Episode 86: The Positive Power of Community Found in Motorcycling
Episode 86: The Positive Power of Community Found in Motorcycling
Speaker 1: 0:11
Speaker 1: 0:11
My wife and I volunteered that summer day about two years ago to give away coffee the morning of the 10K run in our hometown here in Loveland, colorado. I had just started this podcast and, even though I really had no clue what I was doing my friends tell me I still don't have a clue, but I was getting positive feedback about it and I felt good about it. When the line to our coffee stand began to shorten, I told my wife I wanted to take a stroll around with all my new Peace, love, moto cards in my pocket. You don't find a lot of motorcycle riders at 10K runs on a nice sunny morning in Colorado because most are already on the road somewhere way up in the mountains. That's generally me. In addition, most of the riders I know don't dress in a way that makes it easy to identify them when they're off their motorcycle and outside of their motorcycle gear. So it's like, unlike a cowboy, walking around with their hat and boots. We typically don't walk around with a helmet on. Sometimes maybe we should, but we typically don't. You know, sometimes we'll wear a hat or a shirt that gives away the fact that we love to ride, and so that was going to be my target audience.
My wife and I volunteered that summer day about two years ago to give away coffee the morning of the 10K run in our hometown here in Loveland, colorado. I had just started this podcast and, even though I really had no clue what I was doing my friends tell me I still don't have a clue, but I was getting positive feedback about it and I felt good about it. When the line to our coffee stand began to shorten, I told my wife I wanted to take a stroll around with all my new Peace, love, moto cards in my pocket. You don't find a lot of motorcycle riders at 10K runs on a nice sunny morning in Colorado because most are already on the road somewhere way up in the mountains. That's generally me. In addition, most of the riders I know don't dress in a way that makes it easy to identify them when they're off their motorcycle and outside of their motorcycle gear. So it's like, unlike a cowboy, walking around with their hat and boots. We typically don't walk around with a helmet on. Sometimes maybe we should, but we typically don't. You know, sometimes we'll wear a hat or a shirt that gives away the fact that we love to ride, and so that was going to be my target audience.
Speaker 1: 1:25
Speaker 1: 1:25
As I strolled around before the event and with all my cards ready to hand out, I saw a fellow in a Klim shirt. Most of you know the Klim company K-L-I-M Really good stuff. I have a Klim helmet and some other gear. Spoke with him. I seemed to be really receptible to listening to the podcast, Gave them a card. I saw a lady in a Harley Davidson shirt. Spoke with her. You know lots of friendly people there were several and those who seem to be really interested in the podcast, and especially a podcast that has the words peace and love in it. So those are the kind of people I'd like to connect with. Yeah, I was having a ball, I was having you know something so positive to share, I felt like, and I was really proud to talk about it. I'd talk about it to anybody who would listen. But we also live in an imperfect and broken world, and that's what I experienced.
As I strolled around before the event and with all my cards ready to hand out, I saw a fellow in a Klim shirt. Most of you know the Klim company K-L-I-M Really good stuff. I have a Klim helmet and some other gear. Spoke with him. I seemed to be really receptible to listening to the podcast, Gave them a card. I saw a lady in a Harley Davidson shirt. Spoke with her. You know lots of friendly people there were several and those who seem to be really interested in the podcast, and especially a podcast that has the words peace and love in it. So those are the kind of people I'd like to connect with. Yeah, I was having a ball, I was having you know something so positive to share, I felt like, and I was really proud to talk about it. I'd talk about it to anybody who would listen. But we also live in an imperfect and broken world, and that's what I experienced.
Speaker 1: 2:19
Speaker 1: 2:19
Next, it was then that I saw a t-shirt with an image of a demon riding a motorcycle, being worn by a really large guy, a writer, I assume. But this time I made no effort to approach him at all. I just tried to avoid him, just had to walk away. Those words were clear and large, written on his shirt for everyone in the crowd to see, and they were disgusting. He was walking with his wife or a girlfriend among those supporting the runners. They were walking around mostly families, a lot of young children. Regarding the woman walking next to him, I thought to myself how can you even be standing near someone who spews such hate? I can only imagine what he says to her.
