Free Republic

I don’t care whether you are a Republican, Democrat or Independent; all I know is that you are an American in heart and mind, even though, you may be like me, born of mixed heritage from immigrant families who escaped foreign shores to build lives here in this new land. You are still a product of this great melting pot of Americanism. Yes, my skin is olive and I am now an old geezer left over from WWII, where I served in the South Pacific, but sometimes age combined with many life experiences wakes us up, having given us some...

A small rural school district in Fort Bend County and a determined mother are tangled in a dispute over hair. Michelle Betenbaugh says her 5-year-old son, Adriel Arocha, wears his hair long because of religious beliefs tied to his Native American heritage. But the leaders of the Needville school district have strict rules about long hair on boys and don't see any reason to make an exception in his case. The dispute illustrates a problem American schools have faced for decades: how to balance individual student rights against rules designed to maintain order and discipline in the classroom. The case...

Congress is investigating oil speculators, bank stocks are being pummeled, and housing prices are dropping precipitously in certain markets. And this is the good news. I was always taught in my graduate and undergraduate classes that markets are rational, but after looking at the current market valuation of bank stocks, one must seriously consider if our markets are being manipulated. It would be reasonable to question whether the U.S. is being subjected to an economic attack. In the aftermath of 9/11, there was a great deal of speculation about...

Very rarely a well written scholarly book directed to the general reader not only corrects profound misperceptions of historical persons and events but also shows the true origin of a basic part of human social action. Such a book is Defending the Declaration by Gary T. Amos.1 This excellent book belongs in the library of every Christian church, college, school, history scholar and teacher, pastor, attorney, and family especially when home schooling. It should be required collateral reading in American history courses (high school and college) dealing with the origins of America. Last but not least it makes a wonderful...

"Polling stations using electronic voting systems suffered more voting discrepancies than polling stations using traditional paper votes ..."

FORT SAM HOUSTON - In his first public remarks since he and two other American hostages were freed in Colombia, a US defense contractor on Monday branded their captors as terrorists and praised the Colombian army for a daring rescue. Keith Stansell, one of three US defense contractors freed on July 2 after five years as a rebel-held hostage in Colombia, holds his twin 5-year-old sons at a news conference at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, July 7, 2008. [Agencies] American defense contractor Marc Gonsalves appeared with fellow hostages Keith Stansell and Thomas Howes at a...

Dear Friends, Family and fellow Americans, On this Fourth of July, as we celebrate our Country’s freedoms, I want you all to know about a great American. His story so powerful, Susan and I felt compelled to share it with you on this day in the spirit of those who have also served so honorably, that we may all enjoy the blessings of freedom. His name is Lt Col Allen West and he is running for US Congress. Upon detailed inquiry my wife Susan and I have chosen to support Col. West and we could not be more proud of...

http://www.realamericanstories.com/ People describe what it means for them to be an American.

It is Sunday and I am in the mood to probe the interest at FR for one of America's all time greatest artists and more specifically, classical composers: Charles Ives. I learned about him via composer, lyricist, and Brian Wilson collaborator Van Dyke Parks (also a true American original). And my love has, since it began in 1990 or thereabouts, never diminished). I have all of his recorded works and would not want to single out one masterpiece, they're all great, with the possible exception of the First Symphony (mainly because there's still too much Schumann and Brahms in there,...

An American Eagle flight taxiing to a Raleigh-Durham Airport runway was turned around Monday, but not because of a terrorist threat. The crew was kicking an autistic Cary toddler and his mother off the plane. As the American Eagle flight headed down the taxiway, two-and-a-half-year-old Jarett Farrell wasn't a happy traveler. His mother says she was doing all she could to calm the autistic boy, but got no sympathy from the flight crew. "If they just would have been a little more understanding I think that none of this would have been a problem," Mother, Janice Farrell said. But it...

WASHINGTON - In a campaign dominated by the economy and the Iraq War, the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling Thursday on detainees at Guantanamo marks a forceful reminder that John McCain promises one course and Barack Obama pledges another in picking future justices. In the current controversy, McCain quickly expressed his disapproval of the opinion, while Obama issued a statement of support. It fell to outsiders to point out the broader implications in the race for the White House.

Jerry Taylor, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, and Shepard Smith talk about today's oil markets. They make a good point about gas prices not rising proportionally with crude. Thank goodness for that!

His name is Dustin Carter. Dustin is a Hillsboro High School Wrestler that has no legs or arms, yet he often wins wrestling tournaments and amazes people through his life.

