Not What I expected

[scott snedeker]

So i Joined the official Tea Party website and ventured deep within the enemy territory. A mole on a spy mission.


What I found floored me! I introduced myself as gay and apprehensive about oppression of gay rights.

Not only was I welcomed and affirmed that folks from all walks of life can be a part. I found that much of the Tea party is anti republican, anti- wall street and.....get ready..... openly gay! and Hippees and marijuana leagalizing libertarians!

goes to show.

Don't accept what others tell you.

Maybe the cup needs to be emptied (in the buddhist sense)

Now there are a bunch of ridiculously posturing fearful morons who post there also. But these ideals are not part of the mission

Google it and see for yourself!

See for yourself

My skepticism is profoundly shaken!!!!!

[antiochian]

Is this the same Tea Party that heckled the guy with Parkinson's and made ant-gay and racist remarks to various gay and black lawmakers? Meh, you can have the tea, sweetie. I'll stick to my coffee.

[Rick336]

Don't accept what others tell you.




Good advice.


Rick

[Alecto]

I'm not JUST against the anti-gay segment of the tea party, I'm fundamentally opposed to the libertarian concepts behind it. And I will always be suspect that all of the same people who suddenly are worried about the national debt under Obama's administration were long silent while it was a white guy spending all of the surplus and getting us into the largest debt to that point.

I don't think everyone there is evil. I'm not sure everyone there is racist, but I do think a lot of people who do have racist views and motives don't like to think that they do.

[BrianB]

Tea party people come from such a wide variety of backgrounds that it is hard to put them wholly in one camp or the other. There are many conservative democrats in the tea party for example. It seems to me that you can't generalize too much about them. Personally, I think the tea party will tear itself apart because there are so many different views within it. The leadership may be together right now but their constituents are all over the map figuratively.

[Daniel]

Gay Teabaggers? I can see that. They may want to same thing I want, that is, happiness, but their actions, and those that fund their movement like David & Charles Koch (who are the main funders) are motivated by greed not compassion. They would undo the very foundations of our social fabric, doing away with Social Security and Healthcare.

The book worth reading about this "What's the Matter With Kansas?"

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Whats-the-Matter-with-Kansas/Thomas-Frank/e/9780805077742

[Tallit]

the TEA Party movement is still relatively new and hasn't coaleced enough to define it's long term principles. So it could go either way. There are some very Liberterian streeks, but also a large contigent that want to further a 50's Leave it to Beaver style of society.

[Rick336]

.........but also a large contigent that want to further a 50's Leave it to Beaver style of society.

What is a "Leave it to Beaver style of society?"


Rick

[Tallit]

by a "Leave it to Beaver style of society?", I mean an idealized idea of what life was like in the late 40's-50's, as depicted in the old TV series:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leave_It_To_Beaver
ie, dad works, mom is always home, everyone is white, middle class and heterosexual, so forth.

[scott snedeker]

Courage my friends. The more of us venture and make a mark from within a growing movement the more we become a part internally rather than an adversary against which to posture.

Don't the freedom riders visit college campuses that discriminate against us?

Why bash against the gate when we can Create change From within?

below is a cut and paste from a thread I started there:



By far my greatest anxiety in the evolution of American society dramatized in the recent political battles is the use of power to oppress. Laws that give privilege to one group while denying it to another are in direct contradiction to the first passages that assure that all "Men are created equal"



Though this statement reflects the patriarchal or "andro-centric" view at the time many authors including Emerson referred to humanity (male and female) as "men"



My concern specifically is centered on members of the Tea Party who have been quoted as defending entitlement to oppress folk who have capacity for intimacy with their own gender. That some how the original Constitution Dictates that Equality to the right to the pursuit of happiness does not apply to some "Men."



I was heartened to see, however, That in this site's forum prohibits comments that disciminate with respect to "sexual orientation."



