Thanking Those Who Defend Your Freedom

Being a Freedom Fighter isn't all politicians and legislation. It's also about supporting those who fight next to you, and for you. RC posted a great video sent to him by Papa John, illustrating a universal hand sign for "Thank You" that each and every one of us should be practicing. Check it out here.

Because I travel extensively in my job, I am in airports often. I make a point to address soldiers personally and thank them. They are often alone, and some seem to welcome conversation about where they have been and where they are going. Most are very young, and as a mother, I am struck by just how young they are and feel a strong sympathy for their families.

I know that not all people are as bold as I am, and might feel uncomfortable in addressing them in such a personal way, and some soldiers may also feel uncomfortable. And perhaps when you see a soldier you may be in a hurry to get somewhere and don't have time to stop and chat or vice versa. The universal sign for Thank You is the perfect way to let them know you care and appreciate what they do to protect your freedom. It's such a simple and easy thing to do.

These young boys and girls face atrocities most of us only hear about. Even though the nightmare of war affects fewer of our military than in past wars, that doesn't make it any less important. However, everyone should be aware and understand how significant that statement is when you consider what military personnel has gone through in past wars, and are still facing the aftermath of every day of their lives. Many of whom were spit on when they returned home.

I'm talking about our Veterans. The Vietnam Vets, those of Desert Storm, and many already in Hospitals resulting from injuries and trauma in the Iraqi war. For them, the war will never end.

Yesterday, I accompanied a group of people to the Veterans Hospital in Lake City, FL. This visit was planned and arranged by my friend Jewels (check out a past post on Jewels here), who is a National member of Rolling Thunder, a group dedicated to American POW/MIA soldiers and Veterans of all wars.

That's our Jewels, front and center with the ladened vest. And that's RC being conspicuously inconspicuous in the center back, and me kneeling on the left. The baby carriage holds two "mascot" Chihuahua's, always a hit with those interred in a hospital. Many thanks to Jewels for her big heart and huge efforts in making this visit happen and continue to happen for these deserving souls.

Some of the group dared the predicted thunder storms and rode their bikes, some rode in cars. We were to have lunch with these resident Vets and provide some light in their otherwise routine lives of dealing with any number of disabilities, in a place they have no choice in living.

Our gift to them was us. And it left me with even more respect for those who fight for my freedom. They sacrificed their own well being and happiness for me. For each and every one of us. It was the least I could do; so small of an effort for me, and so huge of a joy for them.

Let me describe to you some of what I saw there:

The hospital looked like most any other hospital; cleaner and nicer than some VA hospitals, and less than others. None that I've been in look like or feel like home. I know. Because of my job, I have been in many hospitals, including VA hospitals, around the country. I did see a view of a garden area where some residents can partake of gardening.

One delightful and very coherent man of an older age, probably of the Vietnam era, was confined to a wheelchair. On his head he wore a red, white and blue do-rag, and his chair was adorned with other American flag elements. He had lost one leg at the hip, and had no use of the other. He told me that the VA had sent him home at one point, but could not provide consistent nursing care for him, so he demanded to come back. He had no choice.

Another young man, with bright strawberry blond hair and the manners of a southern gentleman, who couldn't have been older than 40, was relegated to a walker due to back and leg injuries. I suspect his injuries also included brain or mental injuries as well, as he became overly tired after only an hour visit. But he was so obviously delighted to have the attention from women other than nurses, that I was reluctant to circulate more than I did. He was a delightful man, and was very proud of the lifelong military service his father contributed, and obviously his own as well.

Some of the vets in wheelchairs could not feed themselves, but were delighted to have someone assist. Many were quite aged, and some were very young men. A few had family members present, and their misty eyes matched ours throughout the entire visit. They know all too well the needs of these special people.

Some of the men could not respond to much of anything, yet if you looked closely enough, you knew they loved having us there.

As in the rides I participate in with the Patriot Guard, this visit will not be the last.

I went home to my big house, my daughter (who is home for the summer), and my computer; to write about this experience in hopes of convincing my readers to give a bit of your time to the Vets in your community. To get involved with an organization that contributes to our fallen soldiers; be they disabled Vets, or those who come home to bereaved families. It takes so little, and gives so much back.

It doesn't require a motorcycle, or anything else, except compassion and respect for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice; their lives, their well-being, their everyday joys in life. All because they were asked to serve, and many who wanted to serve. Their lives have been changed forever, in a service that directly affects each and every one of us. It's not about whether the war is right or wrong, it's about those who served in the name of the Freedom all Americans benefit from.

A quick Google search on Veterans will turn up many ways to volunteer a bit of your time. I have a busy life, like most people. It isn't about what I receive in doing this. However, in giving a small amount of my time to these Veterans and their families, I have received joy back tenfold in seeing the delight on the faces of those who get very little joy in life anymore.

Visit the Patriot Guard website. There are groups all over the country now. Membership is FREE, but no one must be a member to volunteer and participate. Most are motorcyclists, but owning or riding one is not a prerequisite. This organization is dedicated to protecting and preserving the Honor and Respect of our fallen soldiers and their families. Motorcyclist or not, you'll meet some of the most wonderful people, guaranteed.

Visit the Rolling Thunder website too. The link goes to their "About Us" fact sheet. These men and women volunteer their time selflessly and diligently to provide a better life for those who have served. Many of them Veterans themselves.

Both organizations are not-for-profit, yet contribute so much to our armed services.

Show your gratitude for the men and women of our armed forces. Because of them you live free.

Old School, New School, or In-Between School

When it comes to being a Biker, I've never thought of myself as "Old School". Most tell me I can't possibly be Old School because I'm of the female persuasion. In that case, I'm not. And though I've ridden one bike or another since my teens, which seems to be a prerequisite, I still don't see myself belonging to that cliche with any real conviction. Then again, what is Old School? A mentality? A way of life? What you ride? How you ride?

I think my good buddy, RC of Big Bend Bikers For Freedom could answer that question better than me. You see, he epitomizes Old School to me. I've heard some stories from him that would raise the hair on your arms, and some that made me cry with laughter. At the time, I thought, good Lord man, how have you lived this long? Then I'd think, well, my own family and friends have wondered the same thing about me. Yet my stories are vastly different than his.

RC is not a 1%'er, but I know he knows a few. There is no better friend than RC. I know RC always has my back, and I know he reciprocates the respect I hold for him without question. I remember bikers from my youth who could be RC this many years after. So, ya, he's "Old School" to me. And he's my brother.

Life for a woman is vastly different than for a man. Being a wife and mother trumps how often you get to ride, or even if you get to own your own ride. While men seem to have the option to make riding a priority, regardless of family. Funny how that is. Like most wives and mothers, my options were interrupted many times throughout my life. But the love for riding was always there, and I rode when I could, and owned when I could.

My experiences and memories are probably much like RC's, just on a different plane. I managed to skirt the law on many occasions, while still doing anything I damn well pleased, and though I didn't have a label for it at the time, unconventional was always the mode of operation. My life has always been "never a dull moment". I like it that way and you can't have that without risk or mistakes. Even with all the bumps in the road, I wouldn't do anything differently. Except perhaps to take even more risks than I did. Life is too short not to, but you don't learn that until you've lived more than a few decades.

Does "Old School" mean you have a long pony-tail (I have one of those), or a long beard? (Alas, I can't grow a beard.) But most of those I see as Old School have both. I still long for the days of motoring down the highway, going wherever for the day, in jeans, tank, boots, and bandana (they didn't have "do-rags" back then). Cars moved out of the way for you, mothers hid their children. It was a culture and a lifestyle that "good and simple" folk labeled outlaw. They didn't understand (and still don't) that it's all about nonconformity and being free to be who you want to be and who you really are. It makes me smile to myself, because most of those "Old School" Bikers have professional jobs like anyone else, and are contributing citizens of this country. The Biker lifestyle is simply that; no different than any other mode of dress or activity that individuals choose to love and own, and not let anyone gainsay them.

If anything, I think I'm really both - Old School and New School. I love that my bike fires up without stressing my ankle with a kick-starter. Both my ankles are old and tired some days now. And I especially love that I can ride for hours and not feel the engine vibration for the next three days after.

