INTRODUCTION
IT is a statement I have made many times, and it does raises an eyebrow or two. In most cases, I have had the luxury of discussing this face to face. Answering questions that arise in the course of a conversation. It is within this discourse that I have been able to explain that statement.
Anyone that has been a part of this movement will recognize the truth. It is the difference between those in the movement, and those who oppose our voice that require greater explanation.
This article is for them.
Make sure you watch the Video at the end of this article.
Make sure you watch the Video at the end of this article.
MY POLITICAL PAST
When all the laughter dies in sorrow
And the tears have risen to a flood
When all the wars have found a cause
In human wisdom and blood
Do you think they'll cry in sadness
Do you think the eye will blink
Do you think they'll curse the madness
Do you think they'll even think
When all the great galactic systems
Sigh to a frozen halt in space
Do you think there will be some remnant
Of beauty in the human race
Do you think there will be a vestige
Or a sniffle or a cosmic tear
Do you think a greater thinking thing
Will give a damn that man was here
Kendrew Lascelles
Prior to founding the Tea Party my political life consisted of showing up to vote...voting a straight Republican Ticket...and returning home with the feeling that I had accomplished my civic responsibility. I was politically in a dark, warm, and safe place.
Oh, I discussed politics, but only to keep someone from boring me into non-existence with their pictures of children, dogs, or cars. My favorite discussion surrounded religion, or what if military situations. That all ended on a dark and stormy night in Montana.
As a young Security Specialist one of the jobs we had was to baby sit nuclear missile sites. We would go out as a pair and sit all night making sure no one tried to steal the beast. On this particular night I was paired with a guy who was, for lack of a better word, out there. Being on the edge of out there myself...I liked him. He was entertaining.
In our previous assignments together we would discuss what if scenarios...such as...what if we were notified that the missiles quietly sitting underground were about to be launched...what would you do? My first inclination would have been to drive as fast as I could...not with the hope of avoiding disintegration...but to enjoy the exhilaration of being propelled to the afterlife in an old dodge truck.
On this particular night things were ugly from the start. It was raining as hard as I have ever seen in Montana. The night was so dark that just finding the road was difficult, but that is the mundane danger we must face to keep America safe. As we passed the bridge that passed over Belt creek we were notified that it was now closed to traffic. As we began to climb into the Little Belt Mountains we were told time and time again that the bridge we had just crossed was closed to traffic. At one point we came upon a bridge with water flowing over it...we were told.."let us know when you are over"...we did...they closed it.
Our target was the Alpha-5 Minuteman Missile silo. The alarm system...called the Banjo...because it looked like a green banjo...was not working. They never worked in the rain, snow, or for that matter in perfectly clear weather. We made it to the site and prepared for what would hopefully be just a long night.
Alpha 5 had a history. It was what JFK called his "Ace in the Hole". Located high in the mountains and surrounded by very nasty looking peaks on 3 sides. It was a pilot option site...meaning the pilot of our helicopter support unit could decide to attempt a landing or not...no questions asked. It was also haunted. What would scare me this night was not ghosts.
The rain had stopped, and after doing a walk around of the site my partner started with "So, let me pose this question...", he always started the ball rolling this way.."What if our commander ordered us to take part in enforcing martial law on a town?"
Easy question....I would follow the orders. My partner began adding additional what ifs..and I had the answer...until he hit the scary one.
"What if those orders violate the Constitution?", he asked.
When I graduated from High School, what I knew about the Constitution went like this....Some guy wrote the Magna Carta...then we went to war for our independence...Ben Franklin helped some other guy write the Constitution...We won the war...and McDonalds invented the hamburger. Armed with all that Constitutional knowledge I could get a Big Mac..and that was about it.
It bothered me that I could end up not only involved in hurting innocent people, but I could end up as the party to an overthrow of the country. We discussed this for the next few days...that is how long it took them to find a pilot. That rainstorm had created what is called a "100 year flood". There would be no driving out for a long time...and we were running out of food.
That was a turning point for me. I decided that I needed to keep up on current events, and learn as much as I could about our Constitution. From that day, till I retired from the military I took every course on U.S. History that I could. I read many books that were dedicated to the U.S. Constitution. However, I still remained naive' about our Government.
