Welcome to the “TEA” Party!

A few days ago, I was pleasantly surprised to hear my brother say something about Sarah Palin.

It wasn’t that it surprised me that he would opine – though in recent history, I don’t recall him sharing any opinions – but what he said.

It was that his observance of Sarah Palin’s words and actions were nothing really short of whacky. (I am paraphrasing – those were not his exact words.)

Though I suppose I would identify him in years past as “conservative” (whatever THAT’s supposed to mean), but his expression was, in my estimation, a well-thought, and succinctly expressed opinion.

Growing up together as we did, I’ve not known him to be a “deep thinker,” or recall him as waxing philosophical about anything – even as an adult. And so, I was pleasantly surprised to hear him share what he did, and the way he did.

I believe it’s important to seriously THINK about things, and to have adequate explanations, reasons why, rationale, and logic when expressing ideas and thoughts. Which is but one reason why I think the majority (if not all) of the so-called “TEA” partiers are well off-base. Their rhetoric is inconsequential, especially given that the vitriolic expressions that many of those in the group express.

Again, it’s not that one cannot be passionate about a subject, but that the passionate expression of the same must be clothed in reason.

So, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you “Doonesbury,” Gary Trudeau’s long-running cartoon, which often addresses political ideology and actions of the day.

Drink the Kook-Aid -Doonesbury, by Gary Trudeau, Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Professor Smartypants -Doonesbury, by Gary Trudeau, Wednesday, 28 April 2010