For those of you leaving, staying, watching the show.

FR | 4-1-05 | Bob J

[Bob J]

For those of you who don’t know, Jim and the mods treat old timers a little different than newbies. They get a little more slack, a few more mulligans than those who signed up in last four years or so.

I always wondered if that was a good policy. After all, why should the crusty buggers be treated any differently than someone who signed up last week? Are they more intelligent, are their arguments more cohesive…persuasive? Do they have any more or less to contribute to this community we call the Free Republic? Not necessarily.

But they do have one thing new participants don’t and that is perspective. In a way us curmudgeons can help provide a sense of continuity and historical perspective to events that newcomers cannot. Sometimes, we are the glue the bridges Free Republic from one crisis to the next. I believe the recent Sciavo issue is one of those times so I am going to ante again and prove to Jim that his investment is worthy of it’s returns. I ask other old timers to chime in and pull their weight as well.

The Forum has a history of going through upheavels in terms of political philosophy and/or cultural standards, this is not unusual for a community such as outs. The first thing we need to understand is that the conservative movement is made up of many individuals with different motivations. For example, some are economic minded, some are culturally based, some are second amendment supporters and others view their vision on religious principles. Sometimes these differences can cause us to reevaluate our alliances. But that would be a mistake. The left is counting on us tearing ourselves apart from within for that is the very philosophy upon which their strategy is based…foment division and hatred then attack at the breach. It has worked well for them in the past and they count on it working again for them now and in the future.

My humble opinion and suggestion to all is in these times of contention and confusion, that we remind ourselves who the real enemy is and where the battles ought to be fought. On more than one occasion I have had firefights on FR with individuals who later I found myself sitting next to in a foxhole when we were fighting the real enemy…the militant left. I berated myself for some of the things I had posted and wished I could take them back. For here was my true brother or sister, sitting in the foxhole with me, taking hits with me, helping to lead the bravest charge at our direst moment. How could I have been so thoughtless in my moment of indulgence?

We may divided, on occasion, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that we are all brothers and sisters fighting the good fight against those who would enslave us and our children into bondage for generations. Argue the good argument, stand on principle, but let’s not forget we are all ultimately on the same team. The man or woman you trash today might be the brave soul who saves your behind tomorrow.

Let’s keep out eye on the ball.

[jveritas]

Why?

[Howlin]

Because there are a lot of different views on FR; we're not all either far right or mushy middle, but we're all Freepers.

[hleewilder]

Thanks for the history lesson, but do you have something, I dunno, what's the word I'm looking for...oh, yeah, how about something RECENT that you can quote for us?

I mean, come on. Yes, you appear to have all the symptoms of a Theocratical Conservative. Congratulations, here's your sign.

[Howlin]

My gosh.......are you getting up? Is it that late?

[Redcloak]

Amen!

[justshe]

Thank you for posting this thread. Good job.

[justshe]

AMEN!!!

[jveritas]

I see your general point and I agree with you. However as you know some so called freepers and conservatives are fine with voting for Hillary Clinton because she just mentioned she is going to do something about the illegal immigration issue.

Do you think that these are real freepers?

[leadpenny]

Been watching Laurel and Hardy movies on TCM, and just had to see what you were doing.

[Howlin]

Hell, they're not even real conservatives...........LOL.

[Howlin]

Oh, thank goodness; I thought I had "done it again."

Night!

[jveritas]

Exactly :)

[Flyer]

I have had my most heated moments (boy, is that an understatement) with FReepers I know face-to-face.

Today, I trust them with my life.

[semaj]

The constitution - and Western civlization for that matter - would have been literally impossible without the bible.

THANK YOU.

[nopardons]

But true! LOL

[alcuin]

I regard your two cents as being as important as any other two cents in the known universe.

If FR sleuths determined that you were posting from an UNknown universe, I would still regard those cents as important.

The POST is the thing.

Not where it came from.

[kanawa]

Heartfelt BUMP

[506trooper]

Bump

[little jeremiah]

I guess you think Old Dead White Men (even the ones who actually wrote the Constitution and signed the Declaration of Indpendence) are irrelevant?

Is this recent enough for you? (I don't know the date of their famed history books, but it should be mid 20th century.)

Will and Ariel Durant
"Does history warrant the conclusion that religion is necessary to morality -- that a natural ethic is too weak to withstand the savagery that lurks under civilization and emerges in our dreams, crimes, and wars? ... There is no significant example in history, before our time, of a society successfully maintaining moral life without the aid of religion."

[Diver Dave]

Great essay, Bob, if you'll accept the opinion of newbie. :)