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Thirty years I have been saying the things that have finally come to Laybacks attention, the image propaganda problem. Accept that I don't give crap about the industry, the industry that used and abused it's customers for years, the industry that abandoned their long time customers every time they saw money in a new image. The Industry that drive around in Mercedes while pushing for helmet laws and then asking me to support their business. The industry does not want to get involved because the people they offend might be the ones of the politically correct gender that ride a motorcycle. But Len is right about the media that spouts, half truths innuendo's and out right lies to sell their product or push their chosen cause. What better than a highly visible minority group to point fingers at for sensationalism. Over the years I as I'm sure many of you have written letters to the editors of many papers, in my case one of a hundred gets published. They really do not want to hear from a Biker. One paper wanted to know if I had a business as if this gave me more qualification to speak as a Biker. But it had nothing to do with knowledge it was about money. It seems that if I had been an advertiser in the rag I would have been allowed to spout any view I wished. Now down to the bull. Headlines blaze out that the Hells Angels are bad ass's, what ever your opinion of the H/A the problem is that the media via the Police always paint all motorcyclists with the same brush. I know the old adage "If ya got nothing to hide ya got nothing to worry about'' . I worry about the fact that instantly I am considered to be one of the criminal element because I am seen on a motorcycle. If you do not believe how ingrained this perception is with the general public let me regal you with a short story. I went to a flea market, my lady and I browsed the tables, we stopped at a table selling those small mirrors with logos painted on them. I was looking for a Harley or motorcycle related mirror as a gift for a friend. The vendor seeing my interest said "hang on, I got the mirror for you." He than dug through his inventory "Ah here you go this is the mirror for you." He smiled as he handed me a Cocaine mirror. Big mistake personally you want to do drugs it is your business and none of mine but my strongest drugs are nicotine and caffeine. When I asked him why he would have offered me a Cocaine mirror . his reply was "Well your riding that Harley out there and you guys are all into this." I would have punched his lights out but I realized that he had been media brain washed and anyone on a motorcycle to him was some type of criminal. He did not make a sale, We just walked away shaking our heads. New story. About a well known Vancouver British Columbia talk show host Raif Mair . He or his guest made a statement that toy runs are run by the H/A so that they can entice kids into drugs. The next statement was something like "how do you tell the criminals from the rest?" "That is easy the criminals are the ones riding a Harley." Was the answer that went out to one hundred and fifty thousand listeners. Incensed bikers phoned to complain his reply to these complaints was that bikers are deaf or stupid because he had not said what we heard. As a Harley rider I was ready to sue for slander but I had not taped the program so I had no prove. I did contact the BCCOM who told me some one had a tape of the program but he was an elected MLA and they would see if they could get it to me. That was almost a year ago I am still waiting. But than the BCCOM has become sort of a political animal and mostly will not take on an issue unless they can cover their ass first. Why do I not see the BCCOM and other like organizations across Canada speaking out against the media propaganda that slanders motorcyclists. Personally I do not believe in the new approach of converting government officials to the side of motorcyclists by sporting them around on the back of my Harley. Premier of BC Glen Clark showing up at a toy run does not impress me, I say don't call him a Bro. until you've seen him ride. I still pay 3 times to much for my insurance even though the Premier thinks he is a biker. BCCOM tells me by sucking up to the government they got the insurance rates reduced by 14%, they do not mention it went up 28%. Bikers will always be bikers but politicians will be anything they need to be for a photo op.. Does the propaganda stop? I find myself (a non clubber) leaning towards supporting the H/A. The more propaganda I read about the Angels the less I believe. If all the police propaganda is true why don't the they arrest a few dozen Angels and make examples of them. I hear a lot of aspersion but not any arrests and convictions. If I was to pick any ethnic, religious or gender group and throw around slanderous accusations about them like the media does about bikers, I'd be thrown in jail. As a Biker I am getting tired of being singled out and discriminated against just because I am part of a highly visible minority . If this was done to any other ethnic, religious or gender group all hell would break loose. Whew!! I'm done venting. "Ride Free" your road mate Mountainman. |