Next, it was then that I saw a t-shirt with an image of a demon riding a motorcycle, being worn by a really large guy, a writer, I assume. But this time I made no effort to approach him at all. I just tried to avoid him, just had to walk away. Those words were clear and large, written on his shirt for everyone in the crowd to see, and they were disgusting. He was walking with his wife or a girlfriend among those supporting the runners. They were walking around mostly families, a lot of young children. Regarding the woman walking next to him, I thought to myself how can you even be standing near someone who spews such hate? I can only imagine what he says to her.
Speaker 1: 3:21
Speaker 1: 3:21
Today, hate speech is all around us, not just on t-shirts, but easily found on Twitter, youtube, instagram, facebook, all those Really yeah, all the social platforms. Sadly, words like may they rot in hell, which were somehow associated with a Christmas message. Those words were tweeted not too long ago for all the world to read, coming from the highest levels. These words, by the way, which were recorded as historical records, are now referred in the National Archives, words which are available to our school children to read today and will be available to read in our schools for generations to come.
Today, hate speech is all around us, not just on t-shirts, but easily found on Twitter, youtube, instagram, facebook, all those Really yeah, all the social platforms. Sadly, words like may they rot in hell, which were somehow associated with a Christmas message. Those words were tweeted not too long ago for all the world to read, coming from the highest levels. These words, by the way, which were recorded as historical records, are now referred in the National Archives, words which are available to our school children to read today and will be available to read in our schools for generations to come.
Speaker 1: 4:20
Speaker 1: 4:20
I share my thoughts on this not to cause controversy. There's too much of that going on already and that's not at all the intent of this podcast. Not at all. I share this because I love our global motorcycling community. There's a lot of great people out there. I'm sure you've heard them interviewed already, right. A community that comes together for many things to raise money for a good cause, the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, just for one, just being a great example of over 100,000 riders around the world raising awareness for men's mental and physical health, it's made a big difference. We are members of a community that waves at each other going down the road. We do the biker wave right. We'll help a total stranger stranded on the side of the road. A community of individuals who, just like most of the world, are good people who seek peace of mind through this beautiful experience of riding a motorcycle, and we realize how really blessed we're able to do that. As for that man out there, I didn't confront him at all. He was a large man and wearing that very hate-filled t-shirt. If I confronted him, independent of his size, I probably would have ended up on my back looking up at the stars. No, I just walked away. But I got to tell you later that day, when my anger subsided, I asked God to fix him and to protect that young lady who was walking with him.
I share my thoughts on this not to cause controversy. There's too much of that going on already and that's not at all the intent of this podcast. Not at all. I share this because I love our global motorcycling community. There's a lot of great people out there. I'm sure you've heard them interviewed already, right. A community that comes together for many things to raise money for a good cause, the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, just for one, just being a great example of over 100,000 riders around the world raising awareness for men's mental and physical health, it's made a big difference. We are members of a community that waves at each other going down the road. We do the biker wave right. We'll help a total stranger stranded on the side of the road. A community of individuals who, just like most of the world, are good people who seek peace of mind through this beautiful experience of riding a motorcycle, and we realize how really blessed we're able to do that. As for that man out there, I didn't confront him at all. He was a large man and wearing that very hate-filled t-shirt. If I confronted him, independent of his size, I probably would have ended up on my back looking up at the stars. No, I just walked away. But I got to tell you later that day, when my anger subsided, I asked God to fix him and to protect that young lady who was walking with him.
Speaker 1: 6:10
Speaker 1: 6:10
As this podcast progresses and seems to gain more listeners around the world. I'm more and more convinced that the vast majority of the people, whether you ride a bike or not, are really good people who have a really good heart and who wouldn't harm anybody, not with their words or actions, people who would never spew words of harm, publicly or privately. I'm proud to go out each day on my bike in hopes of a conversation with a stranger. I know you are too A stranger who well, very well may become a blessing to your heart for having met them. Let's just keep focusing on that, as always. Thank you very, very much for listening. I care about you all very much. May not know you all, but I do care Until next time. I wish you peace. I wish you love.
As this podcast progresses and seems to gain more listeners around the world. I'm more and more convinced that the vast majority of the people, whether you ride a bike or not, are really good people who have a really good heart and who wouldn't harm anybody, not with their words or actions, people who would never spew words of harm, publicly or privately. I'm proud to go out each day on my bike in hopes of a conversation with a stranger. I know you are too A stranger who well, very well may become a blessing to your heart for having met them. Let's just keep focusing on that, as always. Thank you very, very much for listening. I care about you all very much. May not know you all, but I do care Until next time. I wish you peace. I wish you love.