Ron Paul Revolution -- it's personal
Posted January 3rd, 2008 by ProspectorSam
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(On the very brink of the primary season, this needed to be said. It's been rumbling around inside me for a while now. I could elaborate much further on all this, but I hate long articles and love the Golden Rule. ;-) )
First, let me stipulate that the issues championed by Dr. Ron Paul are the issues I care about as well, and no other candidate has stood for them and understands them and *teaches* people about them like he does. There is no substitute among his opponents; he is entirely alone in this regard. The rest sometimes say a few things which sound like what he says, but if you scratch their surfaces, you find that they voted the other way, or they are chummy with the Establishment while pretending to be populist, or fall short in other ways. So Ron Paul is the only candidate who interests me on the issues, both for what he says and for what he has always done to "walk the talk".
Now, let me personalize this.
Ron Paul has lived an exemplary life. 50 years married to his wonderful mate Carol, 5 kids, 18 grandkids, an M.D. with years of service delivering thousands of babies and serving for several years in the Air Force, 10 terms in the House of Representatives during which he frequently cast the lone "No" vote to oppose all sorts of dubious, unconstitutional projects and held forth so impressively against Federal Reserve chairmen that they were beaten into submission by the blunt force of his clear and unamused logic and obvious command of the subject of monetary policy, a handful of books on weighty subjects like economics and foreign policy, and the list goes on. He's even run for president once before, giving it a go on the Libertarian ticket 20 years ago (and discovering how hard a fight that is). I could tell you more, but it's all like that. The guy even set state track records in school and was elected student body president as a straight-A student. Seriously. Look it up.
Your humble author of this little article, by comparison, has done more or less nothing. I don't mean that literally; I've made a mark here and there on some of those I've encountered along the way. I've got my share of friends and family and been well-received in most of what I've gotten myself into over the years. But, on paper, I am simply not presidential candidate material. This is due to deficiencies in me, or at least in the choices I've made, and haven't made. While that isn't much fun to contemplate for me, I can't deny it, and I don't try.
So, put simply: I can never be a Ron Paul. It's too late for me at this stage in my life. I can (and do, and will) support others with my time and energy (I have no money), but I will never be the one whose name goes on all the signs -- and is then subjected to the requisite public media enema.
Because of this situation, and because I have enthusiastically supported Ron Paul ever since I learned about him a decade or so ago, his campaign for president has become far more than just another campaign for me. He is not just my candidate. He is my proxy. What is done to him is done to me. What is done for him is done for me.
When I see someone make a video on YouTube extolling the virtues of Ron Paul, it strengthens me. Ron's dreams are mine. Pick them up and carry them, and you take me with you as well. Your efforts mean everything to me and I'm dumbfounded every day at how great it is to see them.
When a presstitute tells Ron Paul he can't win, I feel the slap on my face. Ron's hopes are mine. Crush them and you crush mine too. He is a better me than I'll ever be, at least in political candidate terms. What is out of his reach is clearly out of mine, not just now, but forever -- at least, in a world not remade by the RPR... which, logically, amounts to the same thing. (Think about it.)
So, the way I see things, as goes Ron Paul's candidacy, so goes my very future. A world which rejects Ron rejects me. A world which accepts him accepts me (at least possibly) -- and I have never felt like I fit in with the sea of corruption and deceit I see around me. To experience that feeling of belonging would be so great... I can't dwell on that too much. Suffice to say, it would mean the world to me in many ways. ;-)
*That's* why I spend so much time commenting about RP on YouTube, and here, and occasionally elsewhere. That's why I vote in so many dumb online polls. That's why I've marched through my city and stood on an overpass so many times in all kinds of weather. That's why I always have RP cards in my pocket to hand out, and lots more RP stuff in my car. It's *my* fight. Ron Paul isn't just another politician. When you see him, see me too; I'm there with him. I'm not a spammer. I'm just another nobody who will never be on your ballot under my own name. When you look at your ballot as a voter and see "Ron Paul"... you're looking at me, too. When you review your options as a news editor and choose to omit any coverage of the Ron Paul campaign, you're dropping me on that same cutting room floor. When you're watching that Ron Paul DVD a friend or an activist gave you, you're getting my message to you. How will you decide to respond to the choice in front of you? You hold my future in your hands with his.
