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From the Publisher Active People Shouldn’t Fear

By Art Hall

I spoke with our son, Benjamin, the other day and told him that a local Tea Party leader had asked me to come speak to their group of about 3 dozen people. He said that he was impressed, that he would have had no idea that that many citizens in Cape May County would gather regularly to discuss politics. Well they do.
***
Mr. Rob Riehl approached me to ask if I would come to speak at the Lower Township Municipal Hall, and as a newspaper man, I told him, I’ll be happy to come, not to speak, but to facilitate a discussion.
There were a couple of things on my mind which made me eager to go: I like to get out of the office and hear what people are thinking, and I like to encourage people to communicate their ideas. So, on Dec. 6, I went.
Before Riehl called me up to the front, he lead the group in the pledge of allegiance, in God Bless America, and prayer. Then he passed out large pins which read, “It’s okay to say Merry Christmas.”
As I stepped up, I said, I told them, “I disagree with the wording on the pin. It should only say: ‘Merry Christmas,” period. To have the words, ‘It’s okay’ suggests someone in authority now grants you permission. Of course we know that in this nation no one has such authority.
I expressed to them how impressive it is that this many people care enough to come out to a meeting every month to discuss things which are on their hearts, and I invited everyone interested to stand up and share their motivations.
What I heard from them was their observation that America is quickly loosing the traditional values which made America great, and the fear of where it is leading us individually and as a nation.
As far as I could tell, these were not community leaders in business, in the church or in politics; they were not people with an agenda; these were the people next door. In expressing themselves, they revealed a sense of frustration that things may continue down the current path.
They were touching on what I feel so fervently about – the power of the people to determine their own destiny. I reminded them that their movement was the catalyst that changed by a massive 63 seats the House of Representatives from one party to the other, and their presence in the House is being significantly felt.
Leaders are people who bring divergent interests together;
if they can’t do that, they are not leaders
=====================
With their concern that they are not doing enough, I said, “It is great that you gather in this room, but each of you needs to be writing letters to the editor on all the various issues, and otherwise speaking out.”
Over the years in the newspaper profession, I have experienced how sensitive elected officials tend to be about their public image, and I staunchly believe that the more the public speaks out, the stronger our nation is.
This is the reason I have been such a avid supporter of Spout Off; if the idea expressed has merit, it will gain influence; if it is nonsense, it will be dismissed.
Beyond frustration, there was a strong element of fear expressed, that some in power in Washington don’t cherish our country, nor hold the values that made America great.
While I agree that government has grown vastly too large and is choking our freedoms and our economy, I don’t share their frustrations nor fears. The American people will not sit idly by while their lives, their livelihoods and their nation is changed in a way not to their liking.
To the degree that we are on the wrong track, voters will increasingly push back. Some say there is nothing that can be done in Washington because each of the parties just wants to undermine the other, and cannot and won’t agree on anything. To me the solution to such situations are simple: Leaders are people who bring divergent interests together; if they can’t do that, they are not leaders, and need to be replaced.
The Tea Party aside, regardless of your views on these issues, liberal or conservative, we need to speak our minds and be willing to listen to the other person’s; that is who we are.
By the way, if you are interested in the discussions going on at this local Tea Party, please contact Rob Riehl, 889-3538.

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