Freepers. It is Time to Heal Our Wounds

Badjoe | 8-27-02 | Joe Phillips

[BADJOE]

It is time we take a new tack and see if we can heal our wounds. I hear by the grapevine that from this past weekend's discussions that JimRob has two black eyes and a broken arm. I have my head bandaged. I am missing one ear, and I have body bruises from top to bottom.

It was damn near like the old days wasn't it?

I am happy to report that while Willa never considered divorce, homicide did cross her mind a couple of times. The fact that I am writing this is hard evidence that she did not act on those impulses.

As I see it, there is a very simple easy way for all of FR's problems to go away. I have a comment to all parties involved and I will specifically address each of them.

The Free Republic is much bigger than any one man or woman. And it is too important for any dispute, regardless of what it is about to pull it down.

First let me clear one thing up. The next Freepathon would have been my last one regardless. It is too big a job for even me. Freepathons are the only time Willa and I exchange cross words with each other. I love all you guys, but she rubs my back, kisses me on my bald head and on occasion even cooks me dinner. (Except during a Freepathon. I damn near starved to death during the last one.)

In order of importance from least to most .

Badjoe: You are one cantankerous feisty old son of a gun. Usually mild mannered, reasonable, and all the good things, BUT when you think something needs to change you would run over your own grandmother to make it happen.

Other forums like Liberty Post, etc.: Guys you can't build yourself up by tearing the other guy down. Tout your own virtues. It is the only way you will reach the heights FR has. And believe me, I'd like to see 100 successful FR's. If there were a hundred of us none of our problems would exist. Competition cleans up the weak spots.

The DC Chapter: Thank you guys for calling me on the phone yesterday. It was very nice and very moving to speak with each of you personally. Please tear all the old pages out of your book in regard to the Free Republic Network. Neither you nor they will survive if you don't quit nursing old wounds. I have noticed that even when the Network folks say or do good things you react in ways I think are inappropriate. We really are all in this together. Let's please work to survive together. Thank you.

To the Network Board.: You are my friends. The wounds are deep between you and the DC chapter. Please don't say anything about them. At the moment even if you gave them a million dollars each they would think you have an ulterior motive. So please say nothing either way. A year from now you might be able to to have some communication.

To the Moderators: Oh my! I sincerely hope this whole post could make your jobs superfluous, as the Freepers take to heart what I will say to them, so that moderation is rarely if ever needed. I am sure you'd appreciate and like the vacation too. Would not it be nice if you could just Freep and when you occasionally came across an infraction, warn first, went back to Freeping, and checked in later to see if warning was heeded and then if necessary take the minimally possible action. Please let's try to keep our troops intact.

To the monthly donors who have cancelled: I sincerely hope you will consider reinstating your help. I know withdrawing your support is a very effective way of registering your disapproval.

To the monthly donors who have stayed on board: God bless you. FR needs you and can't survive without you.

To JimRob: You are just as damn cantankerous as I am. I sincerely hope you will post the new directions involved in our Saturday night August tenth agreement without the references to me. Apologize to the Freepers for any real or perceived injustices and ask them to hold your feet to the fire on the new directions from that agreement

To the Freepers: You are the most important of all. Without you there is no FR. I would like to see you all prick your finger and write in blood that you will argue all you want to without calling another Freeper a dumb Mofo, etc. If you find yourself in the position of not being able to carry the day in your discussion, or if another Freeper gets close to anger, just go away for a little while and come back to fight later. If you do this moderating will become unnecessary. We all will be free from fear. In the interest of healing these wounds please lay off the mods I singled out. Lay the blame on Jim and I for our failure to effectively communicate with each other. Jim and I have broad shoulders and are willing to carry the load.

I am going to post this first to the moderators through the abuse button to give them time to digest what I have written. This is to be a positive thread. I am requesting that they give an automatic one hour timeout to every Freeper, including JimRob for any inappropriate comment. You are capable criticizing with being abrasive.

