Messin' with Texas

Last week I was lured to one of the many “tea parties” that went on around the country on April 15th, 2009 (tax day). Two friends of mine were going and I figured that it was something worth seeing. I remember living in Turkey and thinking how cool it was to see people out in the streets showing their unified opposition to the government, to see Democracy in action! Although I don’t necessarily agree with the protests, or a lot of things that Texans are passionate about, I concluded that this was an event worth seeing. The current administration will make history, and regardless of what side I consider myself on, it is important to understand both sides.

Southeast Texas Tea Party, Beaumont, Texas

Southeast Texas Tea Party, Beaumont, Texas

The event that took place here in Beaumont was not huge. I would guess between one and two thousand people (the population of Beaumont is a little over 100,000). Speakers included: local business leaders, teachers, refinery workers, police, politicians and Ted Poe the congressional representative from Texas’ second district (this one). Not knowing what to expect, I pleasantly surprised at how non-partisan the speakers were, although I found that the crowd was anything but.

Since Beaumont is a small town I ran into people I knew. One of the organizers was a woman I work with, who today high fived me for being, “a domestic terrorist,” like herself. She was very dissapointed when I told her my political alignment and that I was there for the intellectual value. Two guys from my soccer team were there (Ben and Robin), one of whom was volunteered to help run the event because his father-in-law was one of the guest speakers. And of course my most conservative friend, (sorry Nick, I think you’re beat on this one) Elizabeth, was there with a sign and her politically active aunt.

What grabbed me most were the signs that people made. I did my best to snap photos of as many as I could. Here are a few of the better signs that I saw:

Southeast Texas Tea Party, Beaumont, Texas

If you can’t see it, the sign says “don’t spend my wealth, spend my work ethic.” This idea seems to be a value very important to Texans which is ironic in my opinion. Most of the taxes being levied by the current administration will not affect these people at all. Infact they will affect a much higher income bracket, a bracket that most of these people will never be in. Although I don’t know who this was with this sign, it’s probably a pretty safe bet to say that the government is planning to spend his work ethic and reward it with wealthier people’s wealth. Robin Hood anyone?

Southeast Texas Tea Party, Beaumont, Texas

Clear and to the point. But does he actually know what socialism is? I have met two people at my office (keep in mind we are all engineers), who had the right definition and understanding of socialism and its implications in a modern society. The word has become a political catch phrase just like communism did under the efforts of Senator McCarthy. In the current political atmosphere, it is impossible to have a real discussion about anything remotely socialist.

Taxation Without Representation

Not quite sure what to say. You can’t make everyone happy.

Anti Obama Posters

I know who this guy voted for.

Anti-Obama poster

Wow. Just wow.You know after seeing this guy, I took off the hemp bracelet and other jewelry I was wearing.

Southeast Texas Tea Party Speaker

Not sure who the speaker was.

Southeast Texas Tea Party: My favorite picture

I love this picture. It’s just perfect. Sorry to everyone else but this guy and his daughter win the best sign in my opinion.

Tea or Kool-aid?

That’s Elizabeth with her sign.

After the event my brother or father or some member of my family sent me an interesting Op-Ed Article published in the New York Times on April 18th. The author makes a very interesting comment, something that bothered me as well. Most people in this area call themselves patriots, and believe strongly in the image of America that they have in their minds. They have what I would consider (and please correct me if I am wrong) southern values. They are certainly more interested in politics than many of my peers from New York. The theme, or rather the threat of the tea party seemed to be the 10th amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. It reads:

• The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

The claim was that the states have the right to secede from the union if the federal government oversteps its bounds. Of course there is a tremendous amount more discussion to be had on this subject and the various supplementary subjects, but that’s the basic idea. The irony of this is that these people cry out for using the 10th amendment to secede while waving an American flag. Isn’t Secession the most un-patriotic thing you can do? It only shows that you have lost complete faith in your government, your constitution, and everything about the system, which you are apparently so proud of.