So sue me. Civilization advances, and so does technology. Back in the day, a custom or home built chopper was the only way to have one. Now you can buy one that is already "driveway trained". (For all you newbies, that means it doesn't drip oil all over the driveway or garage.) It wasn't even all that long ago before Harley redesigned their engine mounts to alleviate the engine vibration for the rider. My Dyna vibrates all over the place when I'm at a stoplight, but my body doesn't. How cool is that?

After-Market companies make seats that allows your derriere to continue normal circulation after 30 minutes of riding. That one thing alone would have been novel back in the the early days of riding on a seat that looked (and felt) like an inverted sauce pan.

I think Old School Bikers are the ones who were around to remember all those things; like when people had a healthy respect for them as Bikers, and cops didn't hassle you in every town, and politicians weren't so intent on removing the right to ride as you wish. My dad used to say, "when I was your age, I walked to school in the snow, uphill both ways". An Old School Biker says to his kid, "when I was your age, I had to kick start my bike, and Iron Butt rides really did give you an iron butt".

And perhaps that's why many of them are staunch Freedom Fighters. They remember the days of Easy Rider and life was good. Like RC does. And in that respect, maybe like me too. Though I doubt I'll be growing a beard anytime soon.

So I found this web page that has a quiz, to see if you're "Old School" or "New School", and I thought, OK, I'll bite. Could be a good laugh. And it was. Even funnier to me was the result, which I've posted below. Check it out and have a good laugh yourself. Take the Quiz. Be honest too, because regardless of the outcome, or how you see yourself, the love for riding and the lifestyle it represents is all that matters.

Are you an Old School Biker Your Result: You are old school You are a part of the true biker community. You probably understand the meaning of brotherhood and look after those you ride with as family. Ride Hard - Die Free is not just a fancy patch you bought at a bike rally. You probably ride your bike to Bike Week no matter how far it is. Bikers like you are hard to come by. Keep the shiny side up.
You are new school
Are you an Old School Biker Take More Quizzes

Old School, or New School, ride hard, ride long, ride free. In the end, it's the freedom to be who you are that counts.

Another Shining Example

This blog is about an email (3 emails actually) I received from a member of Abate regarding the last blog I posted. I would like the motorcycling community at large to see what kind of people Abate puts in office; another shining example of "brotherhood" among bikers. Not hardly.

I would have kept this to myself, and a few others, for in no way was it broadcasted among the public at large. From what little information I can gather, an email I wrote to someone, was forwarded to someone who forwarded it to him for response. I have never contacted this person, or his chapter president directly. However, after being trashed in the first email, and then trashed even worse in the second, well, I've never been known to keep quiet, especially when told to "shut up". Just ask my mother.

In the first email, he found it necessary to expound on all his titles, to obviously support the reason for the arrogance he would eventually display; beating his chest I'm sure. It brought to mind Tim-the-Tool-Man and his grunting response to his garage full of tools. As if I'd be impressed over a bunch of titles. I'd hoped at first that I was dealing with a rational person with a bit of intelligence, but that opinion has steadily lost any substantial reasoning.

Overall, I believe it was in response to the blog I wrote on the Freedom Rally, not the first freedom rally I'd ever been to, but the first in Florida. I always welcome another opportunity to speak with legislators anyway. Since moving here, it has become part of my agenda to learn about those who have an affect on laws in Florida, where I now live.

I was accompanied by 6 other Abate members, whom I'd invited to stay in my home, and with whom I have become friends; Strongbow, and 5 others from his Palm Beach chapter. I didn't know much about Strongbow, other than what others had told me. I wanted the experience of knowing him personally. What I saw of them all was a unity and a tolerance for each other's uniqueness and beliefs. And this is what I felt from Strongbow. He didn't care that I fight outside of Abate, or what my personal beliefs are. And they all afforded me the kindness I afforded them, even before knowing me.

Here in Tallahassee, I don't see much of an Abate presence, though I know they are here. And I know they do good things up here in the Panhandle. Diana of Whitesands keeps me posted on what her chapter is doing, and I am aware of a driver education program that someone in the Big Bend chapter was conducting in area schools, because I attended one in support of it. But recently it has come to my attention that the person who spearheaded this program has been stifled as well. I know there are many within Abate who do good things. I'm sure a lot of them were at the Freedom Rally. But when these kinds of actions take place, it makes one wonder.

It was nice to have the opportunity to ride with Strongbow and his crew, and Strongbow introduced me to others he knew at the rally. They stayed in my home for four days and I got to know them well. We had rousing conversations about bikers rights, personal riding experiences, and even some soul searching exchanges. They're bikers, my brothers (and sisters), and they have heart. No arrogance, no personal agenda, just a desire to live the lifestyle we all enjoy and keep the right to do so. They did try to get me to join, but accepted my reasons for not doing so. They know I'll be there to fight beside them regardless. Strongbow's chapter has since earned more of my respect by their actions in the A1A attack on motorcyclists.

I've ridden my own on and off since 1971 and lived a lot of places. None of them were states where this particular Abate member has lived. There are a lot of people in this country, and it's unlikely I'll ever meet everyone who fights for bikers rights. I tend to be more of a "sniper", for my independence and singlemindedness in the way I fight, than a MRO "politician". I don't particularly like the club scene, or the numerous meetings, though I have been known to attend a few. And, true, being a mother has taken my attention from the matter at hand more times than I can count. It is the only priority that ranks over all others.

And riding my own in the early days wasn't always a picnic either. Women were expected to be "old ladies" and ride bitch. And freedom fighters back then didn't appreciate a woman with a mind of her own. But I found my ways. With my daughters in college these past few years, more of my time is my own, and these days, women are accepted up front much more than the past, with the few exceptions on occasion.

It is not surprising that not many know me. That's OK. I'm not in this, nor have I ever been, to achieve notoriety, or make a "name" for myself, only to help get the job done. Those who do know me, and take the time to do so, find all they need to know. Those that don't are of no concern to me.

This person seemed fixated on the fact that since he'd never heard of me, or hadn't met me, then I must surely be a "fake". Meaning, I'm not a "real" freedom fighter, I just play one on the internet. He also thought that since I'm not an Abate member, or held numerous officer positions, then I can't possibly be a true freedom fighter. I had a good laugh over that one. But whatever, it matters little to me what he thinks of me. And eventually he will learn that he is wrong.

I tend to look at MRO membership from a different perspective. That I'm not an Abate member just means I don't agree with their practices as an organization. The organizational practices may or may not be the same agenda as many individuals within an organization, but in the end you are expected to support those practices and decisions. You pay your dues, you become part of the organization, and you are assimilated. One of the first things I heard about florida Abate is their intolerance for radical opinions, coupled with how women of said radical opinions are treated. It's a waste of my time and energy to oppose such ingrained obstacles when I can focus my energy elsewhere to the greater good. I personally refuse to accept that which contradicts my fundamental belief about freedom in general.

Freedom of speech gives me the right to oppose any decisions made by any organization, MRO or not, and if those decisions affect my own rights, I will speak out against it, guaranteed. I use this forum as a vehicle for those beliefs, and judging by the thousands of blogs and websites out there, so do many others.

Apparently he feels differently. And that's OK, just not in the convoluted and unprofessional way he addressed it. Were I to write a legislator and attack the way he dressed as a reason for opposing what he does, my letter would go in the trash. I gave him the initial benefit of the doubt, but he proved me wrong by continuing his tirade.

Not being one to jump to conclusions about those I don't know, I forwarded his email to others I have immense respect for, asking what they thought. With only 14 months of residency, and not knowing this person, I wasn't really sure what to think, for he started out his email "addressing my concerns", followed by apologizing for Abate, then proceeded to attack my integrity, ending his email with the following:

"STEP UP or SHUT UP. Be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem. You talk the talk, can ya walk the walk? Whiners we got plenty of." I think I agree with the "whiner" part of that, but the caustic nature of this last line negated anything positive he previously said.

Now, I don't think I've ever met this person, nor did I know his name before, and if I don't know him, by his philosophy, wouldn't that make him a liar and a fake in my eyes? It would if I were just as shallow. So what if he has held positions in other state MRO's. I know that many positions are taken by the only person to hold up their hand. It means nothing to me. I've known some who held office and did nothing, and some who did more harm than good. It seemed to be his intention to WOW me with all his past titles, as if that somehow makes him better than me, or substantiates his position.