I hope all the above folks I have directed my comments specifically to, post a general agreement to try to do what I have suggested. If you say you will, I will participate in the next fundraiser by just running the numbers and getting the necessary funds in. JR gets a copy of what I get without the credit card numbers. He can forward that info to a trusted Freeper volunteer to write thank you's, and to another trusted Freeper volunteer to post recognition of the donation on the fundraising thread or maybe one will do both. This will get FR past its current crisis, reduce the harsh words at Willa's and my house, and make everyone's job easier.

[strela]

They should have included a copy of "Final Exit" in the liner notes of that song ;)

[wimpycat]

Puff the Magic Dragon still makes me cry!

[wimpycat]

Are we going country now? As I've got to log off soon, I'll lead off with the saddest, twangiest, most country of all country songs from that era. Here goes, ladies! This is the ultimate cry-in-your-beer song:

He said "I'll love you till I die",
she told him "You'll forget in time"
As the years went slowly by,
she still preyed upon his mind

He kept her picture on his wall,
went half-crazy now and then
He still loved her through it all,
hoping she'd come back again

Kept some letters by his bed
dated nineteen sixty-two
He had underlined in red
every single "I love you"

I went to see him just today,
oh but I didn't see no tears
All dressed up to go away, first time
I'd seen him smile in years

He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they'll carry him away
He stopped loving her today

(Spoken)
You know,
she came to see him one last time.
Aww, 'n' we all wondered if she would.
And it kept runnin' through my mind
"this time he's over her for good."

He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they'll carry him away
He stopped loving her today

[Area51]

Supposedly it was a song about Pot. I was too young to get the connection, but I did spend the next few years in a daze from that damned Mary Jane. That and 13 years of Publik Edukation and I weren't been right since!

OPH-can I sue? :)

[terilyn]

LOL! Sure can tell the Brady Boomers around here :)

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

.....(could we dedicate this one to all those who've left FR for greener pastures?)

Have you got a hankie, please? ROFL !!!!!!!!!!!

[terilyn]

LOL! Did you flip your hair while posting that?

[strela]

Thanks heaps. I'll now go slash my wrists ;)

[terilyn]

That's him! *Sigh*

[terilyn]

Don't forget Harold and Maude!

[Area51]

Marcia Marcia Marcia!

[lodwick]

I've not met you - but, my goodness did you have to do the Honey tree thing? ;-)

Nice recall. I'd blocked it out.

[lodwick]

I've seen you today on the thread, and we haven't met, but you are spot on with the greatest country song of all time.

Old Possum nailed it with this one. Thanks. JL

[WIMom]

Hello baby,
Yeah, this is the Big Bopper speaking
Ha ha ha ha ha,
Oh you sweet thing
Do I what?
Will I what?
Oh baby
You know what I like

Chantilly lace and a pretty face
And a pony tail a hangin down
That wiggle in the walk
And giggle in the talk
Makes the world go round
There ain't nothin in the world
Like a big eyed girl
That makes me act so funny
Make me spend my money
Make me feel real loose
Like a long necked goose
Like a girl, oh baby
That's what I like

What's that baby,
But, but, but
Ohhhhhh honey
But...oh baby
You know what I like

Chantilly lace and a pretty face
And a pony tail a hangin down
That wiggle in the walk
And giggle in the talk
Makes the world go round
There ain't nothin in the world
Like a big eyed girl
That makes me act so funny
Make me spend my money
Make me feel real loose
Like a long necked goose
Like a girl, oh baby
That's what I like

What's that honey
Pick you up at 8
And don't be late
But baby,
I ain't got no money honey
Ha ha ha ha ha
Oh alright baby,
You know what I like

Chantilly lace and a pretty face
And a pony tail a hangin down
That wiggle in the walk
And giggle in the talk
Makes the world go round
There ain't nothin in the world
Like a big eyed girl
That makes me act so funny
Make me spend my money
Make me feel real loose
Like a long necked goose
Like a girl, oh baby
That's what I like

[strela]