I don't want you to give him anything he doesn't deserve. I want you to give him what *I* don't deserve, because I will never be able to earn it if he can't. For all the times and all the ways I screwed up my own life (again, speaking politically here, at least), and for all the times Ron Paul made better choices than I did, I just want you to say "yes" to *him*, since it'll never be me.
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Aw, man....
That's really a magnificent screed. Thanks for this great post, my brother. I'm going to have to send this to a few people I know that don't frequent this site. What an emotional read. How well put! We are brothers in spirit.
I can only imagine
how many others are sitting in front of their computer screens with tears rolling down their faces as I am now. You said it for all of us.
Thank you for that beautiful, eloquent truth.
I will weigh in too
For me as well, and I am a new blogger here-- I love this site, by the way--this rEVOLution is very personal and extremely transformative. I have felt overwhelmed this past year, and especially this last week, with Dr. Paul's advice being sought all over even the mainstream media, you could see the fear in the eyes of the media personnel, and hear the real craving in their voices for his wisdom. I've been able to educate co-workers about the Federal Reserve and monetary policy, and I myself was completely ignorant about it a year ago. It has heartened me and made me sad at the same time, that this is the man who should be our next President. As he has said, the quest for liberty has continued and grown, even after he was stymied in seeking the nomination that should have been his. To see so many people seeking his wisdom now demonstrates that he is the man who has the necessary knowledge, wisdom, and other qualities to lead the nation at this time in history. Day by day he emerges as the true leader.
Good to see ya sam
crackers4paul
We must have been thinking the same thing at the same time. Get ready. Do not fear them. What can they take from us? I think the spirit is only going to ask one question.
"What side were you on?"
Peace and Strength to you all!
A great blast from the past to remind us of what its all about
I've posted a few comments over the last year with similar sentiments, but this post is great.
As I see the fruits of our rEVOLution coming to bear, I am overjoyed at the uptake of Dr. Paul's message.
One year ago, no one dared talk about the Federal Reserve in public without being blasted as a lunatic. Ron Paul has got millions of us talking about it now.
And that, alone, is worth every day and every dollar of this last year and half that I have put into the Ron Paul rEVOLution.
Get your own "Ron Paul for Treasury Secretary" or "Nothing Changes 1-20-09 / Vote Third Party" sticker, designed by AlaskaRon, today!
http://www.cafepress.com/...
Yes, for me too this reLOVEution is personal
for 30 years I have argued -- alone -- for freedom, its morality and its effectiveness. Sure there have been great brains who have accompanied me in book form (Friedman, Hyak, Rothsbard) and organizations to whom I could turn (Cato, Reason, Advocates, Liberty), but it was largely a lonely fight. I've despaired for human freedom this last decade and kept largely silent.
But Ron Paul kept at it, and kept at it, and kept at it.
Heck I thought he was largely done in '88.
But what a lesson to me about keep on keeping on the...
Happy Dancing re[love]ution,
Dennis
Thank you for...
your endorsement, mr huckabee!...Just kidding! :o)
Well stated! Excellent perspective that reminds us why we're all here.
Amen and bravo!
Well done, thank you. A few months ago I thought the good Dr. was 'just another politician' but the candidates at google interview won me over.
It feels good to have hope!
hey Cia, it's Jamie from Oregon here
I'm going out on a limb to guess there aren't 2 Cia W's who are political cynics. ;-)
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Great!
That was great and is the same way i feel. I mentioned to my father the other day that every time the old media rejects or slights Dr. Paul they reject Jefferson, Paine, Washington and our unique American heritage of liberty...they even reject me. Well said my friend.
This is beautiful
And so very true for many if not all of us.
Ron Paul is everyone of us!
We are all a part of this revolution because of what we hold to be true. Man is at his best only when he is free body and soul. What we ask is only natural, we seek to exercise our rights as free individuals, free of the confines of artificial constructs such as our current Federal government.
In freedom only will man truly shine....
The time is now.....