Politically I am probably closer idealogically to the Tea Party as stated on this website than i am to either Republican or Democrat Agendae. My best description of my political belief is libertarian Socialist which was a Movement in 19th century France. Basically a minimun of laws curbing freedom while protecting common resoucres like rivers, The Grand Canyon etc.to belong to and be accessible to all.



I am an avid reader of history and appreciate the brilliant intellectual foundation of the original constitution. Sound and enduring, this ideal continues to be applicable today.



So despite what I have heard second-hand I joined this site with an open mind. So far I am glad that i have done so.



Scott Snedeker






▼ Reply to This



Permalink Reply by Texas Rebel 1 day ago


Welcome Scott! We are glad to have you. Please be sure to click on the link "Patriots" and then "Mission" up at the top of the page. We have a VERY broad Mission, and have plenty of room for all walks - as long as you share our core values. Even if you don't, then you can give us plenty of practice convincing Progressives to change their evil ways.


Reply by Nathan 1 day ago

You are most welcome here, Scott. Glad you did not let what others may have described this group as keep you from finding out for yourself. Again, welcome aboard!



by Scott Snedeker 23 hours ago

Thanks for the responses! The more I read, the more I feel that the Tea Party fits my feelings. I have to confess That I am Phobic of Republican opression of minorities like myself, but as a Libertarin I can find more and more common ground with Tea Party ideals. I have a growing sense that Republicans and Democrats are distorting Tea Party Agendae out of the fear of loss of power.

I find my skepticism profoundly shaken and feel a little uneasy that I may have unjustly judged Tea Party Patriots as fascist. I now wonder if I myself have been a closeted tea party patriot and didn't know it!!!

It would not be the first time for this kind of experience for me If you know what I mean ;-)



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Reply by Jayhawker 23 hours ago


Hello Scott,

Glad to have you join the party.


Reply by Scott Snedeker 2 hours ago
Thank you!!! Glad to be here



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Reply by Rhodes 23 hours ago


We have little in common with the current GOP leadership Scott just as you seem to have little in common with current gay rights advocate groups.

I do not know how you consolidate libertarian and socialistic views, isn't that kind of like loving ice cream and hating cold stuff? Only the french could come up with that, nineteenth century political philosophies did not hold up well except for Progressives which does not endear the period to many.

Ah well what you will find here is a respect for those advocating liberty and a complete lack of respect for any groups attempting to assign itself special privilege by law or try to force acceptance, not tolerance there is a huge difference, of lifestyles they see as counter to our survival as a republic. Some don't like a lot of stuff I advocate either but I can argue most into a corner so its all good.
.



Reply by Scott Snedeker 3 hours ago


Forcing acceptance is as futile continuing to cut a string because it is too short....LOL The history of "gay lifestyle" is one of fear and profound misunderstanding.

Very simply put, I have capacity for intimacy with my own gender but not with the opposite gender. It is how I am wired up neurologically.

What another person's label or feeling about such is, is separate from me. It is something that they own. It only affects me if either I feel the need to change how they feel or if a law is made to curtail my rights.

Changing how another feels about me is not something to which I feel entitled. Changing an unjust law that says that I have fewer rights is something to which The Constitution says I am entitled (Judicial Branch)

For example, because I am in love with another man and share my life wih him, The state of Florida has defined me as not having the legal right to adopt my neice and nephew who would then be referred to foster care if my brother and sister-in-law were killed.

Chew on that for a bit.

Well in court, it was chewed on chewed up and ruled unconstitutional. An unjust law was changed and as of 3 weeks ago If such an thing should happen, My neice and nephew would be raised by family instead of the State invading our family and taking our children from it to be raised by strangers.

So naturally you can see why I find Tea Party ideals so unexpectedly appealing!!!!!

At the beginning of this thread I expressed my apprehension that the Tea Party mission included oppression through legislation. I was convinced from media that this was the case. However I signed on with an open mind. I find more and more that this is not the case.

I find that Tea Party members are courageous folk.

So Rhodes, do you know any folks who are open about their capacity for same gender intimacy?

