Understanding the Environment and Purpose of Tea Parties On April 15, 2010 I attended two Tea Parties in Washington, DC. The first, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, took place on Freedom Square and was attended by an estimated 12,000 people. The second occurred near the Washington Monument from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM with perhaps 50,000 people present. I’ve seen and read many inaccurate reports and misleading polls about such gatherings. To more fully understand the experience, think of it from two perspectives, the environment and the purpose. First, consider the environment.  At these Tea Parties, you are immersed in a sea of people who have an obvious and profound love of and pride in their country. Most people wore pins and clothing, waved flags (The Stars and Stripes, yellow Gadsden, or First Navy Jack—the latter two with a rattlesnake image and “Don't Tread on Me” motto), and/or carried signs that expressed their commitment to America and its ideals. The atmosphere was festive. People were courteous, kind, respectful, upbeat, and jovial. Folks happily posed for pictures for strangers—displaying their dress or signs. The crowds were predominantly white, though there were people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. I saw a Native American carrying a Cherokee Brave flag and a young couple in Goth attire with numerous body piercings holding Tea Party signs.
Though there were people of all ages, the crowds seemed a little older and more focused than most large gatherings I’ve been in, which gave it an air of experience and wisdom. People were energized. Most attendees, including the seasoned citizens, were on their feet throughout the “parties.” As a group we sang America and The Star Spangled Banner a couple of times each and God Bless America a half dozen times. We were addressed by nearly every speaker, as “Americans” and “Patriots”; which was both uplifting and humbling when surrounded by so many military veterans. Though the Tea Parties were large gatherings, I didn’t see any rowdiness, alcohol consumption, damaged property or litter. Reflect on the Tea Party environment. It is joyously sharing a recognition and celebration of American exceptionalism. What a wonderful place to be for an American who loves his country! Bursting with pride and love, I was moved to tears on several occasions.  Now to the purpose of the gatherings. The engine that drives Tea Partiers is anger; a deep anger that their, that our, beloved country—the shining city on a hill—was at risk of being lost, its foundation of freedom being taken from within. Every tax increase, every new regulation, every new dollar printed to pay a bill, every government grab of new power comes at the cost of lost freedom for Americans. Tea Partiers are angry about the already enormous yet still rapidly growing government, the mountainous debt, and inevitable demands for new taxes—none of which are in the spirit of this country’s founding nor supported by our Constitution. The purpose of the Tea Parties is to call attention to the threat to our freedoms and this country from within, to energize more Americans to become engaged in the political process, and to inform the elected that We the People are aware of what is happening and demand that they serve us according to their sworn Constitutional duty. The Constitution is to be revered, not considered “deeply flawed” (President Obama) or readily dismissed or re-interpreted (Speaker Pelosi et al). For decades, our liberty has been under assault by an expanding federal government. The federal tax rules don’t grow to more than 60,000 pages overnight. Until recently it has seemed that our liberty was being nibbled by ducks with an occasional bite from a rabid dog. At the end of the previous and with the current administration and Congress, our freedoms have fallen under attack by a huge, ravenous beast. Now citizens are strongly motivated to stop government growth and roll back its reach to restore our Constitutional freedoms. Some of the speakers claimed it wasn’t an angry gathering. They missed the anger because they confused it with meanness. The people, signs, and speakers were often witty, insightful, accurate, and angry but rarely mean (except perhaps to the overly sensitive or to those for whom hearing the truth is undesirable). People were against politicians of any party who were seen as responsible for this threat to the country and the degradation that has already occurred. They expressed that dislike, disagreement, and distrust through signs, occasional chants, and boos (when speakers referenced those politicians). People were remarkably reserved given the perceived damage being done to their object of love. There were no hangings in effigy, no flag burnings, no “in your face” attitudes, no property damage, and no angry chants as there are in other politically oriented gatherings fueled by anger. People don’t bring their children nor would the seasoned citizen attend gatherings that are dark and mean-spirited. The desire of Tea Party people was not to be given something or to primarily attack but to preserve and protect the country as it was founded, on freedom. When politicians or media folk suggest the Tea Party movement could result in violence, they could not be more wrong. Yes there is always a nut who can twist concepts into an excuse to commit a violent act. John Hinckley, Jr. attempted to assassinate President Reagan out of love for Jodie Foster. Would banning or “being careful about” love or celebrities or Jodie Foster have avoided that violent act? The Tea Party movement and Tea Partiers themselves can never become violent. They are acting out of a true, noble, and patriotic love of their country. They act to protect freedoms, not demand something they don’t