I judge people by what they do, not by the titles they have or the dues they pay. And I sure don't make assumptions about people unless I can prove them out. Well, most of the time. But I'm not in the habit of doing so and then sending a scathing email to the person. That would be rude and uncalled for.

So, before I could respond to the email myself, one of my friends wrote a lengthy email back to this person, from his perspective. I was out riding most of the weekend, and I even started a reply, but hadn't finished it yet. The reply was very well written, and not at all derogatory. Indeed, my own reply was very much like it, and I thought, well this is good, I'll answer his questions about me personally and the rest is taken care of. All will be OK. But that didn't happen. I never had the chance to respond in an intelligent manner, for another instant response came back, adding more insults; why I need someone else to speak for me, and more on my identity, blah blah blah. The indignant reply contained much more pettiness and nasty commentary than before. And I sat here thinking, well that was nice, now I've lost all desire to be courteous in the face of so much anger and contempt.

And I'm thinking, what level of intelligence are we dealing with here? Does he really think his petty remarks have an affect on me? Perhaps he thinks because I'm a woman I will go crawl in a corner and cry? So sorry to disappoint you, dear Abate member. My self-esteem is intact, as yours apparently is not. I won't apologize to anyone for something I've not done, and I certainly won't aplogize for writing about what I saw.

Frankly, I didn't really see anything in my last blog that would get someone's shorts in such a bunch. It really does take a rational thinker to be objective. And now all I see is an irrational person who is unable to look at anything objectively, for his attack on me was as childish and immature as the neighborhood bully who can't have his way.

In the last year, of all the hearings I've been to, was he there? No. Yet his curent "title" is Legislative Trustee. The only Abate person who shows up at any of these hearings is the state lobbyist/president, and even he doesn't hit them all. Regardless of what state I live in, or have lived in, or how long I've lived here, he knows nothing of what I do, or have done. So I am judged as guilty right up front. There may be all kinds of reasons he was not at these hearings, and they may be good ones for all I know. And that's my point; I don't know his reasons. I don't know him at all, other than this display of unprofessionalism.

Perhaps that's why he hasn't met me, ya think? Or maybe it's because I don't go to bike nights, parties, or poker runs? Who has time for that when there is so much to keep up with in the legislative arena here in Florida? I don't have a "wife" or "girlfriend" to cook, clean and do laundry for me either. And when I do have time for other things, I'm riding with the PGR and other Veteran supportive events, or researching other state laws in an effort to help other states with their battles, and thereby gaining knowledge that will help me to defend my own battles in the legislative arena. Somewhere in there, I work a day job, so I can keep doing all those things.

So let's look at what's really going on here:

I wrote a viewpoint about the Freedom Rally, which Abate organized and sponsored. The two main points were, less than 4% of Abate's membership, whose total membership is less than 4% of Florida's registered motorcycles, showed up for the rally, and about half of those left without going into the Capitol and speaking to any legislators (the real purpose of the rally). As Abate is Florida's only "MRO", this truly astounded me, for I have seen much larger gatherings for such an important event in other states time and time again.

I also mentioned two facts about the state Abate meeting, in which a member was voted out without following protocol, and another person was prevented from attending when the meeting was open to all. All because they have opposing views. It wouldn't matter to me what MRO did this, I'd still mention it. It's wrong, it's unethical, and it makes Florida Abate look very bad indeed.

Apparently he took exception to expressing these facts. But instead of looking at it in a positive light, he chose to attack me personally, as if somehow that would erase the facts I wrote and make them go away. Or perhaps it's denial. For this information is no secret to many. What it does, however, is reduce Abate down to the size it really is, and something many cannot seem to accept or want to hear. I am sick to death of hearing that Abate is the "voice" of Florida's bikers. That he personally doesn't have this viewpoint has nothing to do with the the fact that it is said.

I would support Abate 100% in a heartbeat, if their overall goals and philosophy was the same as mine, but it isn't. I simply refuse to give up rights to get a few dogbones thrown my way.

And the irrational rebutted by the rational:

I'm not an Abate member, so I'm not allowed to point out their shortcomings.

Wrong. I have the right to post anything I like here. It's called freedom of speech. You remember that constitutional freedom? I don't edify any comments to my blog posts, other than irrational personal attacks, or profanity.

I don't post my given name on my blog, so I can avoid Google hits from spammers, so that makes me a fake, hiding behind "Sam I Am".

Wrong. Sam is the name I use every day. It's not a "biker" name. It is a nickname given to me a long time ago. And since you're such a jerk, you'll have to find out my last name all on your own. Won't help you though, since I've had three different last names in my lifetime and rarely give it out. Ask around. You might even find someone who knows me. Ask for Sam.

He's never met me so therefore I can't possibly be a "freedom fighter". If I was, he'd have heard of me.

Wrong again. If I thought everyone I'd never met was a liar and fake, I'd be delusional. Arrogant at the very least. With an attitude like that, no one would like me. (Oh wait, he really believes that.) There's that arrogance thing again.

I don't have scads of titles, so I don't deserve to call myself a freedom fighter.

Wrong. Titles don't make the freedom fighter. It is the brotherhood and the heart of the American biker, and an unflappable determination to fight for what is right; unadulterated freedom. What part of that do you not get? Or maybe you think being a "biker" only applies to men?

Step up or shut up.

Since it is such a burning question on what I do or don't do, I'll ask the same. Where were YOU when the hearings took place when the last few horrific discriminatory bills were heard in the House and Senate? And where were YOU when your lobbyist supported the last discriminatory bill, SB 1992? What have YOU done recently for others throughout the country? How much did YOU contribute to California's Judicial Fund, or Michigan's fight against their helmet law? What about the ROW Stiffer Penalty bill in Massachusetts? How many noise ordinance tickets do you have? Helmet tickets from other states? Or do you just sit in your own little Abate world contemplating the next bike night you're going to go to, where I will NOT be?

You're right. You DON'T know me.

The blog I wrote about the Freedom Rally was intended to spark some interest from apathetic bikers, and to point out a few atrocieties that are going on beneath the membership's noses. But instead of looking at in a positive manner, and thinking, "How can I make this better for next year's rally?" he chose to attack me personally. The response from my friend specifically listed out suggestions to achieve this end. Yet while he groveled plainly to this response, he continued to blather unsubstantiated accusations against me.

Now that makes me all warm and fuzzy about Abate. He even challenged me to join Abate and run for an office. Even if I didn't already have a bad taste in my mouth for the way things are run within Abate, knowing of someone like this would turn me away in a heartbeat. No amount of "open arms", as he claims they would have if I join, could convince me he wouldn't turn on me at the very next opportunity.

Why would I want to be a member of Abate when at every turn they openly condemn those who fight as independents? And what is this prevailing attitude that Abate is the "voice" of Florida's bikers? It certainly isn't mine. You won't find me telling my brothers to "behave" when you ride through Delray Beach. You won't hear me supporting a bill that removes individual rights of Americans in exchange for a paltry "feel-good" legislation (and one that will be stripped out anyway). And you won't see me making a distinction between any biker style, only apathy. If it's a two-wheeled motor vehicle, it's a motorcycle. Any law that discriminates, violates, or compromises the rights of those who ride is worthy of my attention. There but for the Grace of God go I.

And as long as Abate's president and lobbyist steps on my rights as a biker, or anyone else for that matter, I will "spout off" (as he so eloquently puts it in his email) and I will do so, whenever, and however I feel like. As long as I have to fight to achieve absolute freedom, I will speak out. I am a Florida biker, and I have the right to oppose that which violates my rights. Abate does not get a free pass on this, just as lawmakers do not either.

In the second email, after ripping me to shreds, he ends it with, "We choose to attend our own affairs by our own means and if Sam [and friend] wants to join ABATE of Florida to dig in, work for the organization and help, then we will welcome both of you with open arms and put you to work, if not then keep your opinion to yourself and let us get on with what we are accomplishing in Florida."

Gosh, gee, golly, you'll put me to work? I guess I've been loafing. Keep my opinion to myself? Only if I don't join? I've seen what happens to people within Abate who don't keep their opinions to themselves. Get real. Accomplish what? Supporting bills that take away my rights? That goes against my most basic of principles.

