Discovering Ron Paul: From Nut to Hero
Posted July 30th, 2008 by sempiternal
output
I was asked to digg my experience, so here it is :
The first time I spent any time listening to Ron Paul was at the Republican debates at Reagan Library on January 30, 2008. But I still paid little attention to him and did not want to bother finding out what he was all about. Since Romney has a history of turning bad financial situations around, and is very intelligent, I was supporting him and pretty much making fun of Ron Paul, just like most everyone else.
But I was not making fun of Ron Paul for what he stood for, I didn't really know, I was merely making fun of him because of first impressions and what the media was telling me about him - especially Sean Hannity.
Even prior to the Reagan debate, I had been told about Ron Paul, but didn't really understand what he stood for or what his values really were. As a result, I always had the impression he was a red-nosed 'clown' with no chance of winning, and he seemed to get too excited and whine too much when he talked. I was basically purely and ignorantly judging him based upon exactly what the media was representing him as.
After hearing a little about Ron Paul from someone, I still thought he was a nut! How could we just pull out of a war and give up, essentially losing everything already sacrificed? I had personally been involved in two similar wars, where it felt like the government just gave up, and in doing so seemingly made all the great sacrifices for naught. Ron Paul is nuts, I thought.
How did this change?
It was only through a significant outrageous event that I began to wake up to the reality all around me.
The massive government raid on the FLDS ranch got me searching the Internet for what the hell was going on.
At first, I went to Hannity.com to post there and ask questions, but found out that most the people in those forums were actually a bunch of ignorant name-calling people that were happy that these people got raided. They had no clue how the government was abusing the Constitution and these FLDS people, and didn't care.
After many searches for news media on the FLDS and seeing all the misrepresentations and outrageous claims and lies made by the government and parroted by the media, the final search before I spent the time to become aware of who Ron Paul really is, was here to www.dailypaul.com.
After coming here, I found many people that realized the same things as I did, that these FLDS people were having their rights severely violated by the government, there was almost nobody at Daily Paul that disagreed. I was amazed at the difference in the people from Sean Hannity's site compared to Daily Paul; it was the difference between discussing things with a 4th grade bully constantly calling names for no purpose other than noise, to an educated group of adults talking about issues around the table. That made a big impression on me.
After that, I realized I really needed to spend some time finding out who Ron Paul was and to also stop listening to Sean Hannity and the TV.
Finally taking the time to actually listen to what Ron Paul had been saying all along, I was overwhelmed -- I couldn't believe how distorted the truth and media had been about Paul, and how foolish I had been to not even listen to the man when considering Presidential candidates.
I was stunned with a clear pattern of extreme media distortion, even on major issues such as Presidential candidates and the government stealing children from families. What else was the media horribly misrepresenting?
I imagine the rest of the nation is still in the same boat as I was, floating happily around the tip of a massive iceberg of excessive government hiding directly beneath the surface. Without a significant event that really makes a big splash, catches their attention and grabs a hold of them, shaking them out of their slumber, they will continue to believe the TV and pay no attention to Ron Paul.
In the end, it's now obvious I was the nut, and so are the rest of the ignorant Americans, ignoring Ron Paul by default, ignoring Ron Paul because they are told to. Not even educating themselves on the most viable candidate for actually honoring his oath of office.
As for the war, now I realize we shouldn't have been there to begin with, it was justified based upon lies, the head of the CIA was disgracefully forced to resign because of it. With my newfound realization that we went to war based upon lies, it's apparent that leaving is not giving up everything already sacrificed, leaving is cutting our losses short and preventing further unnecessary sacrifice - the longer we stay, the more we lose.
Now I know the truth.
Ron Paul supporters are actually educated on the issues, they know the truth and they know what is going on - many of those supporting other candidates merely watch TV to found the basis of their opinions and ignore everything else past that point - and I am embarrassed to say, I was one of them.
If there is anyone that should be President of America, it is the person that will actually honor the oath of office, ignoring any criticisms regardless of how popular they might seem to be, and strictly defend the Constitution of the United States against all attacks, both foreign and domestic.
While nobody else dared to, Ron Paul has done just that, consistently, for decades, even if bravely standing alone for what was right.
