Every once in awhile we as Americans are given the blessing of hearing someone eloquently stand for Constitutional righteousness, and the result is a saying that becomes a part of the fabric of our society. On June 4th I believe we heard just that kind of narrative from the lips of a woman named Becky Garritsen as she testified before Congress. The fact that she is from Wetumpka, AL only makes it better, and my fond hope is that her words will become as much of a part of American history as “I have a dream,” or “a date which will live in infamy.”
Mrs. Garritsen is part of the Tea Party movement and was summoned to testify in regards to the now incontrovertible proof that the IRS has been targeting conservative political groups, pro-life groups, conservative educators who dare to teach de Toqueville, and a host of others. The amount of evidence against the IRS is so huge that there has been an actual admission of wrong doing from the agency, and the House hearings are being held to see just how deep and wide is the abuse of power heretofore wielded with abandon.
I heartily recommend that Athens Now readers take the time to go online and hear not only Mrs. Garritsen’s quietly impassioned presentation, but also compare it to the snarky response made by Rep. Jim McDermott, as well as Rep. Paul Ryan’s rebuttal to McDermott’s inane and predictable patronization of Mrs. Garritsen’s speech. It is only a few minutes long, and to hear a woman speak truth to power with such elegance is both stirring and refreshing. At times her voice broke, but she was not in any way shrill. Her words were careful, descriptive, and right on point. Below is a transcript of part of her speech, and it is one that I hope will at least become the rhetoric of conservatives. The fact that none of it is being carried in the mainstream media is not surprising, and it is yet another example of how marvelous it is that the alternative media are alive and kicking in America.
Mrs Garritsen: “In Wetumpka, we are patriotic Americans; we peacefully assemble; we petition our government; we exercise our right to free speech. We don’t understand why the government tried to stop us. I’m not here as a serf or a vassal. I’m not begging my lord for mercy. I’m a born-free American woman, wife, mother, and citizen, and I’m telling my government that you’ve forgotten your place.”
It’s not your responsibility to look out for my well being and to monitor my speech. It’s not your right to assert an agenda. The post that you occupy exists to preserve American liberty. You’ve sworn to perform that duty and you have faltered.”
Think of it! “The post that you occupy exists to preserve American liberty.” What a concept! There were those in the room who thankfully are committed to get to the bottom of IRS shenanigans, and there are those who feel that the IRS is going to suffer lethal blows as a result. But for my part, I am just thrilled that a beautiful, intelligent woman from Alabama the Beautiful summoned her courage and spoke up clearly, and I am more thrilled that in America this is still possible.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
