Editor:

It’s amazing how many people are calling themselves patriots lately. I suppose it makes them feel good about themselves or maybe they expect others to perceive them as better than they really are.

I checked with Webster and he states, “a patriot is one who loves his country and supports its authority and interests.” Does that sound like what the self-proclaimed “Tea Party Patriots” are doing? Do they love their country or do they just love themselves and their political party? Based on some of the past statements made by Tea Party Patriots, one may easily conclude that they don’t support our country’s authority either. I have yet to hear a Tea Party Patriot say anything supportive of President Obama...the highest authority of the land.

Instead, they publicly state they want President Obama to fail. They forget we are in the boat together. As far as supporting our country’s interests, it appears that the self-proclaimed Tea Party Patriots don’t support our country’s interests either. Instead they support their personal political interest and extremist agenda. It looks like Commissioner Eloy Rodriguez is right, they are a divisive bunch. All they do is whine, complain, insult people, spread hate and divide the community.

The self-proclaimed Tea Party Patriots cannot accept the fact that Obama won the election. They should try to accept that we all continue being Americans...Republicans, Democrats and independent, but all Americans. Let’s make the most of Obama’s presidency and move forward for the betterment of our country. Let’s be real patriots by loving our country and supporting our country’s leaders and our country’s interests.

Cipriano Perez