Posted on 11/26/2011 9:30:22 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Regardless of one's feelings toward the Tea Party or policies it advocates, Tea Partiers have at least, during their short existence, conducted themselves relatively peacefully and responsibly.
Of course, this isn't to suggest critics won't still cry foul whenever a Tea Partier shows up to a public event concealing a firearm, or a Tea Partier displays signs at a rally capable of being interpreted as derogatory.
But at least the right to bear arms and freedom of speech, unlike rape, vandalism, and drug usage -- all seen at Occupy Wall Street protests -- are protected under the U.S. Constitution.
As local and national news stations have now reported, rapes and sexual assaults have been regular occurrences at Occupy Wall Street protests across the country, from Seattle to New York.
Protests in Portland, Ore., alone have resulted in more than $19,000 in property damages, as well as a Molotov cocktail attack, and in Vancouver, multiple people have died of drug overdoses.
By contrast, one is hard-pressed to find a single incident in which a woman has ever been raped or sexually assaulted at a Tea Party rally. One is hard-pressed to find a single incident where a Tea Partier has ever died of a drug overdose at a Tea Party rally. And one is hard-pressed to find a single Tea Party rally where thousands of dollars in property damage was maliciously committed.
The Occupy Wall Street movement in its infancy had the correct sentiment: End corporatism, end the Fed. This sentiment, however, has since been diluted by progressive populism.
Occupy Wall Street's dialogue is no longer about whether government should engage in favoritism, interfere with markets and provide bailouts; or whether the Federal Reserve has too little accountability.
But rather, whether someone makes too much money. It is no longer ground zero for the advancement of liberty, but ground zero for complaints about income disparity and calls for the redistribution of wealth.
Paying back a school loan has no relation to corporatism. And nothing in the Constitution promises somebody a career after they graduate from school.
Protesting greed is also misguided; for greed is a relative and subjective term. Consequently, any call for government to define and/or regulate subjectivity sets a very dangerous precedent.
It's irrelevant if the rapes, vandalism, overdoses, or murders have been perpetrated by illegitimate anarchists unaffiliated with the official Occupy Wall Street movement. The fact is that the movement's leaders have been overridden. And sincere protesters only discredit themselves by continuing to remain associated with it.
If there is any silver lining to the Occupy Wall Street protests, though, it's this: They have vindicated the Tea Party protests. The Occupy Wall Street movement has created perspective and demonstrated just how difficult it is to gather thousands of people from various backgrounds, with different philosophical views and goals, while maintaining order and civility.
That is something the Tea Party, for the most part, has managed to do effectively and consistently -- a respectable feat in hindsight. And something the Tea Party should be commended for.
“relatively peacefully” . . . ???
How about totally peacefully?
No one was arrested at any tea party
and there were lyndon larouche and other weirdos at these events
I have heard there have been some parking violations.
The Tea Party critics I know have slithered back into their holes because they now look stupid. The actions of the Fleabaggers have trumped anything the Left could embellish about the Tea Party.
Tea Partiers have at least, during their short existence, conducted themselves relatively peacefully and responsibly.Aw, the writer was *this* close.
It's irrelevant if the rapes, vandalism, overdoses, or murders have been perpetrated by illegitimate anarchists unaffiliated with the official Occupy Wall Street movement. The fact is that the movement's leaders have been overridden. And sincere protesters only discredit themselves by continuing to remain associated with it.
As a Tea Party member and a real live participant in at least two Tea Party events, I find it extremely offensive when compared, in any way, with the Occupy movement.
Portland damage is much larger, try $50k for just the two parks. No mention of other property damage and police overtime.
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/11/latest_occupy_portland_cost_es.html
The press sounds disappointed that the Tea Party is so well behaved & generally bereft of violence & commotion.
The Occupiers’ anti-social behavior is magnified by the fact that they stick around for months. If the Tea Partiers had stayed in an area for two months instead of just an afternoon they would have probably repainted the nearby buildings, repaved the streets and sidewalks and replumbed the local sewer system.
Not to mention filling in the potholes, of which there are many in yankeeland.
Heck, if Tea Party participants stayed in an area that long they probably would build a power plant, a water purification plant and an airport.
And in their heart of hearts, the Dems and Libs who backed the Occupiers know this Article is telling the truth. (Although they’d never admit it.)
Saw that too?
Hard pressed to show crime?
There was none!
OWS is not like a TP event. OWS doesn'teven have humans there.
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