# Tea Party Summer Camp for Kids! Apparently, not a joke. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 20, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150 "2011-06-20T14:13:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/1 "2011-06-20T14:13:22Z")
[http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/tea-party-group-offers-summer-camp/1175119](http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/tea-party-group-offers-summer-camp/1175119) > [@](#): > > Another example: Starting in an austere room where they are made to sit quietly, symbolizing Europe, the children will pass through an obstacle course to arrive at a brightly decorated party room (the New World). > > Red-white-and-blue confetti will be thrown. But afterward the kids will have to clean up the confetti, learning that with freedom comes responsibility. > > Still another example: Children will blow bubbles from a single container of soapy solution, and then pop each other’s bubbles with squirt guns in an arrangement that mimics socialism. They are to count how many bubbles they pop. Then they will work with individual bottles of solution and pop their own bubbles. > […] > “We’ve had classes for adults,” said Karen Jaroch, who chairs the Tampa 912 Project. “Now we want to introduce a younger generation to economics and history, but in a fun way.” First off, yeah, these activities sound like a hell of a lot of fun for kids. Just like someone playing 52 Pickup with you is fun. Secondly… CRAZY! Socialism is popping other people’s bubbles? Europe is sitting quietly in an austere room? The only good thing about this indoctrination activity is that they will be associating crazy conservative economic ideas with the worst summer camp experience these kids will ever have. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/2 "2011-06-20T14:16:46Z")
Could be worse. Could be [_Jesus Camp._](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_camp) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/3 "2011-06-20T14:19:19Z")
This one time, at Lap Band Camp… ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/4 "2011-06-20T14:22:32Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Socialism is popping other people’s bubbles? Yeah, I don’t see it. A better “game” would be for the kids to work or compete for something, like jellybeans, then at the end of the day all the jellybeans are evenly distributed regardless of performance. Then the next day see if the kids don’t bother to work hard, since they are all getting the same jellybeans anyway. Of course, there’s always the chance the kids would compete for the sake of competing, and not mind sharing jellybeans because they were brought up to share… Oh, OK, now I see why they went to bubble popping route. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/5 "2011-06-20T14:23:01Z")
A little background: the 9/12 Project is Glenn Beck’s baby, so it’s actually kind of tame considering. I mean, they won’t have a George Soros look-alike barbecue one of the children at the end of each week. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/6 "2011-06-20T14:27:56Z")
If it were an actual summer camp that revolved around tea parties/tea time, it would have been a lot more awesome. ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/7 "2011-06-20T14:42:20Z")
Oh, it’s a joke all right, just not intended as such by the organizers themselves. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/8 "2011-06-20T14:59:49Z")
Briefly reading the article it appears likely the children, ages 8 - 12, would likely be coming from parents who are already seriously committed to the ideals of the Tea Party. Therefore, the children probably already have a taste for what will come. This camp is not forced on the families by an outside institution, it is a choice made freely by the parents. Well, okay then. We’re in America, and I believe that folks have the right to exercise their belief systems as they choose. Personally it seems silly to me, but I do not like any alternative that destroys the ability for free people to choose to exercise their rights as guaranteed under our Constitution. Any attempt to do so would seem to prove the point of the Tea Party more than whatever perceived benefit disrupting the camp may bring. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/9 "2011-06-20T15:02:19Z")
Are there posts in this thread I can’t see or something? Because I don’t see any posts in this thread demanding that the camp be shut down or disrupted, and yet you seem to be all het up about (presumably imaginary) demands to that effect. ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/10 "2011-06-20T15:12:41Z")
Right, **2gigch1** , America. We _are_ free to exercise our belief systems. My belief system compels me to mock really stupid summer camp ideas. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/11 "2011-06-20T15:46:22Z")
I thought this thread was going to be an excoriation of rich grade school kids who were learning how to make Earl Grey tea and proper cucumber sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/12 "2011-06-20T15:47:11Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > Personally it seems silly to me, but I do not like any alternative that destroys the ability for free people to choose to exercise their rights as guaranteed under our Constitution. Wow, good thing I didn’t submit the original version of my post, where I demanded that the camps be closed, the kids be taken away from their parents and sent to re-education camps, and their mothers be repeatedly kicked in the cunt on live TV. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/13 "2011-06-20T15:47:58Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > If it were an actual summer camp that revolved around tea parties/tea time, it would have been a lot more awesome. Awesome, indeed. For certain values of “tea.” ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/14 "2011-06-20T15:49:03Z")
Oh by all means mock away, and if my post seemed over the top I apologize. I have a real weakness for free expression, even if it’s about things I don’t like. I have the same reaction when I meet those folks who go to great lengths to separate themselves from the herd via free expression, be it tattoos, lifestyle choices, etc. I absolutely support people’s freedom of choice to live as they wish. In return I have every right to laugh at it. You folks are absolutely right. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/15 "2011-06-20T15:49:17Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > Briefly reading the article it appears likely the children, ages 8 - 12, would likely be coming from parents who are already seriously committed to the ideals of the Tea Party. Therefore, the children probably already have a taste for what will come. This camp is not forced on the families by an outside institution, it is a choice made freely by the parents. So is Jesus Camp. That doesn’t mean it ain’t Pitworthy. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/16 "2011-06-20T15:49:40Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Awesome, indeed. For certain values of “tea.” And “bagging”. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/17 "2011-06-20T15:51:33Z")
At this point, I’m having trouble distinguishing the difference between these modern day conservatives and Scientologists. Pretty soon they’ll be writing their own holy book and try to start a church. They’re already (always) pushing for less taxes, the next step is tax exemption for the believers ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/18 "2011-06-20T15:55:30Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > Oh by all means mock away, and if my post seemed over the top I apologize. > > I have a real weakness for free expression, even if it’s about things I don’t like. > > I have the same reaction when I meet those folks who go to great lengths to separate themselves from the herd via free expression, be it tattoos, lifestyle choices, etc. > > I absolutely support people’s freedom of choice to live as they wish. In return I have every right to laugh at it. > > You folks are absolutely right. Oh, gotcha. Really, I absolutely encourage as much free expression about things like this camp, because reading about crackpots makes my life so much more entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/19 "2011-06-20T16:04:07Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > Oh by all means mock away, and if my post seemed over the top I apologize. Heh, no need to apologize. It doesn’t take much for us to mock ;). ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150/20 "2011-06-20T16:20:02Z")
> [@2gigch1](#): > > Briefly reading the article it appears likely the children, ages 8 - 12, would likely be coming from parents who are already seriously committed to the ideals of the Tea Party. Therefore, the children probably already have a taste for what will come. This camp is not forced on the families by an outside institution, it is a choice made freely by the parents. > > Well, okay then. We’re in America, and I believe that folks have the right to exercise their belief systems as they choose. > > Personally it seems silly to me, but I do not like any alternative that destroys the ability for free people to choose to exercise their rights as guaranteed under our Constitution. > > Any attempt to do so would seem to prove the point of the Tea Party more than whatever perceived benefit disrupting the camp may bring. It seems to me that this could be turned into a very fun activity for young children. Who is up for a game of “Duck, Duck, Don’t use the long arm of liberal big government to quash my freedom to exercise my individual rights”? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-summer-camp-for-kids-apparently-not-a-joke/586150.md?page=2)