“Remember, remember the fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot,” was the bellowing cry of the patriot-hero from the dystopian classic V for Vendetta. Such a battle cry was used to commemorate Guy Fawkes’s attempt to destroy British Parliament and all of the corruption it housed in 17th century England. Corruption and tyranny are a natural, degenerative characteristic of any society. It takes the remembrance and dedication of a society to their founding principles and values to sustain a free society rid of power hungry tyrants and dictators.
It also happens, ironically, that the fifth of November marked the arrival of the Tea Party Express, a traveling political awareness group that organizes conservative political rallies on the steps of state capitols across the nation. It is TPE’s goal to reinvigorate American citizens and bring America back to its conservative roots.
My mother came down from Tulsa to go to the rally with me. You don’t often find that kind of patriotism anymore; driving an hour and a half to go to an hour-long rally to support our nation’s welfare. It was 5:45 when we arrived at the steps of the capitol building in Oklahoma City. It was a beautiful night and the sun was just beginning to set. There at the capitol were already over a thousand people assembled for one virtuous cause: freedom. The Tea Party Express bus had not yet showed up to the capitol, so in the meantime the MC for the evening was allowing ordinary citizens use the microphone to address the assembly about their concerns and feelings pertaining to the way our government is currently being run. Most were people concerned about their freedoms being taken away, like their right to choose their own health care. Others were simply there to encourage and thank everyone for being dutiful in involving themselves in the cause of restoring liberty to our nation.
At one point a man was talking about the issue of health care. He explained adamantly that it was not simply a matter of reforming the health care system; rather, it was a matter of freedom and liberty. He went on to say that the ideas of restoring freedom and liberty may seem overzealous and silly; however, it truly is an issue that we should be concerned with. The man explained that when you give away your rights to the government, it is near impossible to regain them.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Ruvy
Nice read. I'm no conservative, not at least by your standards. But, on the other hand, I do not live in the States either - not anymore. And I'm glad of it, seeing what has happened to a nation I was once proud to live in.
Nevertheless, people like you, who do have a real love for your country, as well as a respect for and fear of G-d, are the hope of your nation.
Blessings from Samaria
Ruvy
2 - Arch Conservative
It's nice to see that there are some young people capable of resisting the leftist indoctrination that is going on at our colleges and universities and thinking for themselves.
I've never been to OK but i suspect that many Universities, even in red states, are similiar to the cess pool breeding grounds of political correctness, leftist revisionist history and moonbat intolerance that I've been witness to on many a campus here in the Northeast.
Congrats on not being a weak minded fool and lapping up every last word from every last deadbeat 60's remnant, relic professor claiming to speak the undisputable truth John.
3 - Scott Deitche
So basically, the only way to be a real American is to be a white Christian with a peripheral knowledge of American history.
Good to know. (insert rolling eyes)
4 - Mark
too many comics and movies...
The rhyme that you quote was one of angry backlash:
"Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
And what should we do with him? Burn him!"
TPers might do well to keep that in mind as they dance around their bonfires.
5 - Doug Hunter
Oh my boy. You've used the F-word and the L-word in front of leftists, they foam at the mouth at the mention of freedom and liberty because they stand in opposition to their statist policies.
6 - Mark
So, Doug, you think the options offered by the TPers are non-statist? 'Smaller government' ends up being bigger government pretty much every time.
Freedom and liberty indeed.
7 - Christine
Two thumps up on this article!
8 - Dave Nalle
Scott, I see no way that your bigoted comment could rationally be derived from this article.
Dave
9 - El Bicho
"so many men before us have died for."
I am sure the women who have died for us and their families don't appreciate your ignorance.
"These people...demanded reparation for the blunders of the current administration."
And nothing from the former? So the TPers are partisan hacks as well?
"to a God long forgotten by the leaders of our nation."
What a crock. You apparently "don’t have much time to watch the news or read the paper" if you think this is the case.
"tyrants like Obama"
How did you get to be a senior without taking any history classes because you obviously don't know what the word "tyrant" means?
10 - Silas Kain
It's nice to see that there are some young people capable of resisting the leftist indoctrination that is going on at our colleges and universities and thinking for themselves.
Damn, I find myself agreeing with Arch on the substance not the merit. I agree that what's being spewed at certain institutions like Harvard, MIT, BC and other "liberal" institutions is dangerous. YThe same can be said for BYU, Liberty U and other conservative colleges.
The problem, Arch, is that colleges and universities are supposed to TEACH and DEBATE and allow students to draw their own logical conclusions. I had a great logic professor at Providence College who really drove that point home. Arch, we do our children a disservice by not encouraging exploration of all ideas and alternatives. No one faction has all the answers. We are supposed to live in a vibrant, living society that evolves and, like it or not, the far right is hell bent turning this country into a militant Christian republic. I'm in full support of Conservative principles being a vibrant part of the political dialog. But when some of those right wingnuts throw God into the mix, they really do sound like Taliban leaders more than Christ.