have. They could not violate the country they love—which is what an act of violence against the country would be—to protect her. Those who think Tea Parties may become violent or incite violence, are clueless as to their nature and the motivations of the Tea Partiers. To be against Tea Parties—self-organizing communities—one has to be against its environment or its purpose. To be against its environment, one must be against a gathering of Americans who joyously treasure their country as exceptional. To be against its purpose, one must be against, or at least subjugate, the principles on which the country was founded: individual liberty and freedom. Where stand those that stand against Tea Parties? A negative view of Tea Parties exists among supporters of those currently in power. This position arises from a rather simplistic, knee jerk reaction of “if you are against those I support, I am against you.” However, a thinking person’s response to Tea Parties would be to reflect on core principles. If one’s core principles are that this country is not exceptional, that it is in need of significant change and it is too free; then one has a fundamentally different worldview than Tea Partiers. If those are not one’s core principles, then one has a citizen’s responsibility of questioning supporting those currently in power. While the Tea Party was in progress in Washington DC, 1000 miles away in Miami at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser, President Obama claimed 25 tax cuts had been instituted over the past year. He followed with; “So I've been a little amused over the last couple of days where people have been having these rallies about taxes. You would think they would be saying thank you.” As if the Tea Partiers weren’t angry enough, they were mocked and their intelligence insulted by the President. (The President’s statement was read to the Tea Party gathering.) “Tax cuts” taken from TARP money or any funds that add to the deficit when one is also acting to grow the government—and hinting about a Value Added Tax affecting everyone—don’t count as tax cuts. They are a costly and undesired loan to our selves, a raid on our future earnings to be used for redistributing wealth (including bailouts) today, or a pillaging of our children’s future. There is no reason to be thankful for any of that. Indeed, if you aren’t angry about it, you aren’t paying attention. During the few hours between the Tea Parties, I visited The National Museum of American History. In an exhibit on the Revolutionary War there was a quote from the French General Lafayette after the British surrendered at Yorktown, “Liberty now has a country.” Tea Partiers intend to protect Liberty and her country. Also in the American History museum is a 1930’s era poster apparently of immigrants arriving in the United States with the text: This is America…melting pot of liberty-loving people from all corners of the earth. People of different origins, faiths, cultures—all cemented together into one great nation by their passion for freedom. They have made America great—they have made America the hope of the world. This is Your America…Keep it Free! That could have been used as a Tea Party placard.  Here are some of the takeaway lines I heard or read at the Tea Parties: · “No representation without taxation.” (Note the inversion of the nouns.) It was noted that nearly 50% of Americans don’t pay income tax, and about that same percentage think (other?) Americans pay “the right amount” in taxes. · “Don’t spread my wealth, spread my work ethic” · “Hell hath no fury like a taxpayer ignored” · “We the People say ‘No’ to government healthcare” · “I want my change back” · “Socialism: Trickle up poverty” · “We the People are here to Preserve, Protect, and Defend the US Constitution” · “Don’t tell Obama what comes after a Trillion” · “If 10% is good enough for Jesus it ought to be enough for Uncle Sam” · “Liars and tyrants and snakes oh my!” · “Keep your Kool-aid I drink TEA” · Thomas Jefferson quotes: “I am not a friend to a very energetic
government. It is always oppressive.” · “Regarding political party affiliation, Tea Parties are made up of 49% Republicans, 51% Democrats and Independents.” · “Reclaim yourself. You do not belong to the imperial government of the United States.” · On a sign: “There are 435 villages in this country missing their idiot” to which former U.S. Representative from Texas and Tea Party speaker Dick Armey deadpanned, “Hey, a few years ago I would have resembled that remark.” You’ve got to admire a man who uses a self-deprecating 3 Stooges joke when speaking to tens of thousands of people. · British Lord Monckton, “The British tea tax was much less than Obamacare. If you want to apologize for 234 years of rebellion, Her Majesty will graciously accept you back into her dominion. And we will restore the tea tax and take away Obamacare.” · In a country of “free markets,” the government—if it completes the path on which it has embarked—will own or control 51% of the economy. · There was a point in the evening Tea Party at which the stage was given over to coal miners and their families. They paid their respects to the coal mining community in West Virginia that had recently suffered a mining disaster. They then made their case against the government’s cap and trade direction which they believed would effectively shut down the mines. The takeaway line was the final one. A large, burly miner bent low to the microphone and ended his speech with these words, spoken in a deep, powerful voice and in the manner of a stern teacher correcting an irredeemably wayward youth: “One last piece of information to Obama. America bows to no one.” (The President had been bowing, yet again, to foreign political leaders during the nuclear arms summit that had concluded 2 days earlier.)