Now I ask you, why would I join any organization after being treated this way? All for writing my viewpoint, which was fairly accurate, and for keeping my real name off the internet? An organization that makes decisions that compromise my freedom, and an organization where controvery is squashed through unconventional means? Especially when I can fight for my rights all on my own? Thank you, but no. Had I received a polite and courteous email asking who I was, I might have obliged. I don't dance for anyone, especially an arrogant pissant like this one.

So, Mr. Abate I-are-a-freedom-fighter, just like Abate takes care of their business the way "they" want, I take care of business the way I want. If Abate makes a decision that violates my freedom, the world will hear from me again. If you aren't man enough to deal with it, get over it. I have the right to disagree, just as you do, and I guarantee you, I will again.

OK, this post is long. But as as I prepare to publish, I see yet another flaming email from this person. Interesting how this has all escalated through such ignorant and arrogant behavior. He claims yet again how it all stems from my vicious "attack" on Abate, yet he hasn't as of yet posted any comments on the blog, but instead prefers the yellow-bellied method of sending personal flaming emails.

In this third narrative, he attacks my clean leathers as grounds for not being a biker. Now there's a solid reasoning for someone's belief. I am a woman, after all, and I rather like my buttery soft (and clean) leathers, same as the silk I wear under my clothes. I take good care of my leathers, so they'll last me another 10 years. I guess the picture doesn't show the right leg where the leather has become distorted from being too close to hot pipes too many times, or the back where I've hand-stitched them over and over. I'm actually flattered that he thinks my 10-year old chaps look new. I guess keeping my bike clean also means I'm not a biker. Ooookie. Now I'm wondering if there really is something to this Koolaid rumor....

Oh, and now I am labeled as "Queen Bee", but he has it wrong. It's Queen BITCH. I wish people could just get it right for once. Sheesh.

Remember, I did not initiate a personal attack on this person, or any other person. If you want to be angry over this blog, by all means, that is your right. I left his name out on purpose. It is enough that his behavior is described here.

One of the reasons I choose not to become part of Florida Abate is I don't want to be associated with officers such as this man. I simply expect better. From all people. This makes the fourth chapter I have become acquainted with one or more members. The tally is 2 and 2. Thumbs up for Whitesands and Palm Beach, who seem to operate with common courtesy, genuine friendship and are open to all who would fight for bikers rights, Abate or not. Thumbs down on the Big Bend chapter and the chapter this "person" belongs to. Rumor has it that the Big Bend chapter has the habit of culling members for less than valid reasons. They have not responded to an inquiry. The "un-named" chapter is busy attacking people for invalid reasons and since their president has not contacted me, I can only assume he approves of the exchange. Should he do so, I will let you know. I would even print a retraction should they convince me their chapter does not condone such treatment of others. Though I'm not holding my breath.

Ride safe, ride free.

Freedom Rally at the Capitol

April 14th marked the 2008 annual ride to the Capitol here in Tallahassee, Florida, organized by Abate of Florida. This was the first one of these for me, and one of many for Abate of Florida. I had heard so much about previous years, I needed to see this rally for myself. And besides, I am, after all, a freedom fighter.










I rode with a small group of people who had accepted my offer of a place to stay. That Monday morning, we rode to the starting point at the Monticello KOA, just off I-10, east of Tallahassee. But, when we arrived, I was disappointed in the small number of bikes assembled and hoped that more would already be at the Capitol, or would be riding in from other starting points.

We had a police escort from the campground into the city, and since we were close to the front of the line-up, we were able to park close to the main courtyard where the assembly would take place. We stood and watched the others behind us roll in and park. I estimated about 250 bikes showed up for this important rally. Again, that was a disappointment. The local Breast Cancer Poker Run gets more attendance each year.

The opening speech was given by the State Abate President, James "Doc" Reichenbach. His comments were mostly spoken to politicians and legislators, with many of his comments eliciting a response from those listening. I kept looking around for any of those legislators, but they were conspicuously absent. And I am not surprised, as this was a Monday, a travel day, and many were not even in residence. None came out to address the assembly there that morning. More disappointment.

Following his speech, Doc then read off a list of names; fallen brothers and sisters. After each name a designated person rang a bell. It was a solemn and heart wrenching experience.

Afterward, the crowd disbanded and I watched in dismay as more than half got on their bikes and left. So much for storming the halls of the Capitol building. I went inside with the group I came with, and we went down every hallway on every floor of both the Senate and House buildings. Less than half the Representatives or Senators were in their offices. Planning the rally on Monday was a bad oversight.

I'm told there are 7000 - 7500 Florida Abate members. With all due respect to those who attended - bless you all - I was saddened to see so few Abate members in attendance. I'm not a member of Abate, but I went, I supported this rally, because freedom is a very important part of living in this country. Sadly, that is taken for granted by Americans in general, but should not be ignored by American bikers.

I could say, once again, Florida Abate, where were you? But I don't want to discredit those who rode up from southern points to attend this rally. But with over 500,000 registered bikes in Florida, I will say, where the hell were you, Florida bikers???

Our freedom is so very important. Those who have gone before us must surely be looking down and shaking their heads. I am not sure why I thought this rally would be any different than the absent participation at legislative hearings, but somehow I thought it would be.

This rally should have been first on the agenda of every member of Abate. And certainly most of Florida's bikers. How can legislators take us seriously if they don't see us in overwhelming numbers?

What has happened to "A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactment"? That seems to be gone in Florida, replaced with "American Bikers Aiming Toward Education". By definition, Abate of florida isn't even responsible for bikers rights. How convenient.

Florida has no state MRO (Motorcycle Rights Organization). Abate's Freedom Rally was nothing more than a ceremonial ride. Most came for the fun of it, and missed the entire point. The fun is in the ride, yes, but we ride because we have the RIGHT to ride. The Freedom Rally was all about retaining that right. I look to Abate's President and BOD to get that point across. They may have made an effort, who knows, but they failed miserably.

Florida's bikers need an MRO that will fight for their rights to ride free. I just don't see that happening within Abate. True freedom comes from taking a stand of "no compromise, no surrender". I can't remember when Abate last took that stand.

We will see what next year's Freedom Rally brings, and if the biker community in Florida will sacrifice a day of work, skip that poker run, and show up for what is perhaps the most important statement they could possibly make. We have the right to ride free, stand up and count.

Afternote: The Abate state meeting was held the day before this rally. Although it was advertised that all were welcome, member or not, Robert "RC" Conroy was physically prevented from attending the meeting, by two Abate Sgt. at Arms. In addition, another member had his membership revoked without going through the proper procedure outlined in the Abate By-laws. If Abate hopes to increase its membership, this is surely not the way. That Abate's President would condone such acts does nothing to discredit his already questionable reputation.

Quig et al vs. CHP - Sweet Victory

The most concise and legally accurate description of the helmet law problem in any state, as explained by Richard Quigley....


" ....the government cannot make any objective standards for helmets without taking on liability, and since they are expressly forbidden from taking on any liability, they can never make an objective standard for helmets. There it is.

Without an objective standard it all becomes ad hoc and arbitrary - Ad hoc and arbitrary is the foundation of vague law - Vague law is Unconstitutional." Quig (1943-2007)



Today, February 8, 2008 marked a hearing date in the contempt case of Quigley et al vs. CHP.

It seems a California Attorney General (AG) got a little too big for her "knickers", as you will see. Read on....

This hearing, titled "Summary Judgment Hearing", was for the AG to request dismissal of the case, based on her opinion that the Plaintiffs failed to prove they have a case.

At this same hearing, the Plaintiffs planned to seek a motion to compel compliance with discovery. Great move, and here's why.

And Don Blanscet, CA Abate Executive Director, comments:

"Ask any Attorney what his chances are for Summary Judgment when he is pissing off the Judge by refusing to comply with simple basic discovery rules, to the extent that we are faced to seek a motion to compel."

Here's some history on this case, from the keyboard of Tony "Pan" Sanfelipo himself, founding member of BOLT, when asked for the long and short of it. You'll find the outcome of this hearing below.

(Of course, if you are really into the detailed side of things, there are many informative articles you can read on the BOLT of CA website).

