Peaceable assembly is no embarrassment

Sandra Novelly, Las Vegas

Monday, April 20, 2009 | 2:02 a.m.

In LaRue Boenig’s Thursday letter to the editor, she writes that the “tea parties” being held around the country make us look “ridiculous and embarrassing” to the rest of the world. I think speeches given overseas by our president, in which he downs our country as “arrogant,” “dismissive” and “derisive” are ridiculous and embarrassing at the very least, and undermine our nation’s standing in the world community.

As for the GOP, the party has had little or nothing to do with organizing these “tea parties.” The “tea parties” are a grass-roots, nonpartisan effort by loyal Americans to redress what they think is a burdensome grievance with their government.

The First Amendment to our Constitution guarantees not only their freedom of speech, but their right to peaceably assemble, just as it does for any leftist group (read Democratic, ACORN): “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

If it were not for differences of opinion, we would be a nation of lemmings following one another off a cliff. If it were not for conservatives putting on the brakes, we would be a nation of reckless, out-of-control spenders with a hedonistic attitude.

I also have a TV tip, and it’s very simple: If one doesn’t like Fox News Channel, use the TV remote to choose any of many other stations more to one’s taste.

Regardless of what one thinks, there are plenty of folks out here who do not welcome “big government” and “cradle-to-grave” government intervention, and it is extremely shameful and disturbing to me that some folks spend so much time and energy nitpicking everyone and everything who opposes President Barack Obama and/or the government.

Those folks who are so enamored of Obama should give up their idol worship and try knitting instead.