If not, you do now. Be sure you won't turn gay. The world won't come to an end. The way to let go of discomfort with what may make you feel uneasy ie "gay lifestyle" is to talk directly and see for yourself. Don't let someone else tell you what to think.



Reply by Peach 1 hour ago

I agree with you totally on the foster care and child custody topic. When a child cannot remain in their home or parents killed, first the court must look for willing and able family members to care for the child. Willing and able comes before sexual orientation.In GA children have been placed with gay relatives.






Reply by c a schneider 23 hours ago

Welcome Scott, This is a good place for all !



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Reply by Scott Snedeker 2 hours ago

Delete Thank you!! I am see that more and more!



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Reply by charles royer sr. 1 hour ago

Scott, All men are created equal" IN THE EYES OF GOD". What they do with their life is 90% in their hands.

[BrianB]

Ash, I'm glad that you checked it out for yourself. I believe the news media to be less and less reliable when it comes to hearing the truth instead of propaganda from both the right and the left.

[scott snedeker]

The Tea Party seems to be a Thoreau/ Emerson libertarian group who have been invaded By every sort of discontent and portrayed as extreme fringe right wing or militia group.


I fear that the original organizers will see it succumb to existing fringe groups who have an agenda of their own.

I find the core creators idealistic naiive and spirited, but there is a general trend toward oppressive and violent fear-driven religioous right trying to usurp this popular and naive group of folks for their agenda.

It also seems to be dominated by blamers and fearful Whiners who want to be revolutionary iconoclasts. and start over and somewhat passion driven, but poorly organized.

[Daniel]

The Tea Party seems to be a Thoreau/ Emerson libertarian group who have been invaded By every sort of discontent and portrayed as extreme fringe right wing or militia group.


I fear that the original organizers will see it succumb to existing fringe groups who have an agenda of their own.

I find the core creators idealistic naiive and spirited, but there is a general trend toward oppressive and violent fear-driven religioous right trying to usurp this popular and naive group of folks for their agenda.

It also seems to be dominated by blamers and fearful Whiners who want to be revolutionary iconoclasts. and start over and somewhat passion driven, but poorly organized.

I see the Tea Party as the invention of David and Charles Koch, who, with several other funders, molded the anger and discontent of a minority into a movement. The Koch brothers agenda has everything with their 'freedom' to make money via the energy industries without government regulation.

[scott snedeker]

I see the Tea Party as the invention of David and Charles Koch, who, with several other funders, molded the anger and discontent of a minority into a movement. The Koch brothers agenda has everything with their 'freedom' to make money via the energy industries without government regulation.

Would be very in tune with today's naked greed/politics fornicationism

[scott snedeker]

Now I see the Tea Party is like a wake held in a nursing home where everybody is blaming some other group for the death and digging up the shoulda-coulda-woulda's in a boneyard trying to put the corpse of their lost glory back to life.

It is a sad soul-killing bitter pity party of suffering and dark gratification. They have no spirit of wonder, no compassion, no self-love, no hope

The Tea Party should be renamed "The Pity Party" for accuracy.

All the above makes a very unwell sentiment around whtch the movement is centered.

I'm appreciative that I saw for myself so that I no longer fear them and can view them with compassion, But there is so much more That I need to focus on with my finite time and energy

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[souly]

I guess the same goes for most groups of people, I´d say it´s very difficult to find a totally homogeneous group of totally even at the extreme ends of world views.

[bnmoore]

In times of crisis we seem to be able to come together. Take the tornadoes for example. Google what Maya Angelou had to say about Joplin. My question is why does it take a disaster for us to quit being a-holes? Are we ever going to notice that we're much more powerful when we cooperate? It's much more powerful than tolerance.

[Gennee]

Many folks have left the Republican and Democrat camps (I left the latter several years ago). Tea Party members come from other groups also. From my observation, Tea party members are not enomored by the Republicans and ticked off at the Democrats.

I'm still learning what the Tea party movement is all about. Roughly 45% of voters are independent. In other words, many are getting off the grid of ideology and isms and thinking for themselves.

Gennee