I believed that my representatives, especially the ones I voted for, were looking out for the country. A feeling that I shared with millions of other Americans.
MY AWAKENING
After I retired I decided to go back to school full time, of course I still had to work full time, but civilian work was a snap compared to the job I did in the military. My major was in Computer Science, but I just couldn't stay away from history courses. When I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, I had accumulated enough credits between the courses I took while in the Military to get a History degree.
The aftermath of 9/11 was my first twinge that something was not right. The Patriot Act was dancing all over civil liberties in order to purchase a false sense of security. Ben Franklin said,
I believe...Liberty first...safety second. There is nothing safe about being a Nation of Free people. I began to question the rationale of our Government, especially my representatives. Things began to click...war with Al Qaeda...makes sense....war with Iraq...why...WMD's...I can buy that they had them at one time...Congress agrees...good with me....what no WMD's...okay...who broke the checks and balances...nothing but finger pointing...the math was not making much sense.
I began discussing this...sometimes heatedly...with my friends. Educated people with whom we could discuss our differences without shooting one another. Then the bottom fell out of the Housing market...then the bottom fell out of everything.
Suddenly everyone from the President, to Congress, heck..to the School Board became math stupid. They began suggesting that I pay for someone else's bills? I became angry..and as the hulk would say...you won't like me when I'm mad.
Everyone I spoke with were feeling the same way...We had to do something!! Discussions between my friends began speeding up...the tipping point came in the debates of the 2008 Presidential Elections. We now had the choice between two candidates that differed very little from one another. They both suggested that the Tax Payer, us, absorb the poor business and personal decisions of others.
After the Inauguration of President Obama I still thought that there may be some hope of a Fiscally responsible government...that was not to be...he began spending money like a fat kid in a candy store...the only difference was, he wanted the other customers to pay for it.
I began to increase my network of like minded people..then along came Rick Santelli...Calling him a modern day Patrick Henry may be pushing it...but he was at the least a modern day Samuel Adams. Like millions of Americans I began looking for someone to join with...to help stop this madness.
Along with three other people we organized the first Tea Party in Great Falls, Montana...we were joined by about 500 other founders and expressed our disgust at the way our Government had been abusing the privilege of representing us. We were joined by ten's of thousands of like minded founders. In the months that followed we had meetings established national organizations, raised money. We managed to rouse Millions of soccer moms, stay at home dad's, Sunday School teachers, Professors, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islanders, Fat, Skinny, Old, and young. Working from the bottom up we have created a Total Quality Management Masterpiece. All with simple goals...restore Fiscal Responsiblity, Limited Government, and Free Markets...the things that have made this country the greatest country of all time. We are not better than everyone else...WE ARE EVERYONE ELSE.
SUMMARY
In the beginning they made fun of us...called us Tea Baggers...a rabble. I think the British said that...just a rabble. Now the power elite are standing toe to toe with Soccer Moms...Farmers...and plumbers....just a rabble...but a dedicated, stubborn, and right rabble. Even better...they are becoming an extremely well educated rabble. The message we send is to forget party, and remember your responsibility to US....the WE in WE the People.
The following video is dedicated to the tens millions of Tea Party Founders!
The following video is dedicated to the tens millions of Tea Party Founders!
THE STORY BEHIND THE VIDEO
The Whole World is Watching.
The Video is in 5 Acts, that describe my journey to founding the Tea Party Movement. Yes you heard me right. I founded the Tea Parties, no need to thank me.
Act 1 is a poem read by Robert Lamm of the band Chicago
The symbolism here is that the earth is being watched by a "Greater Thinking Thing".
The symbolism here is that the earth is being watched by a "Greater Thinking Thing".
When All the Laughter Dies in Sorrow, suggests that the Human Race is being observed by some “Greater Thinking Thing” and our activities though important to humans, has little effect on this “Greater Thinking Thing”.
In the last line the poet asks the question “Do you think that a greater thinking thing, will give a damn that man was here”?
Act 2. Is a short description of my journey to understanding my political beliefs and the documents that created our nation. The song is “Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten”, by Arvo Parte. Mr. Parte best known for his sacred music. I selected this particular piece due to its somber mood and use of the church bell at the beginning. The bell is heard throughout the piece. It signifies the loud and sustained sound of Liberty.
The symbolism here is pretty strong.
