 Is it beyond repair?
By Dan Van Linn
After the attack
on Pearl Harbor, Isoroku Yamamoto is credited with saying, "I fear all we
have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible
resolve." And because of the
follies, fumbles and tribulations we are facing in the country today, ya don’t
need to spend much time on the internet to see that the “Sleeping Giant” (America), has again been coaxed in to a fight for its life.
Organizations are popping up
from sea to shining sea aimed at “taking back the country”. Their proverbial
“calls to actions” are being screamed from every roof top and every key board.
From church groups with a moral agenda to affiliations of past and present
military personnel pledging to keep the very oath recited at the induction
ceremony. New political parties are making headlines (surprisingly) in the
dying mainstream media and yes sadly, some hate groups are crawling out from
under rocks previously believed buried at sea.
So the question begs to be
asked, where were all these concerned citizen last election or the one before
that or the…? Why does it take catastrophic changes in our ways of life before
people start seeing they need to participate if they want to maintain their
standard of living? Is it too late? Is it beyond repair?
Without trying to sound
negative (yeah I know, a bit out of character) and without wasting good
newsletter space, I’ll refrain from personal input and just say it’s about
time. The county got lazy and shame on all of us. When everyone does their part
by voting intelligently, the republic and all its flaws will work as intended
and the “Giant” will sleep peacefully once again.
Are we as biker exempt from
blame for the current state of affairs? In a word, NO, but I feel to a much
lesser existent. Just the fact ABATE (A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian
Enactments) has existed for 36 years should tell you bikers have had their
“Ears On”, Big Buddy, that’s right, ears on and eye’s open for longer than
about half the country has been alive.
Don’t get me wrong, much of
the same can be said within the motorcycling community. When things are going
good and no threat is peering from behind legislative chamber doors, actual
paying membership numbers wan, dwindle or shrink as in, I just got out of the
pool. Now however add a piece of anti-motorcycle legislation to the picture
introduced by a wrinkled up old Senator who quite likely has overstayed their
usefulness and the response from our end will be well planned, well executed,
accurate and truthful in defense of motorcycling freedoms. We’ve learned to
play in their sandbox and we do it respectfully.
American ingenuity could
likely be the only saving grace this country has left in order to survive what
has been more missteps than a middle school prom. However the easiest way to
fix a wounded Republic is to vote out poor choice makers, those who don’t
represent your view and downright idiots. And you know, being and educated
voter would help immensely, amazing concept, wouldn’t you agree.
Knowing bikers as I have
learned to know them, it’s refreshing to know regardless of what side of the
political fence a rider may sit on, they know who represents their view point
and who’s getting an X come Election Day. We’ve learned to look past the
comfortable end of our nose, unlike the greater American public. We do it with
passion for the passion we so deeply enjoy.
Elections are being held
within our own politically motivated organization too. Dig a bit deeper into
this newsletter and remember to vote for your District Director. If no name is
present on the ballet for your district, consider yourself improperly
represented on the BOD next year, sorry the state doesn’t pick your
representative, you do. You may however exercise the “write-in” option as a
last ditched effort to be heard by the rest of the state next year.
In the months that follow,
elections are being held for the remainder of the Board positions and state
officer positions as well. I encourage reading the Bio’ and ask questions, then
vote. Look at it this way, this might be a good way to get back at a friend for
past dirt deeds. Elect them to the ABATE of Wis. Board of Directors.
Happy Fourth of July.
Seeeya
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