German guy
DP Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2010
- Messages
- 5,187
- Reaction score
- 4,255
- Location
- Berlin, Germany
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Moderate
Good evening,
since I'm not American, but from Europe, I would like to ask you to explain to me what the Tea Party actually is. I believe I do not really understand it, and considering the trend in journalism to look for sensations and shrill voices and events, it's a bit hard to know if it does that movement justice.
I've seen reports about obvious radicals at Tea Party events, like people who made shrill polemic comments, like comparing Obama to Hitler, or suggesting he is a Muslim out to destroy the country. Some broad-brushed things Obama did as "socialism", without really defining what they think that is, and why that's always a bad thing. I've also seen reports when people used many labels, from "constitutionalism" over "libertarianism" to "conservatism", but these terms were not defined, so I was not sure I really understand what they mean. I saw when Sarah Palin made rather heated remarks, like "don't retreat, instead reload!", comparing their fight to military action.
I admit that for me, as a European, what I've seen of the Tea Party so far didn't strike me as very likeable, some things I found even ugly. But probably that's mostly just because this movement is alien to me, and I have only seen few sensationalist reports. Also, campaigns are traditionally shriller and more polemic in the US than in Germany, so maybe I have a mild culture shock too. We guys are sometimes too cramped when it comes to politics. So I am honestly interested in your ideas, sentiments and reports.
I assume in case of any relatively spontanous political movement or ralley from any side of the political spectrum, you find these rather shrill elements. But most of the time, they are not representative, and don't really tell you much about the real intentions and complains of that movement. For example, you found quite a few shrill voices and polemics in the anti-Bush and anti-war ralleys, like the Bush-Hitler comparison or the Bush-chimp theme, but that doesn't say much about the general character and concerns of this movement.
So what is the Tea Party? Has it somethin in common with right-wing extremists in Europe? Or is it a good thing, something to bring back enthusiasm to politics, changing it for the better? Do I need to be afraid of the Tea Party, or welcome it?
Probably that is not different in case of the Tea Party. Since I assume there are people here who sympathize with the Tea Party, some maybe even actively involved, I would like to ask you: Can you explain to me, a foreigner, what you believe the Tea Party really, essentially stands for, what you like about it, what you maybe dislike about it? Of course those who disagree with the Tea Party are invited to post their impressions as well. Neutral impressions are just as welcome as polemics.
Looking forward to your replies!
since I'm not American, but from Europe, I would like to ask you to explain to me what the Tea Party actually is. I believe I do not really understand it, and considering the trend in journalism to look for sensations and shrill voices and events, it's a bit hard to know if it does that movement justice.
I've seen reports about obvious radicals at Tea Party events, like people who made shrill polemic comments, like comparing Obama to Hitler, or suggesting he is a Muslim out to destroy the country. Some broad-brushed things Obama did as "socialism", without really defining what they think that is, and why that's always a bad thing. I've also seen reports when people used many labels, from "constitutionalism" over "libertarianism" to "conservatism", but these terms were not defined, so I was not sure I really understand what they mean. I saw when Sarah Palin made rather heated remarks, like "don't retreat, instead reload!", comparing their fight to military action.
I admit that for me, as a European, what I've seen of the Tea Party so far didn't strike me as very likeable, some things I found even ugly. But probably that's mostly just because this movement is alien to me, and I have only seen few sensationalist reports. Also, campaigns are traditionally shriller and more polemic in the US than in Germany, so maybe I have a mild culture shock too. We guys are sometimes too cramped when it comes to politics. So I am honestly interested in your ideas, sentiments and reports.
I assume in case of any relatively spontanous political movement or ralley from any side of the political spectrum, you find these rather shrill elements. But most of the time, they are not representative, and don't really tell you much about the real intentions and complains of that movement. For example, you found quite a few shrill voices and polemics in the anti-Bush and anti-war ralleys, like the Bush-Hitler comparison or the Bush-chimp theme, but that doesn't say much about the general character and concerns of this movement.
So what is the Tea Party? Has it somethin in common with right-wing extremists in Europe? Or is it a good thing, something to bring back enthusiasm to politics, changing it for the better? Do I need to be afraid of the Tea Party, or welcome it?
Probably that is not different in case of the Tea Party. Since I assume there are people here who sympathize with the Tea Party, some maybe even actively involved, I would like to ask you: Can you explain to me, a foreigner, what you believe the Tea Party really, essentially stands for, what you like about it, what you maybe dislike about it? Of course those who disagree with the Tea Party are invited to post their impressions as well. Neutral impressions are just as welcome as polemics.
Looking forward to your replies!
Last edited: