Peggy Noonan: The Lights That Didn't Fail

Opinion Journal ^ | 07/03/2002 | Peggy Noonan

[Pokey78]

I mark the coming holiday remembering the words of a friend of Samuel Johnson, who said, "I meant to be a philosopher, but happiness kept breaking through."

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July, and we must celebrate. Let us hold high a single sparkler to honor those American institutions that, in this interesting year, did not flounder or fail. Much has been said of those that did--Wall Street, big business, big accounting, the Catholic Church, the FBI and CIA. But most didn't. Some stayed good and some improved and some seem to summon a metaphor: While the towers of the institution tottered, the men and women who worked within them took the stairs two at a time, hauling 80 pounds of gear to save the structure.

[Pokey78]

Ping for the PNPL.

[chnsmok]

Beautiful.

[dighton]

Kipling title, and so a ping.

[BlueAngel]

Thanks, Pokey!

Happy 4th to you!

[JulieRNR21]

One of her very best! Thanks for the ping to Peggy!

[Pokey78]

U2 BA!

[JohnHuang2]

Thanks, Pokey.

Mega ping coming up!

[JohnHuang2]

Peggy Noonan Mega-Ping!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Happy July 4th Ping!!!!

[Mudboy Slim]

Howdy, King John of Ping...MUD

[JohnHuang2]

Good morning to ya, my friend.

[JohnHuang2]

Good morning, friend =^)

[Mudboy Slim]

"Cops and firemen. Once patronized, now poster boys, and rightly so. They're exemplars of courage and sacrifice, especially the firemen. What they did at the towers last September was like what was done at Omaha Beach on D-Day: They raced to fight a battle and proved we'd win a war."

Damned if that lady can't turn a phrase..."They raced to fight a battle and proved we'd win the War!!

If that don't tug at the heartstrings, well, you ain't human...MUD

[McGavin999]

Thanks for the ping John. Peggy's right, with all the negative news people tend to forget the good news. For every corporate creep, there are a thousand corporate heros. For every failure there are a thousand victories. For every anti-American out there, there are a million strong, tough, wellgrounded Americans who just continue to make this place work.

I'm so proud of this country.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Good morning to ya"

Heck if it ain't...I must snooze soon or risk not snoozing at all...MUD

[Mudboy Slim]

"I'm so proud of this country."

And Rightfully so...MUD

[f.Christian]

There's two Americas...cultural hi-jack---warfare!

Originally the word liberal meant social conservatives who advocated growth and progress---mostly technological(knowledge being absolute/unchanging)based on law--reality... UNDER GOD...the nature of GOD/man/govt. does not change. These were the Classical liberals...founding fathers-PRINCIPLES---stable/SANE scientific reality/society---industrial progress...moral/social character-values GROWTH!

Then came the post-modern age of switch-flip-spin-DEFORMITY-cancer...Atheist secular materialists through ATHEISM/evolution CHANGED-REMOVED the foundations...demolished the wall(separation of state/religion)--trampled the TRUTH-GOD...built a satanic temple over them---made these absolutes subordinate--relative and calling all the residuals---technology/science === evolution to substantiate/justify their efforts--claims...social engineering--PC--atheism...anti-God/Truth RELIGION--crusade/WAR--INTOLERANCE/TYRANNY against God--man--society!!

[McGavin999]

Evening MUD, it's nice to read some positive stuff for a change, isn't it? Looks like the media is hitting their old "the economy is miserable and the streets are flooded with homeless" rant again. It's as predictable as the sun rising in the morning.

[SkyPilot]

Thanks Pokey,

When Peggy mentioned "bloggers"...no doubt this forum counts amoung the giants. There are people here who through their ideas, their time and their ambition, have helped change the political cultural climate.

Make no mistake, if FREE REPUBLIC were an ineffective bunch of "Reich Wing Nut Cases" (as it is portrayed by its enemies), then the enemy would not strike and attack it so. It is an truism of conflict that you bypass that which does not matter towards your objective.

FREE REPUBLIC matters. The left hates that, the mainstream media hates it, and the DNC hates it.

Happy 4th.