Thank you, “Concerned Citizen”!  I started writing this column last year because I felt certain that our country was headed to place where others have been before.  

Yes, there was a visionary some time ago that captured the hearts of the young and old alike. Their country was in economic chaos due to a World War and he promised a better life and convinced them that his way was the best way.

He was soon able to take control of the government by convincing the elected officials to give him authority over their very own Constitution. For those of you that have not figured out who I am talking about, his name was Adolph Hitler.  

I am thanking the “Concerned Citizen” of Russell County because she gives me the strength and determination to keep moving forward.

This “Concerned Citizen” has been trying just about anything to stop me from speaking out! She quickly found out her phone calls were not going to detour me telling you about the atrocities that Mr. Obama and his followers are doing to this great nation of ours.

She is now crying out to the editor of this fine publication that there are so called Christians in this county that want to do me harm.  

I certainly hope that anyone who is offended or disturbed about my weekly rantings will take time to contact the Editor at (270) 866-3191 or e-mail him at editor@tjrcn.com.

Of course, supporters of “My Opinion” are also welcome to call!  Being a Veteran of the Viet Nam Era and a former police officer probably causes me to be a little less concerned about this whole ordeal and it only makes me more determined to get the word out to the “Genuinely Concerned Citizens”.  

With that being said, I want to share a letter with you that I received from another “Genuinely Concerned Citizen” that sees it the way I do. His name is Matt Withrow from Pulaski County—

Tea Party attendees and supporters,

First off, let me thank you all for your attendance and participation in the Somerset Tea Party on Independence Day! WOW! What an event, huh? See, you are not the only one out there who is passionate about making sure our country remains the freest country on Earth. With the given climate of apathy in the world today I expected a few more blank stares at some of the ideas that were presented, but you got it. I mean, you really got it! So shame on me for expecting anything less.

I felt I did about as much as I could to get the word out about the event since I drive a truck and generally get two days home per week. I was hoping to get some commercials on the radio besides the public service announcements (which really are done as a favor and I am grateful for those that were done), but - good news! Thanks to all those who were generous enough, I actually recouped what I did spend putting the event together plus $140 so the next event will have some real airtime in Somerset! ($100 of that was two 50s folded together, so special thanks to whoever that was! I didn't really expect to recoup the cost of the donation box.)

I said, that day, that I was with the understanding that the police department was going to shut down the streets for us. Major Doug Nelson did come by (on his day off) and personally apologize for the misunderstanding. They planned to block the streets off for us if the crowd got too big. It's totally reasonable to see why they couldn't block the streets without enough people there to justify doing so. (You gotta know where I'm going with this.)

So, on the next event on September 12th 2009 let's make sure they don't have any reason to not block off the streets! I'll be honest. The July 4th event did not have the crowd everyone was hoping for. So let's make sure the 9-12 event does. This should not be very hard to do. My wife and I put in about 50 hours or so over 7 weeks to put the last event together. We had a lot of help, but all that help was sparked from our enthusiasm.

We have gone from individual sparks to now we have started a small fire here! All you have to do is gather some fuel to throw on it. It won't go out! If every person who gets this email can commit to put in 5 hours (10 if your really motivated) over the next few weeks to get the word out that will be the same as 10 times the previous effort, which should logically produce a turn out of 1200 from the previous 120! Does that sound like a game plan?

So, specifically, here's what I would like you to do. If you are willing to commit a few hours of your time to help with the 9-12 event then email me back here at somersetteaparty@yahoo.com or call me at 606.451.1500. If you simply don't have the time but are able to donate money in any amount then contact me also. (Honestly, I'd rather have your time than your money any day. It's much more valuable) After I hear back from everyone we will plan to meet in Somerset to collaborate on ideas and develop a specific game plan on either July 18th or 25th. Let me know which is better for you.

Thanks to all those fired-up souls who are willing to do whatever it takes to turn this brush fire into a blazing inferno. It's not that hard when you have truth on your side because no one can logically argue against it. Talk to you soon.

God bless America and God bless you!

Matt Withrow

Folks, I have to say that Matt is a fine young man of 32 that truly gets it.  I’m sure his family is very proud of him and he certainly deserves our support on September 12th.

Now I’m sure that “Ms. Concerned Citizen of Russell County” won’t be there, but I am counting on the rest of you to be there on the 12th, or send a buck or two to help Matt in getting the word out on the radio and newspapers.

If you can be there, all the better. Please help us to get the word out that we are coming to take back our country!

May God bless…

Ron Phillips