By Lubna Abdel-Aziz What is it about tea that stirs the blood to the boiling point? Better still, what is it about the American freedom- loving spirit that doth protest vehemently against infringement on its liberties? The two combined have made for a historic event in American history which took place over two centuries ago. Known as the Boston Tea Party, it has become an iconic symbol standing for freedom at all costs and was one of the major incidents that led to the Revolutionary Wars against Britain and the Independence of the United States of America. Let us retrace the history of tea and its association with the struggle of mankind against oppression. Ever since tea was introduced to Europe in the 1600s, the beverage quickly won popularity especially among the Brits, who made it their national drink. It was therefore only natural that the emigrant population to the New World would want their favourite drink to follow. The British Government, all too willing to oblige, placed a high tax on the tea used by the colonies. The British East India Company, which was given a monopoly on the importation of tea, sent ships loaded with the popular drink across the Atlantic to refresh the Colony dwellers. The tax kept getting higher, leading the colonist to drink smuggled Dutch tea. British traders were alarmed and lowered their tax to three pence per pound. While some bought the English imported tea, others belonging to "Independence Groups" demanded complete tax removal -- "No Taxation without Representation." On December 16 1773, three shiploads were on their way to Boston Harbour. The tea was consigned to certain individuals who were given a monopoly on tea sales that would put all the local tea merchants out of business. What about other businesses? Would they too be subjected to monopolies? The colonist had to stop the Brits. Boston Harbour saw the ships carrying tea arrive. The citizens protested their arrival and asked their governor to order the ships back. The Governor refused. Seven thousand citizens gathered to renew their request. The Governor again refused. A signal was given, believed to be by Samuel Adams, who later became the second president of the US. At his signal, fifty men boarded the tea ships, broke open the tea chests, and dumped the tea into Boston Harbour. What a sight it must have been -- a sea of tea. That made for quite an unforgettable party. Eventually that incident, which became known as the "Boston Tea Party," was one of the major catalysts that triggered the Revolutionary war, and American Independence was declared in 1776. What a lesson did this iconic event teach the world about the love of freedom and the will of the people! References were often made to it at other political protests worldwide. A well known example, recalls the Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, and his "Indian Salt Campaign" against British rule. At a meeting with the British Viceroy, in 1930, Gandhi took out some duty free salt from his shawl, poured it into the sea, and said with a smile "This salt is to remind us of the Boston Tea Party." Freed of the shackles of British rule, the young Americans proceeded to write a constitution that is regarded as the best in the history of mankind. Never were man's individual freedoms so dignified, so magnified, so glorified. Unfortunately, the principles of their constitution did not always apply to their view of other people's freedoms around the world. But to Americans, freedom is as sacred and as holy as their religion, ferociously guarded throughout their young history. There have been protests and activists who have disagreed with their government during the last two centuries. The Boston Tea Party was an inspiration and a symbol of their protests, as was the case in 1973. On the 200th anniversary of the Tea party (1773) a mass meeting protesting President Richard Nixon's behaviour called for his impeachment. They boarded a replica ship at Boston Harbour and burnt Nixon in effigy. In 1998, objecting conservative congressmen put the Federal Tax Code into a chest marked "tea," and dumped it into the Boston Harbour. Inspired by the historic "Tea Party," present day protestors of the US, unhappy with the recent excessive government spending, of Obama's Stimulus package and the Health Reform Bill, have formed their own tea parties. In every town, city and state, fiscally conservative, freedom-loving, tax- hating objectors, have revolted against the new administration's irresponsible spending habits. April 15, a day all US citizens hate because it is tax day, was a date amongst all tea parties to demonstrate. In more than 75 cities protestors came out to make their voices heard, not only in Washington, but around the world. Thousands stood outside the White House and hurled a box of tea bags over the fence. They were promptly removed by Police. Placards reading such signs as "stop big government," "taxation is piracy," etc was seen around the 50 states. April 15 is gone but the protests continue, in fact they are getting stronger, more organized, and witnessing record growth in membership. Their fervor is sincere, so is their love for God, country and freedom -- free enterprise, free expression, free movement. It is a fresh grass-roots movement that has already played a critical role in stopping an avalanche of restrictive legislations considered dangerous to their freedoms. This tea party movement has shown its muscle in the most liberal state of Massachusetts, when it replaced the empty Senate seat of the late liberal giant Ted Kennedy, by electing an arch conservative Scott Brown, who campaigned against Health Reform. The once ultra-liberal state is changing colours to the hues of tea and history. This people "Tea Party Movement," cannot be controlled, driven, directed or calculated, leaving the Obama administration rubbing their hands and scratching their heads. Obama himself is wondering "What are they mad about? They should be saying "thank you"." It is a dangerous condition when leaders do not hear the people, know the people or understand the people. They voted for him because they thought that he, of all people, knew them well. Freedom lovers, like sleeping giants, once awake, cannot be put down. If Americans cannot be free, who can?
