My Tea Party Experience

On April 15, 2009, I joined over 20,000 of my fellow Georgians, Americans, and concerned citizens to protest the misuse of taxpayer dollars by the Obama administration and our current Congress. To be honest, I didn't decide to go until the last minute. I had a lot going on that day, I'd have to skip a class I'm taking, and I'd injured my foot before the Tea Party, so I didn't know if I'd be up for standing around for four or five hours. Growing up in the Atlanta area and going to college downtown for three years, I was certain parking would be a nightmare, if not expensive. Despite everything, I knew that if I didn't go, I'd regret being a part of the remarkable movement of citizens taking back the country.

I arrived about an hour before it started, only to find many streets blocked and already filled with people. After walking about a mile or two from my parking deck of choice, I began to see huge crowds surrounding the state capital building. Music was blaring, people from all walks of life and of all ages, were waving signs and flags, dancing, chanting, and some were even dressed up in period costume. I made my way to the outskirts of the crowd, but I was already too late to get too close to the staging area. I mingled and took pictures and looked for interesting signs, and before I knew it, I was no longer at the "outside" of the crowd. Thousands more had gathered behind me.

Before the festivities even began, I knew I'd made the right decision. In the days after the 2008 Presidential election, I'd felt alienated. I didn't recognize a country that would vote for someone like Barack Obama for President while allowing someone like Sarah Palin to be treated as unfairly as she was. I honestly wondered if the country was heading to a place none of us would recognize. On the night of the Tea Party, I got a different feeling. I felt so comfortable being around like-minded people and I rediscovered my love and positive attitude for the country. Even though we could have made up a small city and even though I saw very few people I knew, I felt like I was among friends and family.

Local talk radio host, Joel Aaron from 920 AM hosted the Tea Party and did a great job of keeping things running smoothly. It was chilling to hear that many people recite the Pledge of Allegiance in perfect unity. Fair Tax seemed to get a lot of mention. Throughout the course of the evening, we heard from some local congressmen and state representatives. We heard from everyday Americans and local celebrities. We heard from business owners, parents, and even thirteen year old conservative "wonderkid," Jonathan Krohn. Former Congressman, Dick Armey was there as were some of my favorite ladies from Smart Girl Politics. One of my favorite speakers was Georgia State Representative Melvin Everson who said,

"We will not fail. We will take our country back to its rightful place: the land of liberty, the home of the brave and the free, because America is the greatest nation on the face of the earth."

He was amazing and got the crowd fired up, as did "Regular Guy" Eric Von Haessler. Fox News' Sean Hannity even hosted his 9:00 PM show from the event with guests such as "Joe the Plumber," Red State's Erik Erickson, John Rich, and live via satellite, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, radio host Neal Boortz, and former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee.


But the best part of the whole night is that most people weren't there to see Sean Hannity or be on TV. Most of them weren't there for any other reason other than to secure their future and the future of their children. We weren't there to have a party as the media tried to insinuate, but to prove we are tired of being ignored by politicians who do not truly represent the people of this country or uphold the United States Constitution. We are tired of seeing members of Congress break the law and get a free pass. In three short months, we're tired of seeing our President apologize for our country, shake hands with our enemies, and mistreat our allies. We're tired of seeing our representatives do what is best their own personal gain and not doing the job they are supposed to do.

On April 15th, 2009, we did our best to let the world know how we feel and on July 4, 2009, we will do the same. And we will continue until our so-called "leaders" listen or until we find new ones who can properly and lawfully represent the country. I hear the President smugly said he didn't know about the tea parties. Unfortunately, I don't think this prompted Katie Couric to ask him to specify exactly which newspapers he reads, but I have a feeling that President Obama is going to have no choice but to know in the future.