Posted on 09/03/2009 9:03:15 AM PDT by smoothsailing
September 3, 2009
The common thread: a bird's eye view of the TEA Party movement
By Paul A. Ibbetson
The TEA Part movement, which started for most as a small grassroots effort by disenchanted Americans to voice their disapproval with the government, is now growing to epic proportions. The movement has transcended the bounds of simply being events that people have heard about in faraway places, to events happening in almost every town on any given day. In fact, for TEA Party goers, it's no longer a case of trying to make a single event, but how many events can you actually make. With that said, even though the growth of the TEA Party movement has expanded to the size that even "Bagdad Bob" (Saddam Hussein's former information minister) would have to recognize, there is still much confusion as to who the people that comprise the TEA Party movement are, and what brings them together.
To properly answer this question, one must attain the high ground. That is, the best vantage point to observe the totality of the TEA Party environment. For me, this bird's eye view came from the speaker's platform at the 2009 Wichita, Kansas, 'American TEA Party.' Like a growing number of Americans today, the Wichita Kansas event was not my first "TEA Party." However, it was my first time to speak in front of hundreds of TEA Party goers, and my first time to announce each and every guest, and meet every vendor and organization.
Coming to terms with the bird's eye view, and the reality that it brings, is somewhat of a double edged sword. From the optimum vantage point, I can now see that there was much less uniformity among TEA Party goers than I might have initially thought. For example, there were citizens and groups who have economic concerns that are hardly considered by people who were attending to voice their concern over abortion issues. There is certainly no uniformity of overarching policy agreement among the TEA Party crowd members, which included Blue Dog Democrats (of the "Democratic Blue Dog Coalition," made up of "moderates" and "fiscally conservative" Democrats), conservatives, independents, and libertarians. There were the obvious cultural differences between the seniors (with their folding chairs) and the teens (that would just as soon stand). Other apparent differences within the crowd were the mothers jostling their newborns and the business men who just never seemed to remember to turn their cell phones off. The TEA Party goers were as different to one another as were their political views. I know; I walked the booths, I pressed the flesh (shook hands), and I gave and received an ear-full of agreements and disagreements on the world of politics until my throat was sore and my ears were ringing.
Yet, with all the differences that can separate the people boldly represented among the TEA Party attendees, this motley crew of contradictions stands side by side united, prepared to oppose the current government, under a common cause. What is the common factor that binds American's together who think so differently? It is the component of "American exceptionalism" that transcends all other descriptions of why Americans are who they are: freedom. It is freedom at its basic core. Americans of all walks of life demand the freedom to decide their own future. They demand the freedom to disagree with their government — even as they demand the freedom to disagree with each other. In reality, it is the most defining, as well as beautifully stubborn, characteristic of the founding fathers that remains within the bloodlines of the greatest majority of Americans today. When a clear and present danger threatens to cut the chords of freedom from the American people, we are galvanized by an intrinsic commonality to act. This valuable point may have been lost on the European journalists who were present at the event, but it is the obvious cohesive factor that gives the TEA Party movement it's large attendance numbers, and it's ultimate power, by unifying a common thread among the myriad of specialized concerns found at each TEA Party — from town to town, and state to state.
© Paul A. Ibbetson
The tea parties have thrown the far left a curveball. They only understand cetralized and ideologically organized. The Tea parties have popped up all over the nation and include a very diverse group of people. This has left them unable to launch any large organized resistance.
United by a common theme, as were the original colonists; yet, their underlying passion is for liberty, whether they realize it or not. Then and now, citizens understand that when they work hard, they should be able to keep their earnings, except for those they provide to support a limited and benign (Madison) government for their common defense (which they cannot do for themselves) and a few other assorted powers designated by their Constitution to those they elect to positions of power in that government.
Though neglected for the past several decades, citizens currently are realizing that the Founders' ideas truly made America the destination for the poor and oppressed from all over the world. There was a reason for that, and it was not the tired old "counterfeit" idea that some imperfect person, or persons, in places of power could, or would make better decisions for them than they would make for themselves.
The Far Left calls it "progressive" to give that idea a new name and thrust it onto the body politic as if it were a new and better thing. It should be called by what it is: tyranny by coercive control, and chicanery by folks who know exactly what they're doing and only hook in those who don't understand the difference until they're enslaved.
The Internet is providing access to the writings and speeches of America's Founders, and today's Tea Partiers and other citizens are realizing that they (the Founders) were the "progressives." Their ideas became a beacon for liberty everywhere in the world and inspired a Frenchman to design a great lady as a symbol of that liberty. We must not let the truly progressive idea be replaced by a counterfeit!
The ‘Shot Heard Round the World’ announcing the formation of a civil society determined to self govern based on God given rights that shall not be infringed!
Let Freedom Reign!
PING!! This is how it begins and then builds up to full revolution. CO
Peaceful protesting does’t bring about a revolution. It may change a few politician’s minds and help influence a few political decisions, but I wouldn’t call that a revolution. We, each of us, probably has different idea of what rises to the level of a revolution.
The TEA parties sprung up a tad to organized to be a real grass roots movement. Somebody, at least at first, directed it.
“The TEA parties sprung up a tad to organized to be a real grass roots movement. Somebody, at least at first, directed it”
The ones I know of began much as a spontaneous party begins here in Texas...... with a phone call and a “y’all come”. Those who don’t feel the sense of urgency with the way many think this country is headed may not understand it... but that’s the way the ones I know of began. Now they are rolling, people see and hear more about them, and they are joining in.
Nana
Thanks for your labors!
Since you removed the comment, please remove my quoting the comment if necessary.
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