DES MOINES, Iowa -- A blind Iowa man scored a perfect 300 game at the Century Lanes bowling alley on Saturday, The Storm Lake Times reported. The Times said Dale Davis, 78, of Alta, called the game "quite a thrill." He rolled 12 back-to-back strikes, the first-ever perfect game at the Century Lanes, The Times reported. Excitement throughout the building grew as the crowd watched Davis roll ball after ball down the lanes. "When I got to the tenth frame, I said ‘Lord, let me throw three more good balls,’ Davis told The Times. Davis had given up his passion...

Did Comets Cause Ancient American Extinctions?Anne Casselman for National Geographic NewsMay 6, 2008 Debate has heated up over a controversial theory that suggests huge comet impacts wiped out North America's large mammals nearly 13,000 years ago. The hypothesis, first presented in May 2007, proposes that an onslaught of extraterrestrial bodies caused the mass extinction known as the Younger Dryas event and triggered a period of climatic cooling. The theory has been debated widely since it was introduced, but it drew new scrutiny in March at the annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada. Stuart...

May 2) - A Marine sergeant who became a symbol of resilience as he strove to recover from a roadside bomb blast in Iraq that blanketed 97 percent of his body with burns has died, the Defense Department said. He was 22. Sgt. Merlin German died April 11 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where he was continuing treatment for the injuries he suffered in combat on Feb. 22, 2005, the Pentagon said Thursday. The former turret gunner was dubbed the "Miracle Man" for his determination in facing his wounds, which cost the former saxophone player his fingers...

American portions reduce as food prices rise By Tom Leonard and Alex Spillius Last Updated: 1:57AM BST 30/04/2008 Faced with growing delivery costs driven by higher fuel prices, many US restaurants have done the previously unthinkable and introduced smaller food portions served on smaller plates. The increase in fuel prices was identified yesterday as the biggest issue affecting the lives of ordinary Americans. It surpassed even unemployment and home repossessions, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Until now, Americans have taken for granted the relative cheapness of petrol and food. Although $3·60 (£1·80) for a gallon of...

When Fox News Channel was launched promising news that was “fair and balanced,” mainstream outlets were insulted by the insinuation that their news wasn’t. They shouldn’t have been. In fact, “fair and balanced” news is a bad idea that was never in our past and will not be in our future. Before the printing press was invented, news was spread by word-of-mouth, so everyone had the opportunity to influence the top stories. Even governments had to compete, sometimes by hiring singing, colorfully-garbed minstrels to break through the clutter. A pretty good system, really — a multitude of voices competing in...

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2008 – People who couldn’t attend a day-long celebration of those who serve in the military here last week could still enjoy the sounds thanks to and Internet music and video site. The online music and entertainment site SyncLive made the festivities available via a live Web cast when the Fort Hood community came together April 11 to honor about 80,000 servicemembers and Defense Department civilians during a “Salute to Our Heroes” celebration. The celebration featured live music, but troops didn’t have to be on Fort Hood to enjoy the sounds. The artists who performed during...

American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA, a front for anti-Second Amendment entities) is running an ad in Pennsylvania that says Obama supports the rights of hunters and shooters. “The Democrats and Gun Control” from the Wall Street Journal [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120839466717921537.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries] exposes Obama for the liar he is. As a state senate candidate in 1996, Mr. Obama endorsed a complete ban on all handguns in a questionnaire. The Obama campaign has claimed he “never saw or approved the questionnaire,” and that an aide filled it out incorrectly. But a few weeks ago, Politico.com found an amended version of the questionnaire [http://www.politico.com/static/PPM43_080328_obama_iviquestionaire_091096.html]. It...

WASHINGTON, April 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA) announced the endorsement of Senator Barack Obama on a national conference call this morning organized by the Obama for President campaign. AHSA President Ray Schoenke made the following statement in his endorsement of Senator Obama: ...As a gun rights organization we have not come to this decision lightly. We were formed two years ago because our research shows that millions of gun owners wanted a change. They not only wanted an organization that would protect their gun rights but an organization that was also committed to the protection...

My liberal brother, in response to a patriotic e-mail my dad sent out, asked "Is there a "right" way to be an American?" My brother is retired from the Coast Guard and like me is an Eagle Scout so I shouldn't have to explain it to him. But over the years he has gone to the dark side, hook, line, and sinker... I'm in the process of crafting a reply but could use some help and figured this was a good place to start. I'm not trying to slap him down but want to make a thoughtful reply. I can...

"Security is not the most important thing," he said. "What's more important for elections is auditability."

"The costs are staggering."

This video is good footage of a Red Tailed Hawk, also known as a Chicken Hawk and it’s Song. I redid this video with a little more effects. I'm sure you will enjoy this animated video.

My Father in Law died last weekend. My husband and I brought him to the hospital for orthopedic surgery. The next day we found out he suffered with pancreatic cancer. The next week we sat by his side 24/7 as he suffered and died but mostly talked about his experiences in the Navy. What were his last words? "I was an Aviation Machinist Mate in the US Navy". He prayed with us. He joked with us. But he loved his country and he was so proud of his service. He mostly loved to talk about that time than any other...

