Posted by Jim on May 30, 2000 at 22:20:43:
OK, Boys and Girls. Lets not get too personnal. While I was reading the various jabs, hooks, and rabbit punches in relation to our latest can (garabge-can sized, no doubt) of worms. I had a revelation.
It all comes down to the whole Eurpoean vs American thing (I think).
I really think that we express ourselves differently here and there. Whether it is gun control or vets issues, we see stuff from a different angle. None of us are really qualified to judge the other (My mom is French and she still doesn't understand Americans even though she's been living here for 30+ years!!!).
But here's the point: for you European folks you'll just have to trust us on issues of what is and is not related to bikes here in America. As an active duty Marine, I KNOW that 99% of all American bikers (if they don't get all bent out of shape over my Savage) will probably accept me and give me a warm welcome and ample respect. Why should they? Becasue Vets issues ARE intertwined with the biker culture in America. It's just like that. I don't question it, I just enjoy it. Want proof? Read Mike Hartman's post about his experience with the Run for the Wall. We're talking about bikers travelling about 3000 miles (that's somewhere around 5000 kilometers) and we're talking about HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of people at the event. And it was a Vets issue. No way you can deny it.
America is HUGE. Most Europeans I've dealt with (and I've travelled around a bit) have a hard time just relating to the physical size of the land and the population. All of Europe would fit inside it, and it has every kind of climate, terrain, race, religion, etc... you can imagine (and some you probably can't) all lumped under one culture and one national identity.
Bottom line is different place, different issues. Just enjoy the contrast.
By the way, sometime I don't wear underwear under my Levis or my camouflage, so how can underwear be related to either the military or bikers!?!?! ;^)
-KTRSD (on either side of the Atlantic)
-JIM