My re-birthday

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Norton

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Even though November 12 is my true birthday...I think I'm going to start observing November 13 as my "re-birthday" or "day of awakening".

It was one year ago today that I walked out of the local shop with my Taurus Model 82 .38 special and though I've purchased several more firearms over the last year....more importantly I've been reflecting on how this year of firearm ownership has coincided with a general change in how I view and interact wth the world.

•In one year, I've pretty much completed a 180 degree change of political and social viewpoints that had begun a couple of years earlier. ( I guess it IS true that you get more conservative as you get older)

•I've seen that it's up to me to be responsible for my own safety.

•I've seen that firearms ownership and the 2nd ammendment is about much more than simply owning guns.

•I've learned more about the realities of US history than I ever thought possible (why did they keep this from us in school?)

•I've learned that gun owners in general are : Above average in intelligence and wisdom, patient, kind and civil

I could go on for a while but you get the idea....

I'm not asking for a group hug or anything:D but suffice it to say that THR has had a huge part in guiding me through this year of change. This is a great place and I don't think that we can overestimate the effect that this place has on all of us for it's comraderie, wisdom, knowledge and just plain FUN!

I'll be sort of in contemplation mode today....students will be wondering what's wrong, I'm sure.....have a great day one and all!
 
KY Larry....


I was trying to avoid that step if possible:p

Like many folks, I think 9/11 woke me up, so to speak, to the realization that I would indeed be on my own in a cataclysmic event and no one but me could be responsible for my safety.

This last year has been about more than that....but I'm not sure how to articulate it.....the closest I can come is to say that I feel like I've been unplugged freom "The Matrix" and the world isn't at all like I thought it was.
 
In one year, I've pretty much completed a 180 degree change of political and social viewpoints that had begun a couple of years earlier
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You know what they say (paraphrasing), if you aren't a liberal at 20 you have no heart, if you aren't a conservative by 30 you have no brain. I know it is one of those silly sayings but it really does have some element of truth to it.

Oh, yeah I'm finally finishing up the same process myself. I was once a far-left Democrat. In fact, the only reason I didn't register as a Socialist at 18 was because: 1) I wanted to join the Army and didn't want it to be a problem, and 2) I wanted to someday run for office. For years now I've been a conservative Democrat and now I'm finally ready to change my registration (I guess I just fit better as a "moderate" to moderately conservative Republican these days).
 
Norton, great to hear about your conversion. I'm really pleased that THR has played a part in your decision-making - that's why we exist, to help folks like you!

Now get out there and spread the gospel, brother! :D
 
You know what they say (paraphrasing), if you aren't a liberal at 20 you have no heart, if you aren't a conservative by 30 you have no brain. I know it is one of those silly sayings but it really does have some element of truth to it.
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Say what?
*grabs at gaping hole in his chest*
Oh ... right. I forgot about that.
 
Norton-we never stop learning do we? Sometimes it's diffcult to be a child in one sense and an adult in another. By the way, in the words of the ageless Satchel Page, "how old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?" Glad you're continuing to grow-hope part of you will continue to remain a child.
 
It's fascinating passing through my mid-thirties and being able to reflect on where I've been, where I am, and where I want to go philosophically speaking.

The growth that I've gone through during the last year as a firearm owner and a THR member has been refreshing....as if I've woke from a long sleep.
 
Preacherman,

I do my best, but being a teacher in MD...I'm in the den of lions so to speak...but willing listeners show up now and then.
 
Say what?
*grabs at gaping hole in his chest*
Oh ... right. I forgot about that.
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Well, there are exceptions I guess:evil:

Unless of course, you are one of those cold, boring, overly analytical types:neener:
 
10-ring.....everytime someone razzes me about "getting old" I just respond with "Well, it's better than the alternative":D
 
Hey - happy rebirthday, Norton :)

Interesting to hear a bit about your "awakening" - I like the metaphor of being unplugged from the Matrix... too bad the vast majority of the sheeple are content to spend their entire lives "plugged in" - immersed in an artificial reality dribbled into their brains by government, the media, and academia. It's not always comfortable out here in the real world - where each of us is responsible for our own behavior and security. Much better than an entire life spent in the nanny-state nursery, though!

Hope to cross paths again at a future MD shoot. Until then - enjoy your new life out in the sunshine :D
 
Norton, I'd like to mirror what mdshooter says. Being "aware" has it's drawbacks as you'll begin to discover how frustrating it is to have to suffer fools, and there are many of them. Not that we, each of us, are not foolish from time to time. To gain an understanding of "self" brings satisfaction and a sense of purpose; a good thing. The next stage of life adds grumpiness to the wisdom; another good thing. heh.

In your position of being a teacher, you have the added responsibility to open the doors of knowledge to your students; to help debunk the revisionist propaganda disseminated by the institutional government schools, the media, and others. I guess what I mean by that is to not propagandize them in any way, but help them to be able to learn how to reason through all the smoke and mirrors so that they might find the truth of a matter by themselves.

Welcome to reality, Norton. May your journey be as fun as mine has been.
One more little pearl of wisdom; The more you give of yourself to others, the more freedom you will have to trod your own path.

grampster
 
Grampster,

It's amazing how a teacher simply asking questions of students can provoke them to themselves question the party line that they are given in school. I've realated on a couple of occasions about the "lunch bunch" that clusters outside my room everyday. Their conversation usually turns to politics as a couple of the kids are serious conservatives and the others are screeching liberals. Inevitably they try to drag me into the discussion on one side or the other......I won't bite and just ask them questions (OK..so they ARE leading questions I'll admit:evil: )

To further the notion of being examples, many here on THR have been examples to me during my short time here. Most have been online, but the MD shoot that was attended by Chaim, MDshooter and a couple of others made a huge impression on me. It was a great feeling of fraternity that I think is hard to replicate in other venues.
 
mdshooter,

I thought it was a pretty good analogy myself:p

Likewise on the MD shoot.....haven't had much time lately because of the house renovation, but Spot77 and I have managed to get out a couple times to exercise the SKSs.
 
norton,

I'm happy to see that you have the self control to not get dragged into a debate between two camps of thought, especially kids. I've always envied those of you that have that kind of self control to be able to ask pertinent, perhaps :evil: leading:evil: questions. Tends to frustrate the opposition. I am more of the swell up the neck, red face variety of know it all. heh. My wife tends to be like you. She gets me going every time. You'd think after 37 years I'd wise up. heh.

good on ya, norton.

:D :D
 
Grampster,

You know how it is...if you tell a kid what you think, they'll think the exact opposite. I just let them draw their own conclusions...albeit with a little help......

Self-control is a relative thing...lots of exercise and target practice helps to keep the stress levels way down:D
 
Hope to cross paths again at a future MD shoot.
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I also agree that would be nice. It was nice meeting those of us who made it. I'm thinking mid to late January would be a good time (I guess for most here Nov and Dec would be tough). If anyone wants to simply meet some Sunday or weeknight to do some shooting before then maybe we can PM a few of us to get a few people together.

Now back to the regularly scheduled program.:D
 
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