A Word or Two About "Tea Parties."

The so called "Tea Party" demonstrations being planned for later this year at different spots around the country are not, in my opinion, worthy of being mentioned in the same breath with The Boston Tea Party for the simple reason that the present day brand of tea party seemingly involves nothing but jaw flapping and general displays of emotion. This simply doesn't compare in any substantial way with what occurred on December 16th, 1773, in Boston Harbor, where a bunch of colonial citizens dressed as native American engaged in a covert act of insurrection against British Rule.

As good old Wikipedia puts it, The Boston Tea Party, an event which involved the willful and planned destruction of private property, in this case, tea, was a "major catalyst" of The American Revolution. I don't know exactly what our present day tea party participants have in mind to accomplish with their ceremony, but if it's a step towards some real change, I'd like to offer the wisdom and insight of playwright, Bertolt Brecht, who said, "If you want to have a revolution, you have to walk on the lawn."

The American colonialists of old might have offered that you have to dump someone's tea in the harbor. Either way, call me when you're ready to trample on the grass or dunk some goods in the drink.