Posted on 07/08/2002 8:19:44 PM PDT by kristinn
The D.C. Chapter of Free Republic held a meeting two weeks ago to discuss our future and hold one final review of The Patriots Rally for America.
Our guest of honor was author and scholar James Bovard.
Those attending the meeting were chapter members Jimmy Valentine's brother, GunsareOK, Taxman, leadpenny, AGreatPer, sauropod, BufordP, Connie, jimtorr, tgslTakoma, Angelwood, Gore_War_Vet and his significant other, a lurker from Virginia and kristinn.
It was our pleasure to be joined by visiting FReepers dixie sass and 3D-JOY.
We gave the finances of the Patriots Rally one last look and determined that we were in the clear thanks to the generosity of FReepers from across the country and the kindness of two in particular. The rally cost approximately $7300 overall, around 2/3 of this was paid for by D.C. Chapter members.
We spoke about our Saturday vigil at the Pentagon which we maintained from November to April. Rather than continue to hold official vigils every Saturday, we decided to go there on an informal basis for the time being in order to maintain the memorial trees during the summer. (tgslTakoma, daughter of tgsl, stand watie and I went there this past Saturday.)
We made plans to reach out to conservative students at D.C. area college campuses this fall to counter the leftist influence there and to recruit new FReepers among conservative students.
Mr. Bovard led a spirited discussion that went on for hours. He began by telling us about the book he is writing and everyone joined in and took it from there. The main discussion was the government's response to the terrorist attacks on 9-11 and the effects on the rights of American citizens.
While we agreed that some of the changes instituted were good, we also agreed that some of the changes enacted into law and others being proposed in the courts were not good at all--specifically parts of the Patriot Act and the designation of American citizens as enemy combatants without the right to contest the designation.
While we applauded the Bush administration's support of the Second Amendment as an individual right, we were concerned at the whittling away of other Constitutional rights by Congress and the Bush administration.
Mr. Bovard was very pleasant to talk with and he shared his expertise on many subjects with us. The meeting went on far longer than planned. Mr. Bovard left after four hours that flew by fast. The remaining guests were gone by 8 p.m., six hours after the first guests arrived.
We were deeply honored that Mr. Bovard spoke at our meeting. We look forward to meeting him again.
As always, we'll be popping up to shine the light of truth on the Clintons and the 'Rats in the months ahead.
EAGLES UP!!!
I'm glad to see you posting -- I was worried that the rains stranded you on top of your hill. Is the sandbar in the lake covered over yet? I envy you your view from the balcony -- everyone else will, too, after they see the pictures!
It was good to get out there last Saturday. stand watie and I spent about 90 minutes talking with visitors and holding flags (U.S. and S.C.) while tgslTakoma and daughter worked inside the snow fencing around the main tree.
Next week we'll be back to tidy up the other tree.
One interesting thing that happened Saturday was the visit paid us by a Defense Protection Service agent. He chatted with us for awhile and gave each of us an 8 x 10 color photo of an aerial view of the Pentagon taken a few days after 9-11. He also gave copies of the photo to a few other visitors to the site.
That is a very good idea. American University might be a good place to start, the Administration there kicked Young America's Foundation out from using their building for YAF's yearly summer conferences.
DC Chapter meeting - June 23, 2002 - with Guest Speaker James Bovard
Pentagon - July 6, 2002 - DC Chapter cleanup of memorial site Note: I haven't gotten all the photos in this album captioned, but most speak for themselves.
And I have to say that my daughter, the young Sgt (JROTC), was a real trooper. She spent two hours cleaning up right alongside me, with nary a complaint, not a one. After our work was done (she was willing to stay on and clean up the other tree/site), we went to Bennigan's where I made sure she was well rewarded with a good meal and a couple of root beers... and a brownie-bottom pie. Oh to have a youngster's metabolism!
Well, my famous last words are, "I checked the links and they work."
Bombs away!
Looking forward to seeing everyone at some future FReep.
I'm planning to take September 11 off this year -- it's a Wednesday -- and I'll be at the Pentagon memorial site to pay my respects and REMEMBER 9/11. Hope others can join me there.
Deus Vult! 'Pod
FREE dixie NOW,sw
FREE the southland,sw
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