February 27, 2009

Were You Moved Too?

            Did you hear?  How could that be?  Tea parties in different places all over the U.S.A.?  What about Jacksonville?  Would there be one here?  The response was, “We can do this!”

            Within 24 hours the tea party movement was birthed here on the First Coast.  How was that started?  Patriots heard that there would be other events on February 27^th and a core group connected because they were feeling the urge to respond to the changes that were/are ripping our country.  They wanted to take action.  The networking began.  Helen said, “I wanted to do something to educate others about what I saw and felt before it was too late.  When I heard from a friend that folks were gathering at the Landing, I jumped at the chance.  I had less than a two hour window to arrive but I didn’t hesitate to respond.” 

            And, so it was…………..two men borrowed large tables, a group from the beach collected gallons of tea, sign supplies, WOKV was one of our sounding boards as they let the First Coast audience know of the “high noon” event.  The coffee gang that met at a local McDonald’s joined in the gathering.  Bikers passing thru Jacksonville made their way to the group of 79 that joined in this first ever event.  Kim stopped by from her office across the street.  Then there was a class of school-aged kids that were on a field trip but stopped to listen in.  It was a moment that people were moved to step forward with “We can do this.”  We can come together as Americans and stand up for our country.  We can speak out, make signs that show our concerns and we can join with other Americans that love this land and know of the sacrifices that have been made so that we can live in the “land of the free.”

            The generosity of the Landing allowed us to gather, show our patriotism and stand together as one people from all walks of life because we care and because we know that it’s up to us………..”We can do this!”  We were fortunate to have a historian and patriot speak to the spirited group.  Dr. Nealis was just the right person to bring the message of our Founding Fathers, the faith that guided them and the value of our country’s Constitution.   Greg was on hand to video the event and then was able to stream the footage so that it was on the nightly news.  Cynthia views the event as “a place to begin.”  She adds that in the book of Ruth, Ruth was placed to make a difference for her people.  And then she adds, “All of us who helped start the tea party movement here in North Florida feel the same way.  We were called to make a difference for our people, for our country.  We stepped up to make a difference, “for such a time as this.”

            And now we are three years later.  The tea party movement is continuing with the “We can do this” spirit as “we the people” become more educated, understand and participate in election integrity at all levels, engage others, watch and respond to the local, state and national leaders that represent us as they make decisions for us and our way of life.  We have a voice, we stand together and we do not forget the many sacrifices along the way from our faithful Founding Fathers to those that volunteer to serve this great nation.  Congratulations First Coast Tea Party for carrying on with your participation in a movement that has left (and is leaving)  footprints here on the first coast and beyond!