"As you know, the NTSB issued a recommendation that all states should adopt or amend helmet laws to meet compliance with the FMVSS 218 (helmet standard). That's exactly what North Carolina did in January [2008]. Anyway, the boys in California have been fighting tickets there for 17 years...and winning.

"Now comes the great Quig et al vs. CHP, set for trial in May, 2008. That calls for an injunction and declaratory relief, which in road language means, the CHP would be enjoined (stopped) from writing tickets for non compliance with the DOT standard. Quig beat a number, I think 9, of them tickets with his BOLT baseball cap and DOT embroidered on the back. That case had the judge rule to dismiss the tickets, but Quig didn't want a dismissal, because that would just go away for him and not do anyone else any good. So he asked for an injunction, which would stop them from writing everyone up. So be it.

"Meanwhile, the judge was pissed at the CHP for ignoring his earlier ruling that they stop writing helmet tickets unless they sign them off as correctable.

"In California, you can get a fix it ticket for an equipment violation (remember, helmets are listed by NHTSA as motor vehicle equipment, not safety equipment). So it should be a $10 fix it ticket. The problem is, the biker has the right to ask the cop, "officer, how do I fix this?" In other words, tell me what a helmet is or where I can buy one that complies with the law. Since there is no list, there is no law, or at least any way for a cop to tell you how to fix your problem. So we have them right where we want them.

"Then, along comes the Attorney General (AG) and takes this contempt case on in the 6th Appellate Court. The court rules that there is an exclusion in the evidence rule that says, even if it's an equipment violation, if the condition presents an immediate safety hazard to the biker, the cop doesn't have to sign off as correctable and can refuse to let you drive off until you put on a helmet he likes. Wow. The AG thought she had it in the bag at this point.

"The 6th Appellate also ruled that, although Quig's soft cap presented an immediate danger in their mind, as a matter of law if a helmet has a hard shell, it's correctable. That's what we wanted to hear, because the other plaintiffs in Quigs case, Blanscet, Barron, Bianco and Holmes, were ticketed with hard shell helmets. And so were hundreds of others, despite the injunction against this in the Easyriders F.I.G.H.T. Freedom case (an earlier injunction).

"Are you still with me? This ain't easy to explain. Anyway, the AG thought, hey, Quig is dead now, and the 6th [Appellate] ruled that the cops have discretion on whether the helmet is compliant, so let's motion for summary judgment. That means, the Quig et al vs. CHP is no longer relevant. It's a moot case according to the thinking of the AG.

[And the outcome? .... drum roll please....]

"So this motion for summary judgment came up today in court, and if the court granted this, it's all over now, baby blue. Of course, we were on pins and needles because you never know what a judge is going to do. You know what he's supposed to do, but it don't always work out like that. Anyway, low and behold, the judge dismisses the summary judgment and asks why he shouldn't issue the injunction right there and then. That must of blew the AG out of her knickers. I'm sure Quig is dancing in the clouds. So, we go to trial in May.

[After learning the outcome of today's hearing, Don Blanscet went out trolling for another helmet ticket, and I wondered if he could still get one, given the ruling today...]

"Don could still be cited for non compliant helmet, because this still has to be settled in court. He'll have to troll long hours though if the word is out about the summary judgment loss.

"We also want to ask the Supreme Court to retry the 6th Appellate ruling on Quig's soft helmet because, under Buhl vs. Hannigan, and Bianco vs. CHP, followed by the Easyrider case, it was determined that a cop cannot pull you over without probable cause that your helmet didn't comply. The probable cause was, according to the earlier cases, there was no DOT sticker (which later was found not to be necessary anyway) and that the cop knew the helmet didn't comply or he knew there was a recall of that particular helmet, and that the biker knew the helmet didn't comply.

"Whew! How is anyone going to know all that?

[I can hear Tony taking a big breath as he prepares to continue this narrative.]

"As for the baseball cap, it did have a DOT on the back, so there was rebuttable presumption of compliance, because the earlier cases ruled that fabrication isn't an issue. In fact, for a cop or consumer to consider fabrication of the helmet, is absurd (judges words).

"The FMVSS 218 is a performance standard. It tells you what a helmet has to do or prevent to be compliant. Nothing in the standard talks about fabrication. There is nothing in there about a hard shell, 1 inch thickness or any of that nonsense cops say a helmet has to have. They do mention a retention system (chin strap) and that's why Red and Quig and Don have some sort of lace or chin strap attached to their baseball cap, coconut shell or yamaka cap. These guys are characters...I love them."

Let me tell you folks, if you think this has been easy, think again.

And so, as described above, this is a huge victory.

The Judge dismissed the Summary Judgement. And he put the AG in her place by asking why he shouldn't issue an injunction right then and there.

How I wish I could have been a fly on the wall in that courtroom!

And as Don wrote to me today, before firing up the scooter to go "hunting" for another helmet ticket [Got Ticket?]:

Quigley vs. CHP won Big !!!!! I mean we won Big!!!! BIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Judge says perhaps an injunction is in order for the plaintiffs (thats you !!!!!!!!)

He was very happy with the outcome (ya think?).

As Don says, "we" are the Plaintiffs, and he is right on that point. For this victory was not just for California Bikers, it was for ALL Bikers, as Quigley intended. "Brotherhood knows no boundaries", as is evident here. And this writer is grateful for the work they've put forth to achieve this victory.

What does this mean to you and me? Considerable ground was gained today, through perseverence, a refusal to back down, and a refusal to compromise. They have beat back law makers and law enforcement with the very laws they wrote and [try to] enforce.

But there's no relaxing, as the show is not over.

Trial is set for May 2008. CA Abate and BOLT must still pay their Attorney fees, and they must still keep vigilance. The way looks clearer, but it won't be over until the fat lady sings. They must still fill the Judiciary Fund coffers, to pave the path for the May trial.

Check out the information on the Judiciary Fund and make a much needed donation. Any amount helps. There are hundreds of thousands of bikers out there. Show them you appreciate what they are doing, what Quigley devoted his life to, and help them beat this down to the "whale dung" level (lowest place on earth) where it belongs.

Ya know? I'm hearing the theme for "Rocky" in my head right now... but I hate those musical tunes that play when I open a web page, so I'll let you remember that tune on your own.

And now for the quotes - and I so love good quotes.....

This quote by Napoleon Hill is for the Freedom Fighters in California, and for all those who had/have faith in them and contributed to this cause.

Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting.

And this one by Theodore Roosevelt, is for everyone else. But it's not too late. Send your donation today!

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.


Great job guys!
Florida Freedom Fighters salute you.

Just the Facts Ma'am - Why Bikers Should Vote Ron Paul 2008

As biker, I am concerned with bikers rights, and if you ride, so should you also be. But as an American citizen, bikers rights are just a sub-set of what I believe in; my personal rights and freedoms.

In the video below, Ron Paul speaks of a "message":

Ron Paul is all about personal rights and freedoms. Yes, as with all candidates, Ron has some differing views, no doubt about it. But in comparison to his undying support of the the Constitution, those differences are minor. In the long haul, less government means less infringement on each of our personal rights. Less government means less money stolen from our earnings. Less government means I still only have ONE mother; the woman who gave birth to me.

I want to see less government, less regulation, less, less, less. Don't you? Only through that will everything else follow. Ron Paul has been called "radical". But this country needs sound and even radical changes if we (the people) are to turn things around and take control of our country again.

I'm tired of my tax money funding our legislators to create hundreds of new and restricting laws every day that infringe on my individual rights; from telling me how to raise my children, to legal confiscation of personal property, including the 15-20 (out of 40) hours I work per week to fund a government that cannot control it's spending and continuously invades my personal life.

Ron Paul has consistently voted no to any new taxes. He wants to phase out many unfair taxes that rightfully belong to each of us, such as capitol gains, inheritance, and death tax.

I'm tired of paying out so much of my earnings in taxes that are spent in other countries, when that money could help me pay my medical bills, and other expenses all Americans pay. When that money should go to our own poor, our own homeless, our own starving children. Ron Paul wants to bring all our troops home, end our world domination policies and give those funds back to Americans, where they should be.

Ron Paul wants to bring our soldiers home. All of them. No other candidate has come close to this statement. How long must we fund 130 military bases worldwide to the tune of 3 Trillion buckaroos each year? How long will the world tolerate our "occupation" on their lands before someone worse than Bin Laden comes along and finds a way to Nuke us? Learning the hard way, in this case, is not an option.

