TEA PARTY CONVERSATIONS: IS DISSENT THE HIGHEST FORM OF PATRIOTISM?

By Jason Spencer

If one has been to a local Camden County Tea Party meeting recently, one will notice that the meeting begins with the usual opening prayer to God, followed by the Pledge to the Georgia Flag, and then we conclude our “opening ceremonies” with a pledge to Old Glory herself. Recently, I have been criticized by some who believe it is a mistake or even an act of “treason” to acknowledge an allegiance to the State of Georgia before that of United States of America. I find this criticism nothing more than rhetoric based in ignorance about the essence of the TEA Party Movement (henceforth known as The Movement).

The Movement embraces dissent and challenging the status quo in order to effect positive change that drives our nation back to its founding principles. Not until the election of President Barack Hussein Obama, have the people realized that there have been a “long train of abuses” against them. These abuses pre-existed the election of Mr. Obama and now dissent is seen by those in The Movement as the highest form of patriotism. Resistance to illegal and unconstitutional usurpation of our rights is required. Each of us must choose which course of action we should take: education, conventional political action or even peaceful civil disobedience to bring necessary changes.

Furthermore, our rights come from our humanity, which is a gift from God or Nature. As a result the Camden County Tea Party recognizes this fact by honoring the Creator with an opening prayer. The Pledge to the Georgia Flag follows the prayer because The Movement is committed to our founding principles and it recognizes that the States preceded the birth of the Union. By that acknowledgment, The Movement is recognizing a fact in our history that is so often ignored. In our country’s founding, the States were seen as sovereign political entities that represented sovereign individual citizens that came together to form a Union. Hence, the strong stance The Movement takes with regards to state sovereignty.

The Union was given enumerated powers by the States to handle a limited list of duties for the general welfare and interest of the United States. In essence, it was the Federal government who became the servant to the States, but today the role is clearly reversed. States now beg for stimulus money, federal highway money, federal dollars for public education, and entitlement programs. This role reversal includes an omnipotent Federal government that uses the States as an administrative sub-unit to carry out its functions while the individual, and even God, are in a position of serfs to the almighty central government. It will take real patriotism to reverse the “top heavy” structured form of government.

So, what is real patriotism? Webster’s dictionary defines it as "a person who loves his country and defends and promotes its interests." I find this definition too broad on not in sync with the current political mood in our own state and in our country. First, a love of country cannot and does not mean a love of state or a love of government. I certainly do not love or adore most of the policies coming from the federal government. In addition, I certainly do not agree with the latest coming out of Atlanta with Governor Purdue vetoing two of the most important bills (SB1 and SB 148) that would bring fiscal sanity to the Gold Dome. I would define patriotism as the defense of liberty, and at all costs; nothing more and nothing less. Furthermore, one could say that patriotism is that effort to resist oppressive state power.

American patriotism is based upon principles and ideas. Since our founding, the country has continually expanded with more and more hypothetically sovereign states, and has people from many diverse backgrounds, so it is hard to say that it is based on blood and soil. The real American ideals are rooted in the principles of freedom expressed in the Declaration of Independence, and ensured in the Constitution. But somewhere between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Martin Luther King, Jr., today’s concept of patriotism turned into a love of the federal government, combined with apathy whenever our freedom and money have been taken away. Our allegiance should be to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and that of our own State Constitution.

Almost every single public school student has to say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning, yet a recent survey shows that the majority of them thought that the Marxist credo: “From each according to their ability, to each according to their need” is from the US Constitution. I am sure most of these students love America and feel patriotic, but there's obviously little substance behind that patriotism if they do not even have a basic understanding of our constitution. When the Pledge to the Georgia flag is recited at our meetings, I often have the pledge written down so people can learn it. This is an attempt to get people closer to their history, not an act of treason. However, if recognizing my own state is an act of “treason”, then I embrace this label. Thomas Jefferson did say, “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.”

As we celebrate Independence Day, think about where your allegiance lies and really discover what does patriotism mean. Does patriotism mean love for government institutions and programs or is your patriotism rooted in the defense of liberty at all cost? Among many of those in The Movement, patriotism has to do with resisting state power, not supporting it. The true patriot challenges the state when the state embarks on enhancing its power at the expense of the individual. The Camden County TEA Party chooses to recognize the State of Georgia with its pledge because we recognize the historical contribution Georgia has made to America. Georgia was one of the brave thirteen colonies who understood that a greater determination to rein in the oppressive state power of Britain was the duty of the people. Are we, as a nation, faced with a similar circumstance today? I believe dissent is the highest form of patriotism. Our Founders exercised courageous dissent as well as many historical figures such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Were they wrong to challenge the status quo?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jason Spencer is a Health Care professional in Southeastern Georgia and a leader in the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party movement in the area. He is a candidate in the Republican Primary for the Georgia House of Representatives District #180. His campaign’s web address is www.spencer4georgia.com. His articles are presented by THE CLARION ISSUE: Counter Editorials and Opinions on Current Events and Attitudes, R. A. Pearson, editor.