Well, most anyway.
Of course, most of the tea party is real Americans and if they want to dress like Betsy Ross. Uncle Sam and so on, why not. These are symbols of America, not some failed counterculture "revolution"
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 ...
I'm not suggesting an either/or and I don't think that's what Beck was saying either...when you are talking off the seat of your pants, like Beck does on the radio- or us here conversing on keyboards across the country, the message can get morphed into a dictated shift. I don't think that's what he was saying and that's not what others here are typing either, IMHO. Movements like us need to grow and shed our youthful vigor as a whole. Individuals will always have a flair, and that's great, but to solely relying on the cute and cutting stuff to get the message out will not get us to the next level.
(I know I'm probably not expressing this the way I want to)
We have tea party candidates across the country now - our message is getting out more and more - we can not be seen as a bunch of crazy people anymore (don't get me wrong - I love and made crazy signs)It's serious now - we have a voice beyond our costumes, signs and shout outs....they all worked to get us where we are - so where do we go from here?
In MA we have a Tea Party protester running against a progressive liberal US representative, he has great momentum to get the vote out for him...he is in a suit and tie and is not holding the signs of the past, he's working in the present to change the future.
“This is an age of anime, star trek, star gate, etc. conventions where costuming is competitive!
People are into that stuff ~ they wear Western Wear to country music concerts for gosh sakes.”
And act like 2 year olds, grow up!
Grow up yourself!
I take President Reagan's position of "trust BUT verify" when it comes to johnny come lately's like Beck and Hannity and such folks. Beck should be less worried about how Tea Party participants dress and more about ridding the Republican Party of the conservative pretenders or masqueraders. The costume wearer situation will eventually take care of themselves in time. Just stay on point with our main message.
Beck needs to remember that he is not the leader of the TPX. He is just a self-appointed spokesperson.
Make believe is for stupid little kids that don’t know any better!
I found out that kid shit was stupid before i started school!
This is one of many reasons I'm not a Beck fan.
Adroitly stated. I'm of like mind on this issue.
The Revolutionary War period costumes call to mind our heritage and the roots of our Declaration of Independence from tyranny and creation of the U.S. Constitution. Our forefathers who gave their lives to be free are great models for our current battle against Big Government and oppression.
Mocking the veracity of historic patriots and current patriots who value freedom is foolish and shortsighted. We need to continue educating the ignorant to see the perils facing our beloved nation one-by-one.
Whenever a new group or movement forms, there is always a power struggle to jockey for self-appointed and/or perceived leadership positions. It is a natural evolution in the psychology of groups. We've already seen several unsuccessful attempts to change the name of the movement.
Finally...if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
And thank you for bringing up the mass-produced / "I don't have to think of a message" signs that leftist moonbat protesters ALWAYS use. I had forgotten to mention those stupid - and always "union printed" - signs in my original post on this thread...
And gosh, Rove, Ginrich, Mitt, Huckabee, the GOP, NRSC etc etc are all teapartiers now too LOL!
I can't list the new converts in the dem party here, take up too much room heh.
Glenn Beck is certainly doing Yoeman’s work on TV and radio, but he does not speak for me.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2591085/posts
I think signs actually HELP rebut stupid stuff such as this. Dean et al. can say all he wants that the Tea Party has a racist element, but when pic after pic shows sign after sign that proves that the Tea Party is about spending, limiting government, getting back to Americanism, it is harder for such stupid accusations to stick.
If protest crowds are NOT displaying their ideas for all to see, they are even more vulnerable to the liars on the Left painting them however they want with impunity.
And as far as being taken seriously as a political movement whose IDEAS are winning elections, Dean proves that, too.
Well, most anyway.
Of course, most of the tea party is real Americans and if they want to dress like Betsy Ross. Uncle Sam and so on, why not. These are symbols of America, not some failed counterculture "revolution"
I think we agree more than not on this.
I think we will still have both for a while. Rallies and protests and then campaigns that reflect the particular political races the candidates are in.
The former will die down when they are no longer needed. I don’t see the utility in trying to micromanage an organic, grassroots movement. That is asking for trouble, I think.
In my view, we the people “knew” when and how to rise up and make the tea party movement emerge and gain strength, and we the people will “know” when and how to evolve it at each level.
There were people at the beginning decrying signs and costumes, but these were organic expressaions of protest that were necessary and effective. The protests and trappings of protest will go away when the time is right for that (which will likely be sooner rather than later, but far be it from me — or Beck, if you please — to try to peg that date).
Yep. The Tea Party rallies are protests — just like the original tea party from whence the movement takes it name. It will look and act like a protest, thank goodness!
Exactly. Jumping in front of an established parade does not make you the leader.
I find it highly ironic that Beck, whose clothing, (white shirt and tie required at church meetings, required special underwear) is dictated by his religion, is now trying to dictate what other people wear.
The less Beck is seen as being tied to the Tea Party movement, the better for the country.
I think you might feel more disposed toward this is you had been able to attend a rally. But God bless you for taking care of your loved one.
My major point is that this little detail is one that will take care of itself in time. In some ways, it goes against the grain of the entire movement to have someone — anyone — but especially someone like Beck suddenly use his position to start offering free advice to tea partiers on how to express themselves and win friends and votes.
I think people can figure that out for themselves.
I hav never worn a costume (though we did think of trying to find some tricorn hats to wear at one point) and did not know anyone else did until I went to the 9/12 rally. I have to tell you my experience was I was very touched — yes, touched, and unexpectedly so — by what I saw there.
It is so rare in American life these days to see an Uncle Sam or a Betsy Ross. People were enthralled oftentimes, and more than once I heard people explaining, “Oh, there’s a Paul Revere, one if by land, two if by sea” and so on. It became a wonderful way to share bits and pieces of our wonderful American heritage — a heritage we so rarely share with one another in a setting like that.
Just my experience. I thought one “Betsy Ross” conveyed more than a thousand words, to those at the rally and anyone who saw her pic. Plus, these characters were so few and far between, I don’t know what Beck is focused on.
“If we’re going to continue to worry about what the MSM and the libs think about us we’ll never accomplish anything.”
Then tell Fox News and the radio hosts to stop caring what the MSM does. As long as people care when they do smear us then things will never change. It’s when they smear that everyone on the right cares.
YES. We define the media, not the other way around.
“What’s more effective, you as Betsy Ross or you as somebody who looks just like their neighbor, not dressed as Betsy Ross?”
_______________________________________________
Good grief Beck ...
“What’s more (American) you as Betsy Ross or you as somebody () not dressed as Betsy Ross (but dressed in a burka) ?”
Our own FReeper Congressman BillyBob used to dress as a 1700s patriot..was it George Washington ???
My family fought on both sides...in my direct line I have FIVE Loyalists..2 were women..
But I think the most American way to dress for a TEA Party is in Patriot costume...
Looks great...
Tennessee Nana UE
(Or you could opt for shorts and flip flops...just as American)
Beck you will have to take my home made sign from my cold dead hands.,.
That and my gun...
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