Did you attend a tea party on April 15?
I did not, and paid very little attention to the press interest given to these mini-protest gatherings around the country. I noted that a tea party was held in my vicinity, although attendance was somewhat sparse.
What has captured my curiosity is the post-April 15 concentration of the media's focus on these 'tea parties'. Of course, media focus can turn a few events into seeming hundreds or even thousands of protest parties so it can be difficult to ascertain any accurate number.
Radio correspondents have derided the participants and their gatherings, chiding the protesters for lacking organization and forethought of complaint. Radio segments, aired today, poked fun at the very idea of protesting and left the listener with the impression that primates were better at protesting than humans.
What I find the most fascinating is that the very networks and news organization that are the first to complain when our government or legal system tries to muzzle contrary views are now scolding tea-party participants who gathered to voice their opposing opinions.
Is not the ballot box the most highly effective vehicle for affecting change? The pen is mightier than the sword and ink is more influential than tea.
The next time elections are held, perhaps a percentage higher than a twenty-five percent turn-out will yield results that carry a louder message. Want to protest? Go to the polls!
Ancora imparo