Ron Paul is an American Hero.
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For our Hero..... Great post.
This is encouraging.
As good a man as Dr. Paul is he's the first to say that he's imperfect, like all of us, but he's convinced that the message of liberty, peace, and Constitutional govt has no flaws. When people discover Ron Paul and what he stands for they're usually sold. Welcome.... and thanks for the post.
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"I killed the banks"
We'd all be better off not listening to the sean hannity's
Welcome to the Family of Freedom Lovers. I enjoyed every word of your post. You had me right there and I was able to see the crowds of others through your eyes and I thank you for that.
This forum has a wealth of wisdom & experience. I'm so glad to know you were drawn to Ron Paul in part by us. Honestly, I try other forums but they are as you say, like a room full of 4th grade bullies, ignorant to anything other than what they were told. If there is not honest depth and actual wisdom thru experience it does not hold me.
So to all my fellow Daily Paulers... I bow to you and just want you all to know I'm honored & proud to call you guys my family!
Sempiternal...
I could not Digg it, so I blogged it here: http://daughterofliberty....
and here is a comment I received from Jane Aitken and wanted to share with all of you:
"Thank you so much for this honest post. You are a person of character to admit you were wrong, but moreso, you are smart to wake up to the idea tha the media has an agenda and what they tell you (or don’t tell you) is shaping the news for that agenda.
Welcome to the realm of the truth!
- Jane (the mother of the Ron Paul Revolution)"
and Thanks, Jane!
Vali
'...truth is loved in such a way that those who love some other thing want it to be the truth, and precisely because they do not wish to be deceived, are unwilling to be convinced that they are deceived." --- St. Augustine, Confessions (10:23), 5th c.
Welcome aboard Citizen
Welcome aboard Citizen Sempiternal.
I tried to digg this but it wouldn't go, this was the message I
got: This domain has been consistently flagged as an intermediary to the direct source of news and/or video content. Please linke directly to the story source.
The battle today is not between conservatives and liberals or Republicans and Democrats. It is a battle between Americans and globalists. ~ Chuck Baldwin
BUMP THE HELL OUT OF THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!
I dont usually bump, but DAMN!!!!!!!
WOW!! I usually just skim over long posts like this, but your
comment forced me to read the whole thing!! THANK YOU for keeping me from overlooking it!!!! This is such a great post!!!!!!
INSPIRE OTHERS! www.dvds4delegates.com
Want to know more about dvds4delegates?? http://www.youtube.com/wa...
Historic moment at WA State Convention at minute 4 here!!
http://www.youtube.com/wa...
Awesome
Welcome to the movement.
Restore the Republic.
_________________________________
My liberty-minded home base of thought:
www.ponderthis.net
bump
Im glad you are awake now. Now that you are awake it will be difficult to go back to that river called de Nile. Welcome aboard
Great- Too bad most of regular LDS, Mormons don't wake up!!!
I come from a LDS, Mormon family. I was Mormon for 20 years myself.
I'm so disillusioned by how many Mormons are SOOO blinded right now. If you look at statistics they were larger supporters of the 'Neo-Conservative' movement than most any other group!!!!!!
That scares me!!!
Too many Mormons have allowed themselves to become brain washed by the Main Stream Media- and have stopped listening to past leaders-prophets of the church, i.e., Ezra Taft Benson, David O. McKay, etc...
Great Story!
We really have to pull people away from the TV News/Culture suction! - Share this story.
Musician, Blimpographer...Hear my music: www.myspace.com/americanp...
Here! Here!
Enough said!
Hector Roos
Miami, FL
See our local meetup forum: http://www.ronpaulforums....
Miami Students for Ron Paul:
http://www.FIU4RonPaul.co...
What a great story
Thanks for posting this!! I hope there are more out there like you every day.
I like the point you make...That Ron Paul is THE ONLY viable candidate....to honor his oath of office. So true!
Thank thank thank you
If our population just took the time to educate themselves and not rely on the 30 second media clips on the candidates, Obama and McCain would not be in the position they are in today. Thanks to the internet we have been able to rally and thanks to people like you, education will spread.
The R3volution has not died "it has only begun"
Welcome to the Family..
hope is on the way..
http://www.youtube.com/wa...
