Questions ? OT (Follow up)

We've been bombarded with images and discussions, during this past week,
that are too horrible to absorb and to completely understand... The effects
on us have created impressions that