I applaud those attending TEA parties

It was a joy to see so many people turn out for the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party at the Butler County Courthouse last week.

I couldn’t cover it because I had been at something earlier in the evening that ran into the start of this event, but I wanted to go check it out anyway. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout, although I shouldn’t have been because El Dorado residents are known for getting involved and volunteer efforts to benefit their community.

Listening to the speeches and seeing some of our elected officials there was inspiring. It’s good to know we’re a part of a country where citizens can let their voices be heard. It’s important to take a stand for what one believes in. This is supposed to be a government for the people, by the people, of the people, so one can only hope the government took some notice of the thousands of citizens across the country who took time out of their day to voice their displeasure with the current government tax and spending policies.

It’s easy to set at home and complain. To get out and attend such a meeting and even share stories of tax problems takes time and effort out of already busy days. But that is an important way to let politicians know what they are thinking and what they want.

There are those who would call the citizens who attended these parties names; who would say this was silly symbolism that in no way reflects the Boston Tea Party. I even watched a CNN reporter angrily attack a peaceful demonstrator who was trying to answer her question. She started ranting about the virtues of the Obama administration’s spending spree, then abruptly ended her coverage, claiming the demonstration wasn’t “family viewing.”

Didn’t congressional democrats just push through a nearly trillion dollar “stimulus” bill without even reading it? That is taxation without representation as far as I’m concerned.

The difference between the TEA parties and the multitude of left-wing demonstrations is there was no vandalism, no cars overturned or set on fire, no bricks thrown through windows, no assault on law enforcement officers. In fact, I did a search of the Associated Press wire service and could find no record of any arrests at any of the TEA parties. Believe me, if it had happened, the AP would have been all over it.

But this was more than an anti-tax increase rally. It was average American’s who believe in 2nd Amendment rights – the right to life and the right to worship – and who resent being put on a terrorist watch list because their beliefs are counter to the present administration. It was about a government they believe is growing at a dangerous rate.

I applaud everyone who attended a TEA party and hope to see more grass roots efforts like this in the future. This is a great country, and it is worth protecting the way the founding fathers outlined in both the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. May God bless America.