NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — I hate the Tea Party!” Those were the words shouted at me and some of my young children the other day as we were handing out fl iers against the Ozark Regional Transit tax election May 22 in a neighborhood in West Fork.
The man was hysterical with rage, with veins bulging and arms waving.
I wish we had had a video camera with us, because it was the perfect teachable moment. It would have looked great on YouTube: “This, ladies and gentlemen, is a picture of the ‘tolerant’ and ‘loving’ Left, which constantly accuses Tea Partiers and others on the ‘right’ of hate.”
I honestly do not hate that man or anyone else who believes like he does, even though I strongly disagree with their sincerebelief that they have a constitutional right to my money and yours.
I feel sorry for them living with such extreme hatred and anger.
The man actually threatened me and my children - saying he was going to call police - causing the girls to cry, fearing he was going to hurt them.
It’s one thing to have a policy debate, but - threatening a woman and children?
He kept screaming that it should be illegal for anyone to do what we were doing. (Um, putting out fl iers notifying people about an upcoming tax election?)
More proof that liberals really do not stand for “liberty” or freedom of speech. They want all speech that they don’t like silenced.
As an American citizen,I would not stand in the way of his right to do exactly what I was doing - printing and distributing fl iers - even if I didn’t agree with his issue.
I am comfortable with allowing freedom of ideas because somehow the truth sets you free and the truth wins, but liberal ideas can’t compete in a free marketplace of ideas, so their only weapon is to try to silence us (and terrify little children, apparently).
In his venemous rage, this man demanded to know who was paying me and who paid for the fl iers and what money is behind the Tea Party.
That made me laugh!
If you all know of any sources of money for the Tea Party, we’d love to know about it, because since its inception in 2009, the entire Tea Partymovement has been entirely funded and staff ed by volunteers who do it for love of our country and always on a shoestring budget. A liberal simply can’t fathom that someone would actually stand up for their sincerely held beliefs - in our case, defending the Constitution - without being paid.
I would like to thank that man for inspiring us to continue doing what we do, which is educating the public about taxand-spending policies and other important constitutional issues. We care about freedom for everyone, even that man who hates us. We want economic freedom for everyone, and we think the excessive taxes in Arkansas are hurting all of us.
CHRISTINE KELLER / Lincoln
Opinion, Pages 5 on 04/27/2012