Great post
You reflect a lot of what I feel and others also feel. I am not perfect either and don't have the credentials of Ron Paul. But Ron Paul stands for a great truth and integrity that we all can personally relate too. What Dr. Paul has done is awaken all of us, you and me, to self-realization as to what is good and true. Dr. Paul is right when its more about the message than him. Dr. Paul is the message bearer. An honest and worthy man to carry the message to all of us. Because of Dr. Paul and the message we can all relate and support the message and truth, and that alone makes us better people. Congratulations of your effort, it is not done in vain! I commend you and look forward to fellowship with you and other Ron Paul supporters. God bless you and Ron Paul!
very great. im not in
very great. im not in politics, but i think the message resounds strongly. An elitist controlled world that rejects RP rejects all of us and all that we believe in and stand for. They reject the traditional values that built america, and the very constitution this country stands on. For those reasons alone, what else more does one need as evidence that outright war has been declared on us, the people, who have so long been willfully ignorant to our own vices until now?
many more people feel as we do, exactly like this, and yet they have not heard of paul, or know only that hes from texas (and given bush's track record, what better reason not to give him another thought?) Ive talked to just two today and informed them that there is hope this election and told them to look up and research for themselves what he stands for. RP stands for the strength that we find in ourselves. In turn that is our greatest campaigning strength. A vote for Ron Paul is a vote of no-confidence to the current establishment, but even moreso, its a vote of SELF-confidence, to rule and govern your own life.
Thanks for this post, it was a great read. P.S. are you a politician of some sort? care not to say on the basis of anonymity? regardless, well stated sir.
Cool
Great sentiments. Nicely written. I feel much the same way. Thanks.
We have and
Freedom is not FREE!!
will continue to make the difference.
I am just a heathen but God belss you and ALL Ron Paul supporters.
Amen Brother.
Sam that was spectacularly written, and that compliment comes from someone who has had people come to his house, and knock on the door, just to commend him on letters written on behalf of myself, and other residents in our community, and I couldn't have phrased that as well as you have. You have written my story, better than I could have. Nice job. Nice picture painted. Hopefully some of these younger people here understand the moral of your story. I do, but unfortunately, wisdom comes with age, and in most cases, too late.
you know what they say about experience (wisdom)
Experience: what you get right after you need it.
;-)
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bravo!
and I must say that I share your perspective.
My God that was a great post!
The weak and the strong can not keep the same company!!
I say this with the utmost sincerity, I feel the same way! When the MSM slights him they slight all of his supporters and they think we will just forget this. BS, we will start boycotts that will last for years!
I mean it, I will stand next to the bridge in my town and make it known how corrupt our news organizations are.
They are waking a giant that won't be put back to sleep!
Larry King left Dr. Paul outside in Freezing weather knowing he was not going to run that video!
The Zionist do not know how much damage they are doing to themselves. Dr. Paul is not gore or Kerry he is us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Up
ya' go!!
Props to You!!
crackers4paul
Man, you said it better than I did. Here's to you!
Bump Bump Bump!!!!
thanks Todd
I don't know though; your post was short and sweet and you actually made the most positive point of all (out of what both of us wrote), right in your subject. I like what I wrote and I like what you wrote.
In any case, you were right in your reply to my post on your thread: the fact that we both independently wrote such similar things at about the same time does legitimize these feelings even further.
T minus 2 hours and 3 minutes.........
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I'm proud to be in this with you!
crackers4paul
We're all in this together Sam! Glad to know we're on the same team.
Campaign theme song
Black eyed peas Where is the love
http://www.youtube.com/wa...
I suggest the song too legit
I suggest the song too legit to quit :)
Understood
It is extremely personal for me also. Tears come so easily because my every fiber is in this race. This is totally different.
I have supported these views for decades now. But something has always been wrong when it comes to the actual race. This time it is right. Before I knew Ron Paul very well, I was behind him all the way because of his message. I knew about him. Then I began to know him more personally. At first, when he would say, "I don't think this revolution is about me, it is about the message," for a week or so, I agreed with him totally and chuckled that he realized it. But then, after a short introductory period to the actual man, I now realize, he really is at least half of the reason for the revolution. He measures up to his message. It is the message. It is also him. If he decides to leave the country, I'm going where he goes.