In addition to the speeches, there was musical and comedic entertainment. Victoria Jackson deftly combined both in her song, “There’s A Communist Living in the White House!!” ((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWi182CMJY8)). When asked for evidence to support her supposition, “Well where do you want me to start? His grandparents were socialists, his mother was too, his father was a communist, his childhood mentor Frank Marshall Davis was a communist, he had Marxist professors, he taught a course in college on Saul Alinsky, he had a friendly and professional relationship with self-described communist Bill Ayers, he told Joe the Plumber he wanted to “spread the wealth” which is a direct quote from the Communist Manifesto co-written by Karl Marx, he appointed Van Jones—a self-described communist—as a Green Jobs Czar, his church of 20 years with Jeremiah Wright preaching was black liberation theology which is actually Marxism, as soon as he got in office he had the government take over the banks and the car industry, and now he’s trying to jam down our throats socialized medicine and cap and trade—how much more proof do you want?” I found the most touching musical performance to be “American Heart” by Jon David ((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IUw71xCcnc)) American Heart, by Jon David They say, “Our reputation needs a new coat of paint and a
delicate melody.” That I’m American made! I’ve got American parts.
They say, that, “We need changin’!” (As if all the Founding
Fathers seemed to get it wrong.)
But I’m American made! I’ve got American parts. Dress her up so you don’t recognize her. I’m American made! Got American parts. I’m in love with her, and I won’t apologize!
Perhaps the most memorable orator was the final one, the Rev. C.L. Bryant, from Shreveport, Louisiana. (( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW7ALFgR4LY&NR=1 )) I want to touch on the claim that Tea Parties have an undercurrent of racism running through them. Again, nothing could be further from the truth. Tea Party people embrace anyone who loves this country and wants to protect its freedoms. They have a problem with anti-Americanism, anti-freedom, and socialist positions and policies. It is pointed out by those that are skin-color sensitive, that there are not a lot of blacks at the Tea Parties. Consider this; 96% of blacks voted for Barack Obama for President. That means only 4% did not. Blacks make up a little less than 13% of the population of America. About 65% of blacks eligible to vote did so in 2008 (about the same percentage as non-Hispanic whites). So statistically, out of 300 Americans eligible to vote, 38 are black and only one of those didn’t vote for Obama. One of 300. You wouldn’t expect to see many blacks attending a gathering that rebukes Obama’s agenda. But that number is depressed further because for a black to publicly repudiate Obama is for that person to risk ostracism by his racial community. A black speaker at the Tea Party cited the “Uncle Tom” and “traitor” name-calling and vitriol she endured for being a Tea Partier. Everyone at the Tea Parties gave time, money, and energy to be there. Blacks also gave up a level of standing in their own community. If it costs one group of people more to be there then it costs other groups, you’ll get fewer of them. (I suspect Alaskans were under-represented at the Washington DC Tea Parties because of the additional travel expense, though it’d be absurd to accuse the Tea Partiers of being anti-Alaskans.) My favorite rebuttal to an insinuated charge of racism at Tea Parties was this exchange between NBC News reporter Kelly O’Donnell and the Tea Partier Darryl Postell.((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Eib2di9bq4)) O'Donnell:
There aren't a lot of African-American men at these events. Perfectly correct while succinctly exposing ignorance. (I prefer the term “black” to “African-American” out of respect for the person’s standing as an American. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “There is no such thing as a hyphenated American who is a good American. The only man who is a good American is the man who is an American and nothing else.”) After Rev Bryant spoke and we sang God Bless America twice more, the Party ended. I walked to the Washington Monument and placed my hands on it, as a connection with our country’s roots. Then I walked to the World War II Memorial to thank again the men and women who gave their last full measure for our freedoms. I stood before its Freedom Wall, each of its 4,048 gold stars representing 100 Americans who died in that war. I tried to take in the enormity of their sacrifice and the sacrifices of their loved ones. I tried but I failed. The legacy they bequeathed us, the challenge to remain free, is now under threat from within. The Tea Party movement is committed to meeting that challenge.  The joy then of Tea Parties is this: One is in an environment of intelligent, jovial, respectful, capable, resourceful, engaged, and dedicated fellow Americans who clearly understand the danger this beloved country is facing from within and who are committed to ensuring that American freedoms will be preserved. It is a great responsibility, handed down to us from the patriots and citizens who came before, but We the People have great power. Knowing greatness will be achieved through the efforts of self and fellow patriots is joyously uplifting.  Here is a sampling of the nearly 400 pictures I took during the April 15, 2010 Tea Parties in Washington, DC. They are mostly of the insightful, witty, defiant, proud, patriotic, and sometimes biting signs on display and the beautiful people who held them. They can provide the viewer with personal insights into the minds and motivations of Tea Partiers.
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