Dear Editor,
In Mr. Helms' editorial ["End of the invocations of Tea Party," printed Sept. 21], he never reveals what he thinks the "finite purposes and agendas" of the alleged phony Tea Partiers are, and one wonders if he knows anything more about today's Tea Party movement beyond the grotesque caricatures that dominate the left's echo chamber.
Today's Tea Party is fighting for individual freedom, capitalism and the desire to see our federal government return to its constitutionally-constrained duties. There is a very strong Libertarian undercurrent to this movement, as well as a large percentage who believe the Judeo-Christian roots of the country should be recognized and embraced. We come to you without titles or credentials. We are simply "the people" referred to in the Constitution, and we are here to enforce it.
I went to the 912DC Tea Party. In the days leading up to the event, the belligerence on the left was growing daily and went unchecked in the mainstream media. Fights had broken out in town hall meetings. Democratic leaders called us Nazis and Klansmen. The media openly mocked the Tea Party protesters. President Obama himself said he didn't want to hear from us, and announced he would begin tracking people who sounded fishy. Our safety was in doubt. At the very least we knew we would make Obama's enemies list.
Contrary to the editorial's characterization of the Tea Party movement as selfish cowards hiding behind the bravery of past heroes, I can report that it took a bold act of courage to go to D.C. on Sept. 12 and march for the cause of liberty. The hundreds of thousands that showed up that day put themselves at risk for the cause of freedom, both theirs and yours, and by doing so have kept faith with all the heroes and patriots [who] have fought and sacrificed throughout this country's history, from the original Boston Tea Partiers to the troops fighting back the forces of barbarism today. Standing on the Mall with all those patriots on Sept. 12, 2009 was my finest moment as an American citizen, and I will be proud to stand with the Tea Party movement in the future.
Sincerely,
Gary Finley
American Citizen and Tea Partier
