Reflecting on the birth of our nation this past 4th of July, I couldn't help but contemplate the original tea party. Historians like to tell us why the Boston Tea Party happened, but historians being historians don't really know, they don't even all agree. Was it a simple taxation-without-representation protest? A statement of colony self-rule? Something else? Historians aside, I can tell you people do things for their own reasons, often with a common theme, but if you could ask the original “Tea Partiers” you'd likely hear different explanations, some articulate, some not, but most would likely express a dissatisfaction and frustration with the government.

The original “Tea Partiers” couldn't know what a tradition of citizen protest they were starting. Americans protest our government publicly, it's what we do. Traditionally it has been a forum for the left, perhaps it's ironic that the right has now embraced public protest, but it is every American's right.

Why are these tea parties happening? Ask a dozen “Tea Partiers” and you'll likely get a dozen different answers, but a single theme, a dissatisfaction and frustration with the government. Many critics have attempted to classify these protests as simply either ignorant or racist. Some say today's “Tea Partiers” don't understand the history of the original event, possibly true, but completely irrelevant. Some have said it's a racist thing. Apparently when they look at our president they only see a black man. When I look at our President I see a man who has promised to fundamentally change America and is already outspending all of his predecessors combined. Other critics have chastised protesters saying we must not disagree with an administration that was elected by a majority, but that's not how we do things in America. We have a history of protecting the rights of the minority to be heard, it's ingrained in our constitution and upheld many times by the Supreme Court.

So to the “Tea Partiers” I say, keep up the good work, stay positive, and be proud of your country, what you're doing is important.