Perhaps there will be a discussion on freedom.

Many times in THR, we discuss issues of freedom in a very detached and academic perspective. We often forget that the freedoms we cloak in the snow white marble of government buildings derive directly from our collective energy to refuse to be made the subjects of despots.

Next week, a TV program starts called "The Sons of Anarchy." I first shook my head fearing the usual tripe of Hollywood stereotypes on back-lot chromed Yamahas. But I heard one teaser that caught my attention.

It's a vignette of an area cop riding along side an Anarchy MC member and he says "I won't look the other way." The biker snickers and responses, "We're all free men under The Bill of Rights."

They hit many facets dead on. First, in any area where clubs form, the cops and bikers know each other--by first name. They play the same game, by the same rules. As you know, I hired the officer who arrested me for CCW.

But another more important issue needs to be remembered. It's easy to revere WWII or Vietnam veterans due to their contemporary nature, but the Revolutionary soldier seems remote. In using this forum, I am building on the rights purchased in that soldier's blood.

Now, I took some flak a few weeks ago about 'bathing' poser ninjas in mall fountains. But the concept has merit, besides the good fun. I took a stand.

Freedom isn't free. It's messy, unorganized. There's always some buffoon in an ivory, gated community who wants to rebuild this country in his own graven image. Around every corner there's a Hillary wannabee who thinks she knows the best way to sew up the nation's hemorrhoids with my tax dollar.

In 1972 my club and I shook our fists at the gates of government and got Wisconsin's helmet law repealed. The State's ABATE and WBBA movement was the action and vision of one man, our president, Mr. Robert Smith.

Yes, there are many things I did in the early 1970's for which I am deeply sorry. In no uncertain terms I used my chromed Harley as a battering ram for all of the anger and angst a young boy can physically bear. But I did something else.

Due to the models of Smith and Barger I no longer feared a smarmy empty suit and his bucket of snake oil. I learned to stand atop his shiny Bruno Maglis and demand an explanation. We now must do that again in securing the CCW provision for Wisconsin citizens.

Now, you might not like bikers. We’re loud, some don’t smell too good. If you have any common sense you’ll learn to be very polite. We don’t suffer fools and we are not as dumb as we might appear. And as much as you might deny the correlation, we adhere to the same standards you do. We just verbalize them.

So next week, a drama about bikers begins. And it too will be loud, unruly and offensive to most of you. However, it does depict a story about Americans living free. I hope we talk about that, and the rights you sometimes take for granted.

Thanks for the update.

But the tone of my treatise stands. You can talk about freedom in the abstract all you want. It's a tad harder to go to the senate and say, "I will not."

I'm under no illusion on the consequences. But then, nor can the status quo of the government.

As you know, within a few years 10,000 helmetless bikers rode to the Capitol Square. Not bad, considering we started with forty.

The topic of firearms and free men will be debated ever more stridently as this election nears. Been there, done that--and I'm wearing the T-shirt.

It wasn't a rant, I'm not angry over my plight in life.

And you have to remember, to Hollywood, if three guys ride bikes together they must all be 1%ers. You take the good with the bad.

Look at it this way. Moco itself denounced outlaws. Now most of the bikes they build all reflect an edgy stance. They even build a bike called Cross Bones.

In the new Harley museum is The Captain America Bike. It seems folks say one thing and do another.

I'm not a 1%er, but I buy parts at the same shop. I like freedom, and I live in America.

Thernlund said:

The show is cetainly firearm related.

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Additionally, the show depicts the application of freedom(s) themselves. Lots of people discuss "freedom" but actually mean we have to live exactly like them. I know politically correct folks here in The Peoples' Republik of Madison who don't have the cajones to even touch a Harley, but claim to know what The Framers meant in crafting The Bill of Rights.

As to bikers, be sure and see Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson discuss 'freedom' in the campfire scene of Easy Rider.

And wait for the fireworks as we near the vote.

In my cable area, it's channel 55. It's called F/X. Around here it's the same channel that Nip/Tuck is on. As you can tell, I know a lot about popular TV.

rero360 said:

love the sig line by the way lol.

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It's the internet, how do you know it's not true?

Actually, riding has taught me a lot about freedom, and how people view firearms. You'd be amazed at how many folks cheat on their wives or are posers in forums but look down their noses at bikers.

For as much static as the lefties make about firearms, you'll notice that fully half of the country is still red states.

As if you're going to take an unpopular stand, prepare to take a bit of heat.

There is a terrific benefit as one lives this way. As I have gotten older, I fear less and less. What can they throw at me? Can they scare me by firing me, laughing at me, arresting me, legislating against my hobbies?

The Framers had it far worse than anything we have seen. But we prosper by those same sacrifices. I think you should think about those colonists and guys like Smith and Barger when you ride.

Valkman said:

14 yr old MALE cheerleader

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LOL. Don't tell my wife. She spends my Social Security money. That, and I've then gone very prematurely gray!

Accually, I should PM you. I thought I sharpened for a minor this week without his mom's permission.

One point I forgot to post last night revolves around the idea of petitioning the government, and then doing something about it. Think of it as delegation and accountability.

Madison, Wisconsin is one town where you find a protest march going on almost any time of day. In fact, if a TV news crew wanted a sound byte, this would be the prime place to come.

However, during our last major election, research by exit polls and neighborhood demographic sampling revealed that only 17% of the students actually voted.

All that talk, and then nothing.

It's not hard to see what's coming. The Wisconsin lawmakers will float another bill authoring a CCW provision, Gov. Doyle will prance around and since previous actions failed by one vote, we might actually see some success on overturning a likely veto.

On the national scene, we might have to deal with Obama.

This is not the time to stay home when the polls open. It's bad enough our vote deals with the war and the economy, but it will also define just who oversees our enumerated rights.

The entire purpose of this thread is to demonstrate that freedom makes a mess. There are many politically correct folks that will catcall you a redneck for defending actual quotes from The Federalist Papers.

Remember, the colonialists were the unruly bikers of their time. The redcoated mall ninjas of that era came to police up the town square, and were defiantly told "no." Even some of our own citizens, the Tories, would not stand with us. History repeats.

Thernlund said:

It's a drama about a criminal enterprise

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I have not seen an episode in its completion.

But let's be clear. I'm not an outlaw in the modern sense. (In the 1960s, an outlaw was defined by the AMA as not being a member for sanctioned events. I never was. But I have never been a 1%er, which probably just confused half of you.)

However, I did buy some guns (all legal), did a little 'experiementation' with drugs, built engines and exaust systems in non-compliance of the law--I doubt my present bike does either, chased women, drank too much tequila, got my nose broken, etc, etc. Yikes, it was the 1960s.

More to the point, I'm not going to apologize. And frankly, it taught me to get a spine.

Edit: Joe Gunns is correct. You're never going to win anything of substance against the liberals by being polite. They might not like me--heck, most of you don't like me--but you will watch your step around me and I will live free.