The Lady w/ the Black Umbrella
April 12, 2010
The Lady with the Black Umbrella
I’m surprised I noticed her at all.
People were carrying signs, shouting slogans and waving to the passing motorists on Hwy 98. The vast majority of citizens passing by in their cars and trucks were honking their horns and giving the “thumbs up” in solidarity to our cause. I was overwhelmed with that special camaraderie one feels when they find they are among others who are as passionate about Liberty as they are.
Still…., when I noticed her, I was strangely moved by the absurdity of her presence. “How old is she?” I asked myself. She slowly moved across a stretch of grass headed for the sidewalk that held throngs of demonstrators. We were protesting the latest attack on freedom and liberty by our government, the Cap and Trade Bill.
She had already made it across the asphalt parking lot and was negotiating the last stretch of broken ground with the assistance of her walker. Carrying a black umbrella to provide her with shade, she clutched her walker, her umbrella, and her hand lettered sign as she struggled along. “Jeees, it must 95° or hotter”, I remember thinking. “What in the world is she doing out in this heat?”
I lost sight of her as she blended into the crowd and took her place on the sidewalk about a hundred yards away. I didn’t think much more about till one of the Bay Patriots came up to me and told me there was an elderly lady who wanted to meet me. As President of the organization I am always humbled to think that someone would want to meet me. I am, after all, of no special importance. Just a regular guy who’s concerned about his country.
I followed them down to where the lady was waiting and was excited to see it was the women with the black umbrella. I introduced myself and she told me her name was Jane. I could tell the heat was working pretty heavily against her and I asked if she would like me to get her some water. “No”, she replied…. “I’m fine.” “I do have something for you, though”. She began to pull some money out of her pocket and tried to hand it to me. “What’s this for?,” I asked. “I want to join Bay Patriots and help support your cause. Here is my membership fee.”
By that time two other Board Members of Bay Patriots were standing beside me, listening in. I looked at them and then told Jane that we weren’t going to accept her money….. we were going to give her an honorary membership. I didn’t ask the other board members for permission because I already knew what their answer would be. The smiles on their faces were answer enough. As I began to get her information for our records I asked her a question. “Ms. Jane, I know a gentleman doesn’t ask a lady her age, but if you wouldn’t think it too rude, may I ask how old you are?” “Not at all”, she replied. “I’m 75.”
I stayed with Ms. Jane till the rally broke up and tried to help her to her car. “No thanks”, she said, “I’ll be just fine”. And with that, she left.
It’s been a few days since I met her and I still can’t get her out of my mind…. 75 and struggling through the heat of that day to protest her government’s conduct. Ms. Jane shouldn’t be out on sidewalks in 95° heat, breathing hot diesel fumes from trucks. She should be in a nice air conditioned living room with visiting children and grandchildren. Not having to wave signs of protest against an out of control government.
It got me to thinking about you, my fellow citizens. I get a lot of calls from you. They go something like this…. “We just want you to know what a great job Bay Patriots is doing! Thank goodness someone is finally saying something about the direction our country is headed. I would love to come to some of your meetings but Tuesdays are bad for me. It’s just so hard with the kids and all. There’s soccer and tennis and by the end of the day we’re just so tired. But I support you guys and want you to know I’m with you.”
I appreciate the calls. I appreciate the emails. I appreciate how busy you are, I honestly do. But I wonder who’ll step up and take Ms. Jane’s place? I wonder who’ll take her place so she can rest at home instead of being out in those conditions.
You see….Ms. Jane senses the urgency. She knows the clock is ticking. She knows our future is probably counted in months instead of years.
Maybe it’s her age. Maybe it’s what her eyes have seen.
Who’ll take her place?
Derrell Day
Bay Patriots
Aug. 2009
The Resolution!
April 12, 2010
Citizens Resolution and Proclamation
To the Bay County Board of Commissioners
Bay County, Florida
July 7th, 2009
Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, Ladies & Gentlemen,
I am here today to represent the Bay Patriots and hundreds of our fellow citizens who believe that government at all levels is exceeding the powers granted to them by the Florida State Constitution and United States Constitution.
In just this last year we have seen the nationalization of the banking
industry, the insurance industry, the automobile industry, and soon the health care and energy industries.
Deficit spending is out of control, threatening our national security, our economic strength, and the preservation of Liberty.
The limits found in the US Constitution are being ignored and the federal government is rapidly overreaching its limited authority. Our state and local governments have failed to adequately restrain spending, while increasing taxes and imposing new fees as a device to balance an already over-inflated budget.
Because governments may only govern with the consent of the people, we therefore petition for redress of these grievances.
We may not be able to immediately influence action at the state and federal level, but we cry out for your attention to our local distress.
Here are our requests;
1. We ask you to include in all acts, directives or administrative rules
that portion of the U.S. or Florida State Constitution which authorizes such action.
2. Taking of private property by eminent domain, code, restriction,
administrative rule or zoning that negatively affects the value of private property must be properly justified and justly compensated.
3. No citizen shall be detained or seized for ANY reason, no matter how noble, without probable cause. This right shall not be violated without warrant, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place, persons or things to be seized, as stated in the 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
4. Good stewardship of our natural resources is prudent, but the rights of personal property shall not be violated in preference to the interests of any plant or animal, without just compensation to those private property owners, as stated in the 5th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
5. We petition this Commission to issue to the State a Declaration of the Rights held by the Sovereign State of Florida, as stated in the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
6. The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things. The people cannot lawfully delegate to our government any power that we as citizens would be held accountable as unlawful. If it is against the law for any citizen to forcibly take from one person to give to another, no matter how benevolent, it must be held that the government has no right to do likewise. If the government deems the taking as lawful, it has further violated the one’s rights to appeal the taking. Be wary of using our tax money and your commission authority to fund projects which do not benefit all citizens of the county.
7. The Right to Life, to Liberty, and to Personal Property are so entwined as to be held as one. The loss of one is the loss of all.
Finally,
We encourage and will support those of our representatives who adhere to and honor the United States and Florida State Constitutions and who fiercely uphold the Creator-given, unalienable rights of all people and the inviolability of personal property rights.
Respectfully,
Derrell Day
Bay Patriots