A tangle with a cop and an achy heartBy Jeri Rowe Staff writer Tuesday, Apr. 1, 2008 3:00 am GREENSBORO — Alexander Kohanowich is a patriotic guy. His six grandchildren call him Pop. For at least five years, Pop has traveled around our city, showing his support for American troops overseas. He doesn't say much. He just holds his signs at busy intersections and busy events to get people's attention. Maybe you've seen him. He'll hang, say, on Westover Terrace, near Wendover. He'll face east in the morning, west in the afternoon, so drivers can see his signs clearly, without...

American West Heating Nearly Twice As Fast As Rest Of World, New Analysis ShowsColorado River, Utah. The West's most pronounced temperature increase is in the Colorado River basin, which has warmed more than twice as much as the global average, with effects that put at risk a major water supply. (Credit: iStockphoto/Eric Foltz) ScienceDaily (Mar. 30, 2008) — The American West is heating up more rapidly than the rest of the world, according to a new analysis of the most recent federal government temperature figures. The news is especially bad for some of the nation’s fastest growing cities, which receive...

Can the blogosphere [And Freerepublic] really do things big media can’t? Let’s find out. I have a project I think is perfect for just the sort of folks who read The Corner and other political blogs. This project is way too big for me to do all by myself. What’s needed to make it work is an informal alliance of local bloggers, student newspapers, and concerned citizens across the country. Through Freedom of Information Act requests and discussions with officials at the Department of Education, I recently obtained a comprehensive list of large gifts to American universities originating in foreign...

As a black American, I would love to see a class action law suit against those responsible for the big lie,“Blacks can't make it in America”. Black America vs The Modern Civil Rights Movement. Big Civil Rights is guilty of an relentless and cruel self aggrandizing effort to instill victim and entitlement mindsets into black youths. Damages are extensive including an elevated percentage of black males in prison, school dropouts, illegitimate births, stolen dreams, racial hatred and anti-patriotism. My witnesses for the prosecution would begin with Oprah, Chris Gardner, portrayed in the movie, “The Pursuit of Happyness” and the roster...

By Rowan Scarborough, Insight An American Muslim group identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in a criminal terrorism case is being used by the FBI to train its agents about Islam. The FBI declined to respond to Insight’s questions about this seeming disconnect, as one of the pre-eminent anti-terrorist research centers in America is set to release an extensive report on the same prominent U.S. Muslim group, accusing the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) of being a foe, rather than an ally, in the war on terror. The 10-part report on CAIR from The Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), led by...

(IsraelNN.com) Jewish U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Officer Brian Israel, a border officer on the Canadian-American border is sueing the US Border Patrol after years of anti-Semitic abise. According to VIN News, "Officer Israel was subjected to anti-Semitic activity almost immediately [upon being hired ten years ago]. He found swastikas and Waffen SS lighting stripes on his locker, and was regularly sent out by his management to clear 'his people' when the 'smelly Jew Bus' (typically vehicles operated by Heiman's Bus Service or other companies from Brooklyn) [arrived]." The report continues: "Though Israel is a life-long public servant with...

This is a video of a rare Columbian parakeet named Perija and there is only a few in number of this type of parakeet. With an animation of the parakeet’s photo I use it for a greeting on my you-tube videos and wish to say hello and God bless you also at Free Republic. Revski

"...The results produced some remarkable anomalies, such as 21 counties showing no Republican voters and three counties showing no Democratic voters..."

Driving down to Austin lately has become a real trip. I-35 is usually packed for most of the 185 miles, and what used to take three or four hours now can take five or six. Flying down can take almost as long, when you figure in airline security delays, more flight delays, and the time it takes getting into and out of crowded airports. But what if it took 45 minutes to travel from the Metroplex to Austin by train or an hour to make a trip to Houston? Advocates of high-speed rail lines are floating these ideas once again...

After years of reader mail and surfing dozens of high traffic conservative blogs reading thousands of “conservative” comments concerning who or what is or isn’t “conservative,” it is clear that Republicans no longer agree on what the word “conservative” means. Unless conservatives can agree on what it is to be “conservative,” the conservative movement in America will remain fractured and powerless. (snip) I am convinced that there really is only one realistic definition for the term “conservative.” One can be “conservative” about many different things. But at the foundation, no matter the issue or subject at hand, to be conservative...

