Live from Houston Tea Party: Report and Pics

Apr 15

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Posted by Michael van der Galien | 10 comments

young Houston protester: i can't read, what's your excuse

Our very own Marc Moore is currently attending the tea party (protest) in Houston, Texas. He sent me several pictures already – see below. We’ll publish more photos from the Houston Tea Party later today, and Marc will write a report about it for us.

For now, Marc tells me that the “atmosphere is great. People are fired up. They are friendly but angry. They want the government to stimulate the economy, but they don’t want to see their children’s and their own financial future ruined. Washington is getting bigger and bigger, while people feel their (property) rights are taken away from them.”

He adds that there is “positive energy” in the air, and that protesters come from all walks in life: young, old, in-between. Those who have worked and are now seeing their hard work being undone, those who are working hard now and fear it may all be in vain, and those who have yet to work a day in their lives are all present and voice their opposition to the Democrats’ ridiculously expensive spending (and future taxing) plans.

“This is working America here. They don’t resent the rich: they wonder what will happen when they are taxed out of existence.

“All protesters ask the same question,” Marc reports. “I have to balance my budget, why doesn’t the government?”

It is a good question with, sadly, “no answer.”

Marc says that a “very conservative estimate” of the size of the crowd is 2,500. There are likely to be (many) more, however. Still, 2,500 working Americans protesting – most likely for the first time in their lives – in Houston Texas: that is not bad, not bad at all.

Especially not considering the fact that 300 to 500 similar protests (make that 800) are taking place throughout the country. U Pajamas Media reports that at least more than 100,000 people protested today. Marc explains: “Most of those here are impressed with the importance of being heard before it is too late. Preservation of freedom” is deemed essential by all of them.

One of the speakers at the Houston Tea Party was George Hernandez. Mr. Hernandez is a Cuban immigrant who loves America and everything it represents. He came to the U.S. to improve his lot in life and to live the American Dream.

“If America fails, there is no other place for free people to go,” Hernandez told the crowd. “Change for the sake of change [...] is not always a good thing.” He urged his fellow Americans to defend their rights and their freedom.

Another speaker (name not known, ex-air force) told the crowd that “our greatness comes not from natural wealth… or impressive technology. It is given by God through the people – the people who in their heart understand that being an American means believing in something bigger than themselves.”

“We are citizens of Texas and the United States of America,” he said. “We have been patient – trusting our government to do what is right. Trusting that our tax contribution would be used responsibly and in accordance with the Constitution. And now we find ourselves with a government which confiscates our resources in order to feed an ever-expanding bureaucracy which has exceeded its constitutionally granted role.”

He went on to say that “the foundation of our nation is simple.” Americans are bestowed with certain rights, among which: “men and women have the right to the fruit of their labor, that property is owned by the individual, and that government is accountable to the governed.”

The crowd responded especially passionately when the speaker said that he believes that “you own what you earn.” When you work hard, use your creativity to make money, “it is yours to spend” as you see fit. It is, perhaps, libertarian, but it is also an inherently American and – dare I say it – human principle.

Enough of that, here are the pics. Notice how funny these signs are – people may be angry, but they did not lose their wonderful sense of humor. That alone proves that the left-wing narrative about these protesters is wrong; they are no ‘angry wackos.’

Warning: The full entry is very image heavy.

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