It begins with the Church, early governments were controlled by Monarch, but the Church often controlled the Monarch. It was the Church that helped repeal the first Magna Carta.
The graveyard shows the death and destruction of the many wars between 1215 and 1297 when the Great Charter was reinstated. It indicates that the quest for freedom...even the few granted by the Great Charter...was costly.
Next we have William Penn. William Penn was one of the most forward thinking men of his time. He recognized that religious freedom was key...and that a single recognized religion had no place in government, but was important to exist within the men who ran government.
The final section of this act is about the creation of the United States. Patrick Henry quotes bookends the symbols of freedom, the Bell, and the Unknown Soldier.
The symbolism here is pretty strong.
It begins with the Church, early governments were controlled by Monarch, but the Church often controlled the Monarch. It was the Church that helped repeal the first Magna Carta.
The graveyard shows the death and destruction of the many wars between 1215 and 1297 when the Great Charter was reinstated. It indicates that the quest for freedom...even the few granted by the Great Charter...was costly.
Next we have William Penn. William Penn was one of the most forward thinking men of his time. He recognized that religious freedom was key...and that a single recognized religion had no place in government, but was important to exist within the men who ran government.
The final section of this act is about the creation of the United States. Patrick Henry quotes bookends the symbols of freedom, the Bell, and the Unknown Soldier.
Act 3 Is how I viewed my country during my service in the Military. We provided many inventions, as well as, examples to the world about what Freedom means. We used our might to free Europe from its self-created hell, and provide, free of charge, our resources to the poor and those who suffered during times of disaster. We are a loving nation. Often while being derided by those we helped. The song “Bourree” is a dance of French origin…it is very carefree and uplifting type of melody. This particular version is inspired by J.S. Bach’s Bourree in E minor, and performed by the band Jethro Tull.
These inventions were possible because of Free Markets.
These inventions were possible because of Free Markets.
Act 4 Is what I call the “Great Awakening Part 2”. This is the political awakening of the American people. Not just the Right, but for the Left as well. The protagonists in this are Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid. They represent the forces that are attempting to usurp the Constitution. They are clearly the antihero in this act.
The antagonists are the people as represented by the Tea Party.
The antagonists are the people as represented by the Tea Party.
The song “Some Day” by the band Chicago Chicago Florida
The first symbol is the subway where a crowd has gathered...they cant see more than the person in front of them. This represents the haze of misinformation that is sent out by the media.
The next two symbols represent the face of Hate and Fear...Reid and Pelosi. They are not just the target, but are both filled with hate and fear of what the awakening will mean for them.
The symbol of the Man in the Chair indicates the despair that many Americans have felt when dealing with our Government.
The answer for the people now arrives in the form of the Tea Party.
In the next video clip you see people running from the camera in fear..with the exception of one woman..she runs to the camera as if to say stop...she represents the Tea Party and its call to stand up to the Government.
The egg being shot by a bullet indicates how fast the bullet of truth has shattered the world of the old political elite.
The Next video is from the protests in Iran, and reminds us that those in power will do what ever they can to silence us.
Beginning with the earth graphic and ending with Edward we are reminded of the road to our freedom.
To promote discussion the rest of the symbolism is up to you to decipher.
The first symbol is the subway where a crowd has gathered...they cant see more than the person in front of them. This represents the haze of misinformation that is sent out by the media.
The next two symbols represent the face of Hate and Fear...Reid and Pelosi. They are not just the target, but are both filled with hate and fear of what the awakening will mean for them.
The symbol of the Man in the Chair indicates the despair that many Americans have felt when dealing with our Government.
The answer for the people now arrives in the form of the Tea Party.
In the next video clip you see people running from the camera in fear..with the exception of one woman..she runs to the camera as if to say stop...she represents the Tea Party and its call to stand up to the Government.
The egg being shot by a bullet indicates how fast the bullet of truth has shattered the world of the old political elite.
The Next video is from the protests in Iran, and reminds us that those in power will do what ever they can to silence us.
Beginning with the earth graphic and ending with Edward we are reminded of the road to our freedom.
To promote discussion the rest of the symbolism is up to you to decipher.
Act 5 is where the question from Act 1 is answered. “Do you think that a Greater thinking thing, Will give a damn that Man was here”? You will have to watch it for the answer.