Once again, thanks for your honesty.
Digg won't let me digg this, or I would.
Glad to have you onboard.
Vali
'...truth is loved in such a way that those who love some other thing want it to be the truth, and precisely because they do not wish to be deceived, are unwilling to be convinced that they are deceived." --- St. Augustine, Confessions (10:23), 5th c.
Glad you "saw the light..."
...and I invite you to write-in Ron Paul in November because we may never have another chance to do it. That's what I am going to do. And besides, does it really matter which of the other two candidates win anyway???
Pawnstorm
AAHHHHHH...Wake up to that smell of caffeinated Freedom right...
..here at the Daily Paul! It has that special liberty "kick" to it....
WELCOME!!!
The media is human too
and went through the same process you did. They first saw him as a a silly or angry old man, but then over time they began to listen to him and take him more seriously.
Personalize the message...
Great posting!
I've noticed that people finally understand Dr. Paul's message as soon as it is "personalized" to their individual concerns.
Apparently, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints issue really strikes a chord for you. Applying Ron Paul's message to that issue, which you value very much, is what caused you to really understand what we're all about.
My fiance, Bonnie, is really good at doing this for people. Recently, she was talking with some locals who were very upset about eminent domain. Bonnie pointed out how the Federal reserve taking over all these bad mortages is essentially the same as "eminent domain in a roundabout way." All of a sudden these people want to read about the Federal Reserve Bank!
Yes, you're right, it takes a significant issue for the spark
That was one of the points I was trying to make.
I'm not FLDS or even religious, but when I saw the government taking children away from families based upon rumors, that was not only a spark, it set me on fire.
Fortunately, I stumbled across this site along the way. Even after coming here, I was mostly still interested in the FLDS case - it took effort and time on my part to research what Ron Paul actually stood for, before I was convinced.
There was a delicate time between when I arrived here and when I finally decided to spend some good effort on learning about Ron Paul, where I could have easily been lost back into the herd.
It's kind of amazing looking back at it now.
Once you learn about Ron Paul, your eyes open to so many things!
good point about eminent domain.
Thanks for posting that.
Great story! Welcome!!!
"Whether you think you can or think you cannot, you're absolutely right!"
Good man, welcome aboard.
You went thru what most people did. It is important that we use the tone you have used in your text and not treat our rEVOLution as if somehow we have seen the light and then act like we are the "truth" holders.
We must learn to listen to people and understand that there have been years of conditioning that have preceded our movement. People will not change their minds or "see the light". They must be made to realise that our policies are in fact the most logical and coherent in a way that does not scare them off. We must never underestimate the power of the media, and be more thoughtful and less passionate about how we deliver our messages.
Peace
What a beautiful story!
Next time I'm at a republican meeting facing a crotchety old man complaining about how if I'm an obnoxious Ron Paul supporter who doesn't want to suck it up and throw my support behind John McCain, I should just leave the party, I'll remember what you wrote here, and take heart.
I know that crotchety old man too......
Mine gets in my face & ooozes guilt at me every chance he gets.
Blaaah blaaah I'm an old man, this might be my last election... don't let me die with a democrat in office. Remember what I'm telling you, I might not live long enough for the next election, do it for me..... yada yada
This is usually when I tell him if the GOP actually had a republican running I might vote for them. Eventually I shoo him away with nuttin but the facts (those types don't want to hear facts).
About this time he heads for the nearest executive committee person he can find to start tatteling that I refuse to vote McCain.
And so it goes.........
Great post...
gives me a lil' hope =)
____ _____ _____ _____ ______ ______ _____ ___
“Revolutions never go backward.”
Wendell Phillips
We never know
who is reading (and being influenced) by the opinions and views of those on DP concerning issue of the public....we should always keep that in mind when blogging here...
Greatly enjoyed your story sempiternal
May your numbers be increased exponentially.
“Ignorance is of a peculiar nature; once dispelled, it is impossible to re-establish it. It is not originally a thing of itself, but is only the absence of knowledge; and though man may be kept ignorant, he cannot be made ignorant.”
-Thomas Paine, Rights of Man
Best regards.
_________________________________________
"An economy built on fiat money is a society on its way to ashes."