First American primate scurried in through Alaska 22:00 03 March 2008 NewScientist.com news service Andy Coghlan Fossil teeth of the mouse-sized monkey were found in Mississippi and dated to around 55 million years ago (Illustration: Mark A. Klingler/CMNH)The primate's teeth indicate that it lived on a diet of fruit and berries (Image: Joe Suhan/CMU and Mark A Klingler/CMNH)It was only the size of a mouse, but it has the distinction of being the first primate to scurry into the New World. Fossilised teeth of the monkey Teilhardina magnoliana have been found in rocks in Mississippi. They were dated as younger...

"The numbers from the cartridges that print out vote tallies and the paper-tape backup didn't match..."

Some scholars believe North America is forging a unique culture. They call it `l'américanité' MONTREAL–The question, from an audience member, is asked in French. It is spontaneously translated into rapid-fire Spanish by the Québécois poet seated onstage and answered in faintly-accented English by the Mexican screenwriter. The questioner, naturally enough, nods his head in understanding. "I guess that question kind of answers why we're all here today," said Anai López, the Mexican screenwriter, a note of wonder in her voice. Behold an extraordinary, idealized illustration of the North American dynamic, the by-product of a discussion on the unwieldy, ephemeral and...

I am an American conservative not a conservative American. To me they are two very different things. I recognize the extreme danger America would from a Democrat president. There is no chance I would ever vote for a Democrat or stay home. America is too important to me. I am sick of people playing politics with the future of my country. Given the choice between the conservative movement and my country, I will vote for the safety of America in a heartbeat. I will never vote to teach the country a “lesson” with a Democrat president. I don’t play with...

Reporter Peter Smith talks with author Adam Shepard.Alone on a dark gritty street, Adam Shepard searched for a homeless shelter. He had a gym bag, $25, and little else. A former college athlete with a bachelor's degree, Mr. Shepard had left a comfortable life with supportive parents in Raleigh, N.C. Now he was an outsider on the wrong side of the tracks in Charles­ton, S.C. But Shepard's descent into poverty in the summer of 2006 was no accident. Shortly after graduating from Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass., he intentionally left his parents' home to test the vivacity of the...

How conservative is Mr. McCain? During his quarter century in Washington, the senator has assembled an 82% rating from the American Conservative Union, placing him 39th among senators in 2006, while drawing a 25% lifetime rating from the liberal American Civil Liberties Union. Hillary Clinton, by contrast, has a 75% ACLU lifetime rating. A scorecard by the antitax Club for Growth, a conservative political-action committee, ranked him 29th among 55 Republican senators in 2006.

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (Feb. 7, 2008) -- Lance Cpl. Mario Pacheco-Perez had only one request after being naturalized before a packed house at Harry Lee Hall here Friday – a moment of silence for the immigrants who died serving the country before they had a chance to be in his place. “I wish to share this moment with them,” said the 22-year-old Marine. Pacheco-Perez’s coworkers said the request came as no surprise. “That’s him,” said William Hicks, assistant head of the Marine Corps Promotions Branch, where Pacheco-Perez is a board support Marine. Pacheco-Perez grew up in Mexico City,...

ATicketToHell.com 90 West Afton Avenue Suite 190 Yardley, PA 19067 News Release For Immediate Release: February 4, 2008 Media Contact: Lou Lozano Email: lou@atickettohell.com http://www.ATicketToHell.com Berkeley City Council Receives Tickets to Hell Philadelphia, PA (February 2, 2008) Philadelphia based website; www.ATicketToHell.com has sent each member of the Berkeley City Council a ticket to hell. Although this is offered as a gift that will bring chuckles, giggles, and maybe even hysterics that turn to tears, there are times, like this when the message is clear: Your actions may bring you more that you ever dreamed. The reservation and tickets were sent...

"...many experts say that a paper trail alone can't solve the problem..."

American woman kidnapped in Afghanistan By NOOR KHAN, Associated Press Writer 17 minutes ago Gunmen kidnapped a burqa-clad American aid worker and her driver in southern Afghanistan's largest city early Saturday, snatching the woman from a residential neighborhood as she was on her way to work. The American worked in Kandahar for the Asian Rural Life Development Foundation, said Jeff Palmer, its international director. Palmer said the group had not been contacted by the kidnappers and that he did not know their identity or demands. Asadullah Khalid, the provincial governor, blamed the kidnappings on the "enemy of Islam and the...

Good Video

Each Candidate perform a salute at the next debate.

The Iraqi Army is leading its first joint foot patrols through areas of Baghdad under the mentoring eye of the US/UK Military Transition Team (MiTT). In the divided Sunni/Shia district of West Rashid 'Mahala', Iraqi, American and British troops have been cooperating to improve the security and stability. The 11-man US-led MiTT team also has four members of 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland posted to it from Basrah.... Captain Kev Gartside of the 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland explained why the British troops are serving in Baghdad: "The Iraqi Battalion here is from the 10th Division,...