Only with Ron Paul do we have a chance at Freedom and Liberty again. Not to mention restoring worldwide respect for our country.

Hilary, OTOH has a long history of sucking us dry:

"In 2003 and 2004 [Hilary] Clinton grew even more generous with the taxpayers' dollars. She sponsored or co-sponsored 211 bills to increase spending and just three bills to reduce it, yielding a total net cost of $378 billion. This made Clinton the second most "expensive" senator during that time."

And Hilary's response? (drum roll):

While other candidates are addressing issues seriously, Hilary is cackling.

Old habits die hard, and I don't expect Hilary to change colors any more than Osama Bin Laden. In her interviews, Hilary never makes any mention of removing our military presence completely from other countries, only juggling them around some, as if that would make a difference in government spending. She has yet to provide any sound method of paying for all the health care she wants to "give" everyone, including non-citizens. In fact, I've never seen her give a straight or intelligent answer to anything. She plays with our livelihood like an eleven year old plays with Barbie dolls.

As a woman of 52, I've waited many years for a qualified woman candidate for President, and quite frankly, Hilary makes me want to shave my head and pass for a man so I don't have to admit to being a woman. The ignorant women of this country see only a "woman candidate". Oh goody, Women's Lib-ers unite. Where's my paper bag, it's time to puke yet again.

I know! Let's elect Hilary based on her cackling laugh. That's just as good of a reason as any other I can think of. After all, hubby Bill was elected based on his charm and good looks. (Not MY opinion, so don't go there.) Are we supposed to give her "brownie" points because she "stood by" a philandering cheating husband who got caught? All so she could run for President? Sorry Hilary, you lost any respect I might have had for just this reason.

Then we have Mitt Romney, who is, quite frankly, a joke. He can't decide what he is proponent for, or opponent of. He should be renamed "Flip-Flop Romney". (Though I value my summer shoes here in Florida, it will give me cause to chuckle the next time I wear them and accidently step in something nasty.)

Romney supports (for now) illegal wire-tapping and invasive spying on American citizens, including censoring the Internet. His views in nearly every category include discriminatory comments regarding race, gender and/or religion. And he LIES. In his stint as Governor of MA, he closed MA budget gap of $1.2B, not $3B as he claims. In high school, we called that "two-faced".

Can you say "Flip-Flop"?

While Ron Paul is calmly quoting the supreme law, the Constitution, discussing the end to war and the return of our sons and daughters, and lowering our taxes, Mitt Romney is stumbling over his position on issues and beating his chest. And let us not forget that Hilary is busy making her vapid, flowery speeches, that cloak the consequences of her proposed actions, to less than informed young women, who haven't lived long enough to understand the meaning of more taxes imposed on an already over-taxed population, more unnecessary spending in foreign countries, more government spending, more, more more. Which translates into dipping into mine, yours, and every other American's pocket.

Why do I pick on Hilary, a Democrat, AND Mitt Romney, who is a Republican? Because neither, in spite of their party, want to turn the government back over to the people. Neither has any concept of what Freedom and Liberty is. They are both selfish individuals. Hilary wants to be the "First Woman President", just because she's a woman (her only qualification). Mitt Romney just wants to add another notch to his, um, pole - I love me, so you love me, we all love me. [gag]

Ron Paul is a Libertarian running on the Republican ticket. And Ron has all the right agenda. His agenda is my agenda. Because that agenda includes my Liberty, my Freedom.

I am a Libertarian and the following says it all for me:

WHEREAS libertarian Republicans believe in limited government, individual freedom and personal responsibility;
WHEREAS we believe that government has no money nor power not derived from the consent of the people;
WHEREAS we believe that people have the right to keep the fruits of their labor; and
WHEREAS we believe in upholding the US Constitution as the supreme law of the land;

Ron Paul intends to return control of government to the American people, not the other way around. Ron Paul wants states to be vastly more independent, and govern based on what the people of those states want. We are a nation of free individuals, not a nation of uniform servants.

So how does Ron Paul apply to bikers?

If you weren't convinced by the above, Ron's quote below makes it pretty clear how he views bikers rights - just like any other right guaranteed by the Constitution.

Paul said, "wearing a seat belt or a motorcycle helmet "may well be good advice" but should not be mandatory."

In a Ron Paul Presidency, the efforts of bikers to defeat helmet laws would not be saddled with the federal mandate of the NTSB. Or a Federal government intent on absolute control.

And in relation to government controlled health care?

"Once the government gets control of paying the hospital bills, then they want to control our lives," he said.

If the current attempt to force a universal helmet law down our throats isn't enough to concern you, when Hilary hands over our health care to the government, how hard to do think it will be to fight it then? Even our country's no-helmet states.

Ron Paul is for less government, and I believe him. Past history and actions speak volumes.

Carl Fiser, of NewsLI.com said of Ron Paul:

"His voting record is one of the most consistent this writer has ever seen. No flip-flops are to be found [hellooooo, Mitt Romney]. As well, he is a courageous and wise man, and a heck of an economist. Just ask the Wall Streeters. However, he bears to his fellow countrymen (and countrywomen), an empty pot. He can’t claim to have brought you wars or higher taxes, which we now have [Yo, Ho, Hilary]. He never brought you an unbalanced budget, which is a perennial joke. He never voted himself a wage increase and, to this day, gives back part of his salary every year. He has always voted to preserve the Constitution, cut government spending, lower health care costs, end the war on drugs, secure our borders with immigration reform and protect our civil liberties. Sorrowfully, he was outvoted or shot down on all measures. The Constitution has been chiseled down, government spending is through the roof, health care costs are out of control, the war on drugs keeps getting less effective, immigration issues remain unresolved and our civil liberties have been crimped for our own safety. I’ll just throw in that Ron Paul opposes regulation of the Internet; [Flip-Flop, are you listening in on this?], which has been a revolution in the exchange of ideas, this article being a case in point.

The eye-popping reality of the situation is this. No longer can it be said that Ron Paul is running for President. Amazingly enough, his candidacy has been hijacked, and it appears now that the people are running for President. . . through Ron Paul!"

Do YOU want a President who will do what HE/SHE thinks is right? Or do you want a President who will do what we, THE PEOPLE, think is right.

I'm an American citizen, I'm a biker, and I want a President who will work FOR ME, not the other way around.

If you ride, vote Ron Paul.
If you value your right to choose, vote Ron Paul.
If you feel you are the best judge of raising your children, vote Ron Paul.
If you think you'd like to keep more of your paycheck, vote Ron Paul.
If you want our soldiers to come home, vote Ron Paul.

It's that simple. Vote Ron Paul.

Read the issues here.

Sam I am. Still riding free... this year anyway.

Calling All Bikers

All of the above are "approved" helmets, according to any state helmet law. Shouldn't you have the right to wear the helmet of your choice, or better yet, the choice being none at all?

New California ABATE State Director sends out a request for help. I would add to his addressed "To" ALL bikers, whether you belong to a group or not. Every little bit helps.

Download an image of this letter to print here. Please distribute at will.

To all State Motorcycle Rights Organizations and National Rights Groups:

As many of you now know, ABATE of California is closely monitoring an Appellate Court challenge to the validity of the enforcement of the mandatory helmet law here.

Our Board of Directors has voted in the majority to support this case fully. Furthermore, ABATE of California established the ABATE Judicial Fund in order to accept donations to assist in the legal costs of such litigation. ABATE made an initial contribution of $25,000.00 in establishing this fund. Our attorney is Wendy Lascher of Lascher & Lascher, Ventura, California. The administration of the funds is simple. Attorney submits an invoice for work done on the case, and we send payment.

This court case has four plaintiffs, Steve Barron, Steve Bianco, Pat Holmes and me, Don Blanscet.

No ownership of this case is claimed by any one organization or group, but instead belongs to the plaintiffs. Our opinion is the case belongs to every motorcyclist in California. Steve Barron and Pat Holmes are past presidents of their ABATE Locals, and I m the Executive Director of ABATE of California.

ABATE of California is officially asking that the various State Motorcycle Organizations help us win this important court case by donating to the ABATE Judicial Fund.

Furthermore, ABATE of California requests that the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and the American Motorcyclist Association support and encourage the SMRO's around the country to financially assist this court case by donating to the ABATE Judicial Fund.

Additional documentation and history of the litigation in California is available upon request.

Respectfully,

Don Blanscet
State Director, ABATE of California
donb51@earthlink.net

It is imperative that California succeed in this fight. The outcome will seriously affect the other 49 states, whether you live in one with a helmet law or not. Given the sad state of affairs with the Federally appointed NTSB, all American bikers cannot afford to do nothing with respect to California's fight against their helmet law.

If you value your rights as a motorcyclist, whether you wear a helmet or not, please contribute.





And if you need to ask why? Go here and find one reason among many.




Want to know more about California's helmet war? About true "civil disobedience"? About why those helmets above are all legal?

Read and learn:
BOLT of California
Reason: Online Article
Bruce on NTSB Position Paper

Ride long, ride free, let those who ride decide.

The Best Leaders Lead By Example

Video by Casto Sanchez
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sOWYVSkrk8

California ABATE's new Director, Don Blanscet knows all about 'civil disobedience'. It's one of the best ways to combat unconstitutional laws that rob us of our freedom.

The "King of Resistance", Henry David Thoreau wrote of "Civil Disobedience", in his essay of the same name, first published in 1849. This essay inspired other greats since Thoreau's time; Mohandas Ghandi, who said of Thoreau, "he taught nothing he was not prepared to practice in himself", and Martin Luther King Jr. who said, "As a result of his writings and personal witness, we are the heirs of a legacy of creative protest."

Paraphrasing the motto of a mid-19th century periodical, and the aphoristic views of Thomas Jefferson, "The best government is that which governs least", Thoreau left a legacy that endures today.

Richard "Quig" Quigley is another legend comparable to those mentioned above, God rest his soul (1943 - 2007). He epitomized Thoreau's teachings of civil disobedience in order to preserve the freedoms of the American Biker, and left behind hundreds of disciples who carry on his legacy. Quig was a leader among leaders.

The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and will to carry on. Author: Walter J. Lippmann

I don't know Don personally, but I see three things in this video that makes him a potentially great leader.

1) The obvious, lead by example, is related in his story to the others around him about his 'CHP encounter'. Don has no problem with doing what is necessary to achieve the end result. (Quig? Are ya smiling?)

2) Charisma is apparent; Don conveys the spirit of the story and makes others feel a part of it.

3) Inspiration speaks loudly in this exchange among friends and comrades. Don inspires ME to wear my baseball cap, with the DOT label, and dare to be free. Imagine what Don could inspire other like-minds to do.

In going forward, my wish for you, Don:

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been
the foresight to know where you're going
and the insight to know when you're going too far.

Ride long, ride free, Brother.

The Forest For The Trees

Wisdom comes with age, I always say, but then wisdom also comes with learning and life is just one big learning experience. Why is it the young who have not lived long are the ones who proclaim to "know everything"? Is it because they haven't lived long enough to understand that they don't?

Some of us prefer to learn the hard way, taking our bumps in the road with glee. Rather like riding your dirt bike through moguls, whooping and grinning through every foot of airspace we can get. We take our knocks when we get them because we've determined the trade-off is worth it. In these situations, we have the control, and the risk is carefully thought out (usually).

Far more boring, but with fewer knocks, some prefer to take the extra, and sometimes tedious, time researching for all the angles before making a decision. I do this sometimes, especially when I recognize that a subject cannot be inherently understood or learned without it. Those who don't are merely spouting groundless opinion.

In my opinion.

And still some sit in their armchairs waiting for others to "do something" about their problems for them. They cannot see the forrest for the trees. Apathy will be their downfall.

Often an opinion or belief comes from witnessing a horrific event and blinds us to other facts. We keep those blinders on so we don't have to feel guilty for believing otherwise, even when the facts sit right in front of our glazed over eyes.

I can fully understand why some bikers want to wear a helmet. I wear one. Do I think a helmet will prevent my death? No. I've said so before. It may prevent my head or face from being smeared all over the road, should some event cause me to go asphalt surfing. When my time comes, I'd like my daughters to be able to say good-bye to something other than hamburger meat. But if I didn't care about what my daughters would see? Well, I can also understand why some Bikers don't wear a helmet. Either way, when that Ford Explorer pulls out into your path, it is likely not going to make a difference.

When I was 18 years old, I saw a guy on a motorcycle T-bone a car late one night while I was pumping gas. He flew over the hood and landed on his head and left half his skull and brain on the road before he stopped sliding. A brick retaining wall stopped him, effectively breaking his neck.

I was first on the scene, and as I bent down to check for a pulse, I saw that he was still breathing, for his breath caused bubbles in the blood leaking from his mouth, and just a moment later, he was gone. I remember thinking that this was probably a good thing, for he would have been brain-dead after such an injury. The woman got out of her car, babbling about "not seeing him coming". I stayed with her until the Police came. He was not wearing a helmet. She was not charged.

What I didn't understand back then was that a helmet would not have saved him. Nor would a helmet have stopped the driver of the car from pulling out before looking to see if he was coming. Yep, I saw that too, but it didn't really register until many years later.

There I was, standing at a gas station filling my tank, and watching the intersection (there was nothing else to watch at 3:00 AM). I saw this woman screech to a halt at the stop sign, rolling through it as Californians do, then stand on the gas pedal to cross this busy street running through our medium sized town.

The man on the bike was not speeding, but he never had a chance. He struck the car (an El Camino I think) at the left front wheel, at about 45 mph. Besides me, they were the only two moving objects out at that time of night. Since he was not traveling on the wrong side of the road, it was clear he was within just feet of the car when it pulled out. I know, I saw it, yet she was not charged. With anything.

Now some of you may instantly say, "Well he might have survived if he'd had a helmet on." And you may be right, there might be a snowball's-chance-in-hell of that. Not. The fact that his neck was broken from hitting another solid object after being bulleted through the air (at probably 45 mph) makes me believe otherwise. For sure, only God knows the answer to that one. But his missing helmet is not the debate here. And if I were you, I would not make such a rash and ignorant statement.

One thing that is certain, unarguably, is that he would have lived another day had the driver of that vehicle stopped long enough to LOOK and see him coming. I saw him, from further away than she was, with the glaring overhead florescent lights, and other obstacles in my way. I heard him too. She never looked. As long as I live, I will never forget the senseless and gruesome sight of that man lying in the road.

We all expect other drivers to obey traffic laws, just as we all expect to live another day when we get on our scooters and ride. What is also glaringly apparent, every time I ride, is that these expectations are akin to expecting you'll win the lottery on Saturday when the winnings are the highest. And actually, the probability that you'll be killed or injured by another driver, through no fault of your own, is much more likely than winning any game of chance.

My mother always admonished me to see the bright side of things. The glass is half full, not half empty. Be positive. Expect the best and you'll get the best. So I try to use this philosophy in my life as much as possible. But when I ride my bike, I ride with just the opposite attitude. I ride like every vehicle is secretly scheming in hundreds of ways to make me crash. How could I not? After all the people I see on cell phones, weaving in and out of traffic. And the people who run stops signs in an effort to beat that truck coming so they won't have to drive behind it. Or the ones who ignore the solid white line that means, "stay in your lane". So they bump another car, have a fender-bender, so what? Bumping into me on my bike is almost certain death, and certainly catastrophic injury.

Recently the wife of a man I know rolled her car. She was changing a music CD and drifted to the shoulder and lost control. She could have just as easily drifted across the center line and hit head-on whoever was coming in the opposite direction. There have been countless motorcycle deaths for exactly this reason.

Am I more afraid of hitting my head, should I fall off my bike when navigating my driveway? Hell no! I'm afraid of all of the above, the majority of automobile drivers. Do they care? Some do, but most don't. After all, using a cell phone is more important to some than assuring the safety of others around them on the road, and there's no punishment beyond a traffic violation for killing someone on a motorcycle.

With all the knowledge I have of crashes and the things I see drivers do every day, whether it's in my auto or on my bike, I have to have a "half empty" attitude if I still want to enjoy my motorcycle. And live. Even then, it's still that "game of chance".

