Two hundred and fifty-three years ago, in the dark of the night American Patriots disguised as Indians slipped aboard British ships and tossed crates of tea into the harbor. It was the first protest by citizens who believed a King and his government were unfairly treating their subjects. This action led to a Revolution and the birth of our Nation.

The King and the Loyalists living in this country called those who protested, traitors and haters of King George lll and the British Parliament. The protestors saw the British effort to tax and treat the colonies unfairly with rules and removing freedoms.

The Boston Tea Party was a symbolic protest. The British and European press of the times said the colonists needed to be punished. King George sent troops into American city’s where colonists were strong in wanting to break ties with British rule.

What was seen at the time, as a symbolic move against the British government, is now considered to be the act that helped to build a new nation, with a written Constitution of laws for the government to go by, for equal and fair treatment of its citizens. The founding fathers knew in order to prevent any one group creating a monarchy, the government must be structured with their branches of government with each’s power separated from the other. They felt in this way no one element in government could control the rule of the land.

The second revolution in our country first began in the early 1800s with women wanting to be equal to men. They wanted the vote. This was the first revolt in the new country and the movement was deeply criticized by men. For nearly one hundred years women were denied Constitutional rights for all, except women. In the early 1900s, large protests of women took place across our country. They were taunted and maligned by politicians and the press as being anti American and haters of the rights of men. But with the passage of time men with common sense saw that it was wrong to deny women an equal say in the election of government officials. By the 20th century women had won the right to vote in national elections in New Zealand (1893), Australia (1902), Finland (1906), and Norway (1913). This helped boost the women’s suffrage movement in the United States. Still, it was not until 1919 when voting rights were written into law and ratified in 1920.

In the mid to late 1960s our country was mired in an unpopular war in SouthEast Asia. In areas of the country the negro population wanted to be equal to the white population. Although the Constitution did not give preference or privilege to any one race. The law had been fashioned to control their lives and keep them in the back of the bus.

With the war on going, young people at first on college campuses protested the war, and wanted our government to bring our soldiers home. Those who protested the racial inequality and the killing of American soldiers, were held in disdain and said to hate America.

By the 1970s the sentiment in all America shifted, wanting the war to end and bring home our troops. The voting act of 1965 gave minority voting protection under the 14th amendment to freely vote. Protestors were the first to stand up and say, “The government is wrong and our freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights have been trampled on. We want the government to realign itself and protect all citizens under the law.”

With the election of President Donald Trump, the American people are rising up once again to say, “This is not how America is supposed to be.” Last weekend over seven million people turned out to say with one voice, “No King”. The basic structure of the Constitution was designed with one key feature, balance of power. In towns and community’s large and small everyday citizens turned out to stand with others, and make known to their neighbors the injustice that is now consuming our country. Our government leaders are ignoring the rules, preventing the government from ruling over its citizens without due process. Lawmakers are arrested. Convicted felons are being released from custody after due process found them guilty of terrible crimes. Soldiers are being sent into democratic cities on the premise they are out of control and burning down cities.

Those protestors of the past had the rights of law and the common sense of the government to bring the course of justice back into the center. That protection is being taken away every day. Those soldiers and ICE agents we see on television are in sighting the protestors. There is a good possibility in the future President Trump will say, America is under siege by internal forces and the only way freedom will be protected is to put in place Marshal Law. At that point he will truly assume the role of Supreme Leader and place himself on the throne of America. He may suspend elections and enforce laws, taking away freedoms of the press and free speech.

Mark Cockran answered the question recently, “What do you think the future holds for America?” He responded, “I can’t predict the future, because prediction is a risky business, but I believe if we stay the present course, it won’t be good.”

Talking with those at the rally one thing was clear to me, people voting for a new way is the only course forward. If that fails, America will become a new nation, not of a balanced government but of a singular far right party who will restrict and change the Constitution until we are a nation led by one King. But what if the votes change the entire direction back to a more normal America? It will be important to seek out those who abused the rules of law and spat on the words in the Constitution.

Those who protested in our county will be seen in the future as true patriots if America returns. But if the new America continues, the history book will record them as Haters of America and possible terrorists, at least that is how I see Wetzel County’s America Through the Lens.