Government responds to "right-wing extremists"

Courtesy of Ben Aho

April 15 is perhaps overall the most dreaded day in America each year. We all know the wonderful feeling that comes with handing our government our hard-earned money. We resign ourselves to paying taxes, even if we don't like it. This year, however, is a little different. All across the nation, organizers and grassroots organizations planned marches and rallies on April 15, Tax Day. Under the slogan "Taxed Enough Already," over 500 "tea party" protests attracted an estimated half-million supporters, including 300 right here in Houghton.

According to Mary Sears, a Houghton tea party organizer, the tea parties were a revolt against what she called the "three pillars of tax." These are: tax itself, how the tax monies are spent, and the regulation policy that comes with taxes. While we do not like paying taxes, we do anyway; tax evasion is a crime. We recognize the consequences of trying to get away with not paying taxes. Remember Matthew 22:21. We are told to "render therefore unto Caesar that which are Caesar's." (NIV)

Many Americans are frustrated with big government spending, and it pains us to see our hard earned money spent carelessly on earmarks attached to bills that have no effect on our lives. The TEA (taxed enough already) parties were a non-violent demonstration against this. For such a peaceful event, the government's response comes across as disturbing to me. For example, before the April 15 events, the Department of Homeland Security drew up an "assessment report" on the dangers of so-called "right-wing extremists" and warned that the tea parties were  a way to recruit and radicalize.

The freedom of speech and the freedom to peaceable assemble are rights outlined in the Constitution. While allowing these rights, the current administration is doing its best to paint those citizens exercising these rights as dangerous extremists. My prayer is that this is not just the first step. Consider what happened to Christ two thousand years ago: "And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king." (Luke 23:2, NIV). Back in Jesus' time, the Jewish leaders tried to paint Jesus as a rebel who didn't pay his taxes. If the government of today is responding to peaceful protests against some of their polices in this manner, what kind of precedence is this setting?