What I am still astonished to hear is when other bikers tell me, with conviction mind you, that helmets are the answer to reducing motorcycle deaths. Are they blind? Right-of-way violators account for 3/4 of motorcycle deaths every year. The other 1/4 are mostly alcohol related, and I have no sympathy for those who choose to drink and ride, and end up killing themselves. Sadness for their loved one's loss, yes, but it's no secret that alcohol impairs your riding and driving ability. You make a conscious decision to ride when you know your ability may be impaired. But I don't know anyone who makes a conscious decision to slam into some vehicle that shouldn't be in the way.

Yes, I was one of those, who for years held the opinion that a helmet would save my life in the event of an accident on my bike. So believed because of the accident I witnessed all those years ago. Then one day I had an accident on my horse and broke my back. I flew through the air after being ejected from the saddle while going over a 4 foot jump, and hit the sandy arena floor. I estimate that I reached about a 10 foot height, and was traveling about 10 miles per hour. I was wearing a helmet which had not a scratch on it. I was lucky that day. Two of my vertebra were broken, but I had no spinal cord damage.

What ran through my mind, however, was imagining if I had been on a motorcycle, traveling much faster, and hitting something much less forgiving than sand. Would I be paralyzed? Would I even be alive? Wasn't that helmet supposed to save me from injury? What a naive thought!

And yet, this is what our government and the media wants us to believe. Even when they know an automobile is a much bigger, heavier object controlled by a human being who ignores traffic laws? Surely they know and acknowledge that a motorcycle never wins in a contest with a 4000 lb vehicle?

Yet our government is shoving helmets down our proverbial throats as a solution to motorcycle deaths? Who are they trying to fool? Apparently they think you and I will buy it. I don't, but how long will YOU be fooled? Do you think that a mother somewhere is fooled by this, after having her son killed by a right-of-way violator and our government does not lift a finger to change our laws? Sadly, she and others had to learn this the hard way.

Apparently our own government is also fooled by this fallacy, for they are so focused on making sure our heads survive a crash that they refuse to acknowledge the CAUSE of why we might lose our heads in the first place. They can't see the forrest either.

Like any other Mother, I worried through the years of watching my children grow up, and came up with intelligent ways to prevent them from bodily harm. We teach them not to play in the street - we don't dress them in helmets. We teach them about animals and the danger of being bitten - we don't make them wear Kevlar gloves and turn them loose with the neighborhood stray. We analyze the cause and take steps for prevention. We don't buy bigger bandaids.

In 99% of the reported motorcycle deaths that occur in this country, the media harps on whether or not the rider was wearing a helmet. Even if the biker was run down by a motorist through no fault of the biker. In most cases, the driver of the auto is not charged or fined. And when they are, it's a traffic violation. For killing someone! One state charges a fine of $50 for killing someone because of a traffic violation. A very few states have jail time attached but it's rare for a judge to sentence it, since they have the option not to. It would seem all it takes is to produce a few crocodile tears and say, "I didn't see them". So, it had to be someone's fault, why not the biker? In spite of the driver violating his right-of-way, it's the biker's fault for not wearing a helmet? Am I missing something here?

Ask yourself how you would feel if your child was run down in the street by someone who violated a traffic law, and the media immediately states, "well, the child wasn't wearing a helmet", and law enforcement lets the driver go because they said, "I didn't see him". I can already hear you saying, "well, that's different!". But is it? If I'm riding my motorcycle down the road, and a driver pulls out in front of me, violating my right-of-way, distracted by something, such as a cell phone, and kills me, helmet or not. Should they not be punished for killing me? How is this my fault? Someone is allowed to pull a 4000 lb vehicle into my path, illegally, because I'm not wearing a helmet? Apparently so.

I've got news for you, this happens every day! There are web sites that spotlight accident victims of this type. Their injuries cover every bone in the body, not just heads. How can a helmet save your life when your injuries don't involve the head? Most of them die. Some that live have no quality of life, and NO head injuries. Some that wear a helmet die of head injuries anyway.

Our government claims to want to save more lives by forcing motorcyclists to wear helmets. Is it only a few of us who recognize the futility of this belief? Forcing this law won't change a thing, except spend more of our tax dollars on court cases for those who refuse to wear them. And they will win those court cases too. The government does not certify helmets, nor does it provide a list of qualified helmets, and the qualifying description of such helmets cannot be understood by the common man, making the entire law constitutionally vague.

Yes, a few people will survive a crash with head intact, and live out their lives in poverty and no quality of life. The percentage is VERY small. The rest will die anyway. While traffic violators continue on their merry way, picking us off one at a time.

Why is it that I can see with real clarity that the major cause of motorcycle deaths involves other vehicles, and our government can't? As with our own children, shouldn't we address the cause (other drivers), and not the effect (bodily injury)? Especially when the effect, when combined with another vehicle, is not minimized with any real success, no matter what you wear? How many of you really believe that your leather boots, chaps, jacket and helmet will prevent your death should you smack into an SUV at 45 mph and up?

You may have heard some of the "uprising" coming from bikers about the proposed federal mandatory helmet law. Have you merely scoffed at all this and made some snide comment like, "it's just a helmet, get over it!"? If this is so, then wouldn't you question why I am so passionate about getting this information out to you? After all, I wear a helmet. It won't make a bit of difference to me if they make it mandatory country-wide or not. My life will go on until some driver ends it because they can't remember what right-of-way means, or don't care to.

This issue is two-fold. 1) It's another "right to choose" that the government seems to eager to take away. Each time they succeed, they become bolder and take more rights away. And 2) the real cause of motorcycle deaths is not even being adressed: Traffic violators.

Sorry, the #1 cause is not alcohol, though it does cause many motorcycle deaths each year. It's also something I personally can prevent. I can choose not to drink and ride.

If you ride a motorcycle, you owe it to yourself to learn all you can on this issue. It's not just about our right to choose what we wear on our heads, it's about our right to live. And about our right to protection from those we elected to serve us. If you don't educate yourself on the issues, how can you arrive at an intelligent viewpoint about this issue that affects all bikers, whether you wear a helmet or not?

And if you don't care about any of this, don't care to learn the truth? Don't go wailing to anyone about the unjust death of someone you know or love at the hands of another driver. You're really no better than the person who sits in their armchair waiting for someone else to fix their problems, and then whines when they don't like things the way they are.

I'll be the first to say I'm a Patriot. I also donate my time and money to charity. I strongly believe it's part of what I should spend my life doing. I'm also an avid motorcyclist, and through that love I contribute to both Patriotism and charities. So I make part of my life about Bikers Rights also, MY personal rights. So don't go spouting off about how you are a "Biker" if you can't get out of your armchair long enough to stand up for the right to be one.

I've heard all the excuses; my job won't allow me to fight, I don't "do" politics, it doesn't concern me, I already wear a helmet, I don't have time, i just want to have fun riding. Well, lemme see, I know Bikers who fight in secret to protect their jobs, many who take a few minutes now and then to send out emails to legislators (certainly not as many as you send to friends), some who, like me, wear a helmet but want the same thing as anyone - to live and ride, and dammit, if you ride, it DOES concern you.

There are laws taking effect NOW that are a precursor to limiting how many and who can even ride. Georgia has made it impossible to register a custom bike. Insurance companies would like to not insure us at all. You see, it costs them way too much money when one of their auto-insured runs us over. With each right the government takes away, the closer we get to not having even the smallest ability to just "ride and have fun".

To our government, a dead biker is just a statistic of how many do or don't wear helmets. My life is worth more than that to me.


You've gotten this far in this long blog. Don't give a damn? Stop reading now, as I'm sure the image below won't inspire you to give a damn either.







I read recently that "if you don't take an interest in politics, sooner or later, politics will take an interest in you". How true.







(Click the image above if it isn't animated)

On the off-chance you think the driver should go to jail for what he did (rear-ending a motorcycle stopped at a RED light), read and learn:

http://www.ldrlongdistancerider.com/BruceOnBikersRights0801.pdf

http://www.ldrlongdistancerider.com/BruceOnBikersRights0711-2.pdf

http://www.motorcyclists-against-dumb-drivers.com/

http://pub42.bravenet.com/forum/3562429698

http://www.bacsuv.com/

http://www.usff.com/BOLT/articles/0198pan.html

http://www.usff.com/BOLT/articles/0398pan.html