These Tea Parties are a joke. The fact that it's been proven FOX News has misrepresente4d graphics of tea parties is another clear example of just how far some of these radical righters will go to advance their cause. Above all else, news organizations must be held accountable in assuring that "news" reported is fact and not accompanied with old footage or props. If we found a way to return to the Cronkite brand of journalism there is no doubt in my mind we would become a more conservative society insofar as government and its' intrusion on our lives. Abortion, gay marriage and interracial marriage are not integral to the operation of government. Those on the Far Right AND the Far Left are responsible for injecting societal issues into a political process which detracts us from the most important issues of the day.
Rather than rely on today's "conservatives" for information on the conservative cause, we should look to history. Barry Goldwater's brand of conservatism, as well as Reagan's, is no longer the "scripture" of conservatism. It's been replaced by people like Falwell, Robertson, Mormons, etc.
11 - zingzing
dave, look at the comment above it. and "bigoted" is becoming your new "liberty."
12 - zingzing
archie: " i suspect that many Universities, even in red states, are similiar to the cess pool breeding grounds of political correctness, leftist revisionist history and moonbat intolerance that I've been witness to on many a campus here in the Northeast."
THAT'S what you got from college? what about drugs and sex and music? parent-less existence? you obviously were too busy having a stick up your ass to really experience the place.
13 - zingzing
doug: "You've used the F-word and the L-word in front of leftists, they foam at the mouth at the mention of freedom and liberty because they stand in opposition to their statist policies."
that's not why we dislike the words. we don't even dislike the words. we just don't think you even know what they mean anymore. it's like "NEW!" on a package of detergent. it doesn't mean new anymore... it's just supposed to get you to look at the package. or "NOW 30% LARGER!" they made a bigger box. wow.
you've reduced the words to mere slogans. i bet you can't even tell the difference between them. sometimes, one of them sounds better in a sentence to you, but you don't particularly know why... and they have become absolutely pointless words coming from the right. it's like you don't know what else to say, so you just utter a few "freedoms" and "liberties" and hope you can retain some interest.
it's completely transparent, and you aren't fooling anyone. i mean, look at what you did. that's all you have to say. that he used the words "liberty" and "freedom." wow. thanks for the insight.
what next? the words "the" and "words?"
14 - Silas Kain
Therein lies the difference, zing. Conservative college boys put sticks up their asses while the liberals will just about try any other appendage or toy available. Does that mean conservative college boys are a splinter group or do they feel closer to the old wooden cross?
15 - zingzing
oh... silas...
16 - Jet Gardner
El Bicho why the dismay? Most children in the last 15 years have been taught that God created the earth and that science is only a theory. They've also been taught that George Washington was sent by go to set up a democratic theocracy in the new world, that the U.S. Constitution is a wholy CHRISTIAN document handed down by God, and that Noah had dinosaurs on the arc. The fact that he's a "white Christian with a peripheral knowledge of American history" goes without saying.
17 - Jet Gardner
I'm what he considers a faggot, but I wan't offended, I just felt sorry for him for misinterpreting the meanings of the word.
My problem is no matter how hard I try, I can't get the lisp and the limp wrist right.
18 - Jet Gardner
Silas, that because we learned long ago that when wood gets wet; it expands.
19 - Ruvy
Don't take this the wrong way, Jet. This is etymology, not an attack on homosexuals.
Apparently the term "faggot" was used to refer to the folks burned to heat up the fire hot enough to get the real baddies, the witches or Jews. These were the homosexuals. Put another way, faggots were the opening act to the big entertainment concerts of the 10th to 16th centuries - witch burning, and Jew burning.
Ah, bless their Christian hearts, these lovely folks organized the concerts (and did the burning)....
20 - John_McKoy
El Bicho,
To be President, not only must you be a citizen, but you must also be natural-born.
The Greek tyrannos (tyrant) was a ruler who seized power unconstitutionally or inherited such power.
Have we evidence of President Obama's "natural-born" status?
You may think this is a silly point to be made. However, it shows how little attention our nation pays to the constitution anymore.
21 - El Bicho
"Have we evidence of President Obama's 'natural-born' status?"
Oh, so you're a birther. That helps put this article into better context.
22 - Silas Kain
Most children in the last 15 years have been taught that God created the earth and that science is only a theory.
Jet, sweetie, God did create the Heaven and Earth and everything else in the Universe. God is the Universe and the Universe is God. Everything in this Universe is connected, we just can't comprehend how. It is in trying to explain that which is where we get into trouble and lots of blood is spilled.
Paraphrasing my favorite vampire -- Humans have an amazing capacity to accept suggestion without question.
23 - Christine
Mark: I'm gonna have to take one of my "two thumbs up" down. Hmmm. Way more important things to worry about than Obama's birth certificate. Let's move on...he's legitimate.
24 - Christine
And this is coming from a Christian, a Conservative, a "Tea Party" defender, including the one you attended on November 5th.
25 - Silas Kain
Barack Obama was born of a white woman in Hawaii and was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. He traversed the globe, learned different cultures, came from a "different" father. Gee, after all that the far right is gonna declare him the antiChrist!