The core principles of the tea party movement oppose racism

If you hear or read about the tea party movement in the main stream media you are likely to find accusations of racism. This is a very troubling claim if it is true. It would mean that a fast growing racist movement is spreading across America. I consider myself part of the tea party movement and I zealously oppose racism from anyone at any time. I have not seen any signs of racism at any of the events I have been part of. I am not naïve enough to think there are not any racists in the tea party movement because I am sure there are. I just believe that they are a small unwelcome fringe of people that exist in any large group including the Democrat and Republican parties. I personally oppose racism because of my core beliefs. I argue that the same core principles that I hold exist in the hearts of most tea party members.

If I said that most tea party members believed in the ideas found in the Declaration of Independence that would be a no brainer. If I said they are also mostly Christians I would again be standing on safe ground. These two philosophies if understood and followed would cause an individual’s to be a strict opponent of racism. This is my main argument against the tea party movement being an environment for racism. Racism goes against my core beliefs and the core beliefs of the large, large majority of all tea party members. I will start by explaining how a belief in the ideas of the Declaration of Independence would create a color blind people.

The Declaration of Independence states “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” No one that truly believes in this statement can be a racist. A racist believes that one or more races are superior to others. The opposite of this would be “that all men are created equal.” The above statement also asserts that rights come from God and are thus sacred. A supporter of this statement would feel a duty to protect these precious rights for each American. They would stand against tyrants, criminals, and racists who trample on the rights of others. Time and time again racists have shown they have no respect for the “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” of those they hate. Racists do not support the principles of the Declaration of Independence but tea party members do. To quote the Bible “no man can serve two masters.” (Matt 6:4) It is impossible to support the principles of the Declaration of Independence and at the same time support racism. Now on to Christianity.

Racism is a polar opposite to pure Christianity. The apostle John stated that “God is no respecter of persons.” (Acts 10:34) The Lord spoke the following truth to the prophet Samuel. “For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) God does not care about skin color, where we live, or what language we speak. He loves us all. The apostle Paul taught that “we are the offspring of God” (Act 17:29) God sees us as we truly are, His children. He is the Creator of all people. He does not love one group of his children more than any other group. In fact He is not interested in us viewing ourselves in groups but instead as brothers and sisters. Jesus taught us how to spot one of his disciples. “By this shall men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35) The best way we can show our love for Him is to love and serve His other children. To consider any child of God as substandard or innately flawed because of the color of their skin is just plain evil. Again “no man can serve two masters”. No honest man or woman can profess to be a true Christian and at the same time be a racist.

The only shred of evidence I can see in the mainstream of the tea parties, is that some of the signs and statements have been disrespectful of our current President Barack Obama. However, disrespect does not equal racism. The tea party movement does not oppose our President’s skin color, just many of his ideas. I believe that as Americans we can disagree without out being disagreeable. You have a God given right to disagree with Barack Obama or anyone else on the planet. You can even be coarse and disrespectful to our president but I part company with those who respond in this way. He is the President of the United States which I love. His office, the votes of your fellow Americans, and our great nation deserve respect regardless of the way that he or his administration treats you or your views. His most important job is as a husband and a father. He loves his family just as much as we love our families. We should show him respect because of this fact alone. He like the rest of us, is a child of God. We serve God when we are kind and respectful of his other children, especially the ones we don’t agree with. We are not Saul Alinsky. For us the ends can never justify the means. We must be kind and respectful even to those who oppose our core beliefs. We can and must stand against failed and harmful ideas but we should do it with honor.

It defies all other logic to label the tea party movement as racist. I for one am sickened when anyone uses the cry of racism for personal or group gain. If you call someone or a group racist you better have truth on your side because you are making an allegation of evil. Any man or woman that makes accusations of racism for political or personal gain or to demonize an innocent person will stand accountable to God one day. Calling someone a racist should be taken just as seriously as yelling fire in a building full of people. Every time the term racist is applied to an innocent person it becomes like the story of the boy who cried wolf. The American people are sick of false alarms. Reckless accusations cause a loss of creditability and make it harder to identify true racism. I believe I have the right to argue against the ideas of any man or woman regards less of the color of their skin. When people of different racial backgrounds disagree we should not assume racism as the primary motive. Americans must be fair and call this an ideological argument until facts and reason shows us otherwise. Even then we can’t read people’s minds and we certainly can’t see into their hearts. I personally try and leave judging to a higher power and trust He know how to balance justice and mercy perfectly. I am proud to be part of the tea party movement and to oppose all types of flawed thinking including racism.