is the loss of God from one’s life.
-Great Definition
THank you : )
So let me guess, Laz WOULDN’T hit it....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.