The Best of the Worst Country-Western Song Titles (These are *real*) Compiled By: Bill Atchley (atchley@coltrane.gnets.ncsu.edu) Drop Kick Me, Jesus, Through The Goalposts Of Life Get Your Biscuits In The Oven And Your Buns In The Bed Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth 'Cause I'm Kissing You Goodbye Her Teeth Were Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away? How Can You Believe Me When I Say I Love You When You Know I've Been A Liar All My Life? I Been Roped And Thrown By Jesus In The Holy Ghost Corral I Changed Her Oil, She Changed My Life I Don't Know Whether To Kill Myself Or Go Bowling I Fell In A Pile Of You And Got Love All Over Me I Flushed You From The Toilets Of My Heart. I Keep Forgettin' I Forgot About You I Wanna Whip Your Cow I Would Have Wrote You A Letter, But I Couldn't Spell Yuck I Wouldn't Take Her To A Dawg Fight, Cause I'm Afraid She'd Win I'd Rather Have A Bottle In Front Of Me Than A Frontal Lobotomy I'm Just A Bug On The Windshield Of Life I'm The Only Hell Mama Ever Raised I've Been Flushed From The Bathroom Of Your Heart I've Got The Hungries For Your Love And I'm Waiting In Your Welfare Line If I Can't Be Number One In Your Life, Then Number Two On You If Love Were Oil, I'd Be A Quart Low If My Nose Were Full of Nickels, I'd Blow It All On You If You Don't Leave Me Alone, I'll Go And Find Someone Else Who Will If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too? Mama Get The Hammer (There's A Fly On Papa's Head) My Every Day Silver Is Plastic My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, And I Don't Love Jesus My John Deere Was Breaking Your Field, While Your Dear John Was Breaking My Heart My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend, And I Sure Do Miss Him Oh, I've Got Hair Oil On My Ears And My Glasses Are Slipping Down, But Baby I Can See Through You Pardon Me, I've Got Someone To Kill She Got The Gold Mine And I Got The Shaft She Got The Ring And I Got The Finger She Made Toothpicks Out Of The Timber Of My Heart She's Got Freckles On Her, But She's Pretty Thank God And Greyhound She's Gone They May Put Me In Prison, But They Can't Stop My Face From Breakin' Out Velcro Arms, Teflon Heart When You Leave Walk Out Backwards, So I'll Think You're Walking In You Can't Have Your Kate And Edith Too You Can't Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd You Done Tore Out My Heart And Stomped That Sucker Flat You Were Only A Splinter As I Slid Down The Bannister Of Life You're The Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly

[RightOnline]

OK, you two........get a room. :)

[Willie Green]

"It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd"

[wimpycat]

That song is a tie, along with this one, for the saddest country music song of all time: (Pleased to meetcha, BTW)

You've painted up your lips and rolled and curled your tinted hair,
Ruby, are you contemplating going out somewhere?
The shadows on the wall tell me the sun is going down,
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town.

It wasn't me that started that old crazy Asian war,
But I was proud to go and do my patriotic chore,
And yes, it's true that I'm not the man I used to be,
Oh Ruby, I still need some company.

It's hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralyzed,
And the wants and needs of a woman your age, Ruby, I realize,
But it won't be long, I've heard them say, until I'm not around,
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town.

She's leaving now 'cause I just heard the slamming of the door,
The way I know I heard it slam one hundred times before,
And if I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground,
Oh Ruby, please don't take your love to town.

Oh Ruby, for God's sake, turn around

[WIMom]

Oh Brad

[RightOnline]

Reg certainly isn't a bad human being, by any means..........but yeah, he DEFINITELY crossed the line.......and with a good friend of mine, at that. I only recently learned of it and sure as hell didn't appreciate what he did, and I LIKE the guy.

But hell..........who among us who've any time here haven't done or said something we wish we could take back? I choose to believe that, given a chance for a "do over", that Reg wouldn't even consider doing such a bone-headed thing again.

I liked his creative artwork. He has one helluva sense of humor......and irony. That adds a lot to the Forum.

He also owes a certain lady from NC one hell of an apology. A man can do that..............