Posted on 12/30/2010 7:05:50 AM PST by exit82
Today is my 12th anniversary as a Freeper.
I came across Free Republic in the summer of 1998 as a lurker, troubled by an increasingly lawless President Clinton, and what was happening to our country. I lurked for about four months, reading every day and being amazed at the group of talented and knowledgeable people on this site.
When Jim Robinson put out the call for people to come to Washington, DC to attend the March for Justice Rally on October 30, 1998, I came from NJ on my own, not knowing a soul there, because someone was finally calling for the impeachment of President Clinton. Four thousand plus people from all over the country showed up that Saturday. That call was about the first Internet call for a political gathering--the equivalent then of a flash mob meeting today, albeit much slower in execution.
This is my 19th thread and my 16,000th post. Many have far more than me of both--good thing, too. In 12 years of posting, I have come across the finest group of Americans I have ever known-- a community of kindred spirits--alike in our love for America, its founding documents, and its exceptionalism, and as different from each other as we are in our individual points of view.
So to all of my fellow Freepers who helped to educate me and to whom I have conversed over these 12 years, I say thank you. To Jim Robinson and to John Robinson, I say thank you for allowing me the privilege of being a Freeper, and for providing a home on the Internet where conservatives can gather. I am not a model Freeper, so to those with whom I have disagreed, or have been short with, I ask your forgiveness.
I wrote a vanity titled "We Have Found The Enemy, and The Enemy Is Us" on February 2, 2008 at a time when it became apparent that the Republican primary was going to be decided in favor of John McCain. That disheartened me, but I think I am most proud of what I said that day of all my posts. More of it came true than I would have dreamed.
But more importantly, it contained a warning for the future of what we , as conservatives who love this country, would face not only later in 2008, but in the future years as well.
A turning point in history has been reached by America. I think we all feel that. The new Congress, with its Republican-led House, and a lessened Democrat majority in the Senate, will begin its work on January 5, 2011. This will either be the high water mark of progressivism and socialist thought in America or it will be the high water mark of conservatism and a return to limited Federal government. It could go either way. We all sense it. A country as big as ours cannot turn on a dime. A historical shifting point, like the one we are living in today, is realized over time, maybe over years. The years of 2011 and 2012 will be even more critical than 2010, even though without the historic rejection of Democrat policies that took place in November, 2010, the future that could be realized could not even occur.
Election Day 2010 proved, in my opinion, that an Angel still rides in this whirlwind. The idea that is America, and the freedom bequeathed to us by our parents, the WW2 generation, does still exist in the hearts of our countrymen. However, it must be fought for and protected by each of us.
And we must teach our children and grandchildren that great legacy we have received and of which we are now the guardians for future generations. It is our time to sacrifice for freedom.
In 12 years so much has occurred, and Free Republic has played a role, that I cannot recount it all here. Some of it is recounted in the vanity that follows. History was influenced because of us, and the future will be also.
I want to wish you all and your families, and posterity, a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year in 2011. May God bless us, every one.
Thanks and Happy New Year to you too.
CY—congrats on your upcoming 12 year anniversary.
That is one reason that I love Free Republic—folks here share some very deeply held values about freedom and America that I shared. Without this on-line community, we felt that we were alone and could do nothing.
Which is precisely what the enemies of freedom want.
Happy New Year to you!
Class of 1998 checking in and reporting for duty!
Well, I'm a Gemini (June), so it figures I have a long-lost freeper twin, LOL.
Leni
Amen, wita.
Happy New Year to you!
Thanks, glennaro. The Class of ‘98 is a great class. Glad we are both part of it.
Happy New Year to you!
The Left will never be "the best". Human central planning never has and never will work. The flaw is that the smartest humans cannot possibly understand how the "world works". That understanding is in Gods hands. Freedom is the natural state, not subjection. Freedom Works.
No mea culpa necessary, my FRiend.
I hope we meet someday, preferably at a rally in DC where about one million patriots show up and force Congress to fly right!
Here’s a shout out to a great Freeper lady that you met—Exit 148.
I had the same reaction as you did, when recently FR seemed to be down. I actually thought the puppetmasters in DC started their control of the Net, and we were a primary target!!
Where would we be with out FR, indeed.
Happy New Year to you and yours.
I see now. Pablo is a very fortunate man.
Congrats on your dozen year anniversay, Galactica.
BTW, I agree with the sentiment on your homepage. I hope Sarah Palin will be a great conservative President as well.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
C’mon over here. Some oldtimers showed up!
Happy New Year to all of you!
FYI, I was retiring from the US Army at that time and was in DC for that rally. I got to meet some guy in a Fedora who tried to talk me into staying in until the next president. Turns out the Fedora wearer was Drudge. Real nice event. There was a family there with ten kids who were protesting abortion, with big placards and everything. I took the whole bunch out to lunch and had a grand time.
Victor, congrats on your upcoming 13th anniversary. Yes, I lived in Toms River at the time, but moved to southern DE almost 5 years ago, to escape NJ’s insane high taxes.
Happy New Year to you!
2 Kool, looks like the CLass of ‘98 is always reporting for duty! And there’s lots left for us to do.
Happy New Year to you!
wbarmy, thanks for sharing that memory of the March for Justice. Glad to got to meet Drudge. I remember one of the pseakers there was a very young Ann Coulter.
And thank you for your service to our country. Happy New Year to you!
Best wishes on your FR Birthday, hopefully you have many, many more to come!
Well, well, well! Look what the cat dragged in and hacked up on the middle of the family room carpet!
Sauropod, when haven't you been full of piss 'n vinegar? And Bigun, my friend it's been way too long. Reading through this thread has brought back names I haven't seen in a long, long time along with some pretty fond memories.
Don't know about either of you, but I really don't like how the Republican Party rolled-over after the election and gave Obama damn' near everything he wanted in the 'lame duck' session. If the incoming Leadership doesn't undo it in a big hurry in the next congress, the next election in 2012 is going to be a bloodbath - with yours truly right in the middle of it helping make it happen.
Care to join me? The planning is already underway...
Thank you, usconservative! And I’ll come to your 13th anniversary party in six months.
Happy New Year to you!
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