Taht is a great quote,
Taht is a great quote, austri, and this post is great and I applaud the poster for taking the time to write it. I hope he/she can convince others to pay attention to RP as well. No matter what happens in the election, as long as US people wake up, the country will begin to get back on track. We are SERIOUS.
Ron Paul Believes Polygamy Is A States Rights Issue
Those states that allowed polygamy would become cesspools like Mexico.
Those states that forbade men from impregnating multiple women would become beacons of liberty.
You know...
I was thinking to have a serious look at the direct representation business you advocate. Thanks for saving me the trouble.
Everything is a state's
Everything is a state's rights issue, to a strict constructionist/constitutionalist.
Shouldn't you be on a Mike Huckabee Forum or something?
SUPPORT OUR FOUNDERS' AMERICA
Support the Constitution of the United States
wow...talk about ignorance
Mexico is NOT a cesspool. Judging and forbidding people from polygamy does NOT have anything to do with liberty.
So!
If you lived in that state it would be YOUR responsibility to get off your ass and CHANGE it if you didnt like it. States laws and regulations are much easier to modify than federal. Not to mention you could always move ...as would many others if it became a "cesspool".... leaving the state with no tax base .... making the state fix the error of its ways....
How bout thinking instead of making foolish statements.
____ _____ _____ _____ ______ ______ _____ ___
“Revolutions never go backward.”
Wendell Phillips
Seriously?
In an age of preemptive war and economic disaster.....you are worried about polygamy?
It has been said that all men seek their own levels of
misery with which they are comfortable. :)
_________________________________________
"An economy built on fiat money is a society on its way to ashes."
hah
thats pretty good.
quote attributed to?
Now that's comedy.
Now that's comedy.
Thank you patriot
for posting this very uplifting letter.
http://www.flickr.com/pho...
Awesome!
I hope alot of people read your account of your awakening experiences.
This could really get some people to take another look at what their world view is, and how the media creates it.
Well written very
heart-warming account..
permission
I would like to cut and paste your account into some emails and send it to friends (I would like to convert to our cause). Do you have any objection to my doing that?
Feel Free
Not at all, I posted my experience publicly so other's could read it, so feel free to pass it around as much as you like, especially to those begrudging McCain supporters, like I used to be.
Great message!!!
--Cliff, Sioux City, Iowa
Thank you
for your wonderful message.. were I to hear this from you I would give you a big hug.. you stirred my heart here!
Failing the hug in real life, a big virtual hug from Down Under!
Wonderful message
from the heart. Yes, it is wonderful more people are awakening through different ways, one the FLDS case, other the economy, others the Iraq war and new revelations, like Scot McClellan or the hearing on Friday etc. etc.
I have heard a conservative strong pro-war GOP congressman from the south has heard the audio of Viktor Bugliosi's book about the prosecution of Bush for murder and he is fully convinced about that and want to contact Bugliosi with his colleagues to discuss how one can work together. His conscience is bothering him. The movement is picking up steam.
Romney, with his deficiencies is a nice man still and he projected himself pretty much as a Ronald Reagan Republican, limited govt, but still changed his mind about no child left behind. I have seen him and Ron Paul on friendly terms in Nevada in a youtube video and he must also acknowledge that Dr. Paul never attacked him personally and was the first or one of the first to defend the whole issue that there was such an issue made of Romney's religion.
What Bothers Me About Romney
Is that even after strongly disagreeing with McCain, and suffering through McCain's ridiculous arguments and attacks, Romney then got right behind supporting McCain after suspending his campaign.
It seems he was way too easily influenced to start supporting, speaking for, and raising money for McCain, right after having had to deal with this terrible little man.
It's really like he sold out to remain in McCain's club.
I understand he really doesn't have a choice if he wants to remain popular with the GOP, but when you have someone like Ron Paul, who stands up for what is right all the time and does not compromise on principles, it really puts all these other politicians to shame.
Wonderful!
Thank you for sharing this story! It gives me hope that more will awaken to what is happening. I do have to agree with your comment about the 4th grade bully attitude :) It can be frustrating at times, but I always like to leave them with a question that they have to go research :) Glad to have you with us :)