Click above (but don't wear them to Tea Party Events).
Posted on 09/16/2010 7:56:32 PM PDT by flowerplough
Glenn Beck is no stranger to public criticism. Usually, that criticism comes from entrenched critics. But today, Beck was chided by some of his most loyal fans. What’s got everyone so upset?
Beck’s stance on playing dress-up.
Recently, Beck started imploring Tea Party supporters to lose the costumes, and homemade signs, so as not to give detractors ammunition. ( ... )
He repeated the charge on this morning’s radio show, taking umbrage with one costume in particular: “What’s more effective, you as Betsy Ross or you as somebody who looks just like their neighbor, not dressed as Betsy Ross?”
( ... )
“I‘m not saying you can’t go dressed as Betsy Ross or the Statue of Liberty –that would be a totalitarian state … [But] if you want to truly make a difference, it is now time that the Tea Party takes the next step. … And first impressions make all the difference.”
(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...
Signs are good...but they should not be misspelled or have poor grammar or express things that can be construed as racist.
And I know it’s a tiny few who have had those signs...but some tea partiers have had those immature signs.
The movement needs to mature. And if you go to a tea party and you see someone with a stupid sign, you need to tell them. You need to say, “You misspelled something.” Or, “Look....that’s over the top.” You need to tell them to lose their signs before they wind up on left-wing media.
As far as dressing up...it works if you are putting together a Youtube video where you speak as a founder...but at a tea party...you are just calling attention to yourself rather than being a member of the crowd.
Whether they should or not isn’t the point. Glenn cn make the recommendation but he needs to leave it there and let them come to that point ontheir own. An evolving movement is fine but evolving for the sake of “fitting in” will sap at their passions. Let them evolve on their own accord and if they arrive at that conclusion on their own then okay.
Yep, the MSM will pick out the extremist Statue of Liberty, Abe Lincoln and Betsy Ross types, no doubt.
Catchy signs at Tea Party rallies end up in newspapers, TV, and the internet. The slogans are Tea Party 'talking points. A good slogan will go beyond a rally.
I say keep the signs.
Costumes had their place at one time, when the movement was small and gaining traction. It brought attention, as elaborate costumes often do. However, Beck’s point is valid. Nothing against wearing costumes, but after all these recent victories, the MSM can no longer ignore the movement, it’s finally being recognized. But that also poses a problem. Now that the MSM and DIMs can no longer ignore the Tea Party, they are going to do everything in their power to discredit it. It’s time for everyone to don our most powerful uniform. The uniform of the every-day American. People should see us and say, ‘hey, they’re just like me’. The costumes had their role, but that role is not necessarily valid anymore.
Lose the costumes, keep the signs, but show a little bit of self-discipline with the words you put on your sign. Keep the message on-message for the upcoming battle in November.
The November election isn’t about Obama’s birth certificate (though I do believe that’s a legitimate issue for another day); it is about repealing MengeleCare, repealing EPA defacto capntax, and rolling back taxes and spending.
People are going to look for the tea party to evaporate after november. Time to groom itself for longevity,without losing its fluidity and effectiveness.
One of the biggest problems we have is someone telling us what to do, what to think, or what to believe.
Reminiscent of Elijah Muhammad and the FOI dress code.
Never done historical recreation have you?
“Whether they should or not isn’t the point. Glenn can make the recommendation but he needs to leave it there and let them come to that point on their own. An evolving movement is fine but evolving for the sake of “fitting in” will sap at their passions. Let them evolve on their own accord and if they arrive at that conclusion on their own then okay.”
Well said. Do ANY of them get it? I thought maybe he might - but sadly, no.
Stay out of our face; stay out of our life; accept what we wear as something we do and keep your advice to yourself.
It’s the giving of his “expert” advice that I resent.
Leftists don't have any trouble dressing up in crazy outfits. It seemed to work for the anti-war movement re: Iraq. Somehow it appeals to young people.
I don't think being completely stodgy is necessary.
Also, if it drives the media or the politicos crazy, is there any harm?
We started wearing liberty hats to rallies after reading a Heinlein's book, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress:
"Liberty Caps started appearing on Stilyagi and their girls; Simon Jester began wearing one between his horns. Bon Marche gave them away as premiums. Alvarez had painful talk with Warden in which Mort demanded to know if his fink boss felt that something should be done every time kids took up fad? Had Alvarez gone out of his mind?I ran across Slim Lemke on Carver Causeway early May; he was wearing a Liberty Cap. He seemed pleased to see me and I thanked him for prompt payment (he had come in three days after Stu's trial and paid Sidris thirty Hong Kong, for gang) and bought him a cooler. While we were seated I asked why young people were wearing red hats? Why a hat? Hats were an earthworm custom, nyet?
He hesitated, then said was sort of lodge, like Elks. I changed subject."
We got their, (liberal, progressive, rino’s) attention.
Now we kick it up a notch, a little cooking lingo. We are Mr. & Mrs. Smith going to Washington. Time to put on our Sunday best and showcase our talents.
This relates to a major problem in the conservative movement. An insistence on lockstep agreement and groupthink, right down to every trivial detail. Fail to pass one little litmus, and you’re out, no good, the enemy. This must change or the conservative movement is going nowhere.
You want to wear a costume? You won’t be kicked out of the rally. Beck thinks costumes are counterproductive? That’s his prerogative. When I saw young people wearing colonial era costumes at a Denver Tea Party, I was very impressed. The costumes told me they weren’t just hanging out, they were into it. Older people in costume looked a little silly, but no harm done imo. But, maybe Beck’s right. Time will tell. Can we agree to stay away from the giant paper mache heads at least?
I agree. Beck is right some of the time but more often than not I am starting to dislike him. I can no longer stand to watch his show or listen to him on the radio.
Now he thinks he can tell the Tea Party what to do! Who the F%$k appointed him boss? Go emote somewhere and let people have their fun taking down the big boys and cleaning out the trash. He is starting to get establishment and before too much longer, it won’t surprise me to see him go Rove!
I applaud Beck for his 8/28 rally. It was one hell of an accomplishment and one that I doubt I could ever come close to matching.
But I wasn’t a participant. He lost me with his demand of no costumes, no banners, no signs. It became apparent that unlike the TEA party rallies that I’ve attended, I considered that had I gone, it would have been as a prop for Glenn’s expression - not mine.
I do not agree with his “the parties are all alike” meme. It is simplistic to the point of being critically flawed. Both parties act like aircraft carriers at a time when you need a fast destroyer. Both are top heavy with dead weight. However, there is no way that a reasonable person can say that the aims, ambitions, or agendas of the dhimmicrats are the same as the pubbies.
Beck also had a valid point about the need to keep our faith prominent in our society. But his attempts to “revise and extend” his remarks over the last few days has become a convoluted exercise in rhetoric nonsense. I’m trying to reserve judgment, but admit that he’s losing me.
He is right about the costumes....but only if you buy his agenda.
“What did he say that suggested the Tea Party act more like the establishment?”
Umm, something about quitting with the costumes and signs, something like that.
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