An image I’ve been sitting on for some 22 days, trying to put these words together
This was the only photo from April 8th, 2011, snapped while driving home from work. Sometimes I angle for the image I hope to capture any given day. The story, no matter how small, is already written in advance. Other times it is the exact opposite and the photo simply presents itself, framing a moment or thought.
This particular day weighed heavy as I started to consider our political system.
The image of the American flag behind a barbed wire fence appeared as I was thinking about the Tea Party for some reason—probably that fact-based and tree-hugging NPR.
I got mad, and this is one emotion I tend to work through very slowly.
The way I see it, the Tea Party began as something entirely different than it has become. Somewhere along the line, social conservatives hijacked what was once libertarian. It’s a pity, as we almost saw a third party emerge. One that championed fiscal responsibility yet was socially liberal. A party that deserved the “Don’t Tread on Me” moniker.
I figure at some point there were Republicans that saw the shiny new grassroots movement gaining popularity, took the parts they liked and folded it into their own philosophical brand. What they missed though, were the differences, and in turn have damaged something truly promising. I’m really bummed about this because I think the original gumption of the tea party wasn’t overwrought with whackadoodles, and I know darn well I’m being partisan in saying so.
Maybe our country isn’t ready for three ideologically distinct parties.
Now I’m not saying I’d have been a card carrying Libertarian, as my priorities will almost always place personal freedoms and happiness above tax breaks, but still. There was a glimmer of hope that we’d start to see a more nuanced dialog about what we should bring to the political table.
Twenty-two days after this photo was taken, both sides of the aisle are (for the most part) congratulating our President and military for Bin Laden’s death—an event momentous for what it represents and solemn for the same reason.
It’s nice to see a little unity up there in our government and on the ground.
But I sure wish we could take a moment to trust in ourselves long enough to not listen to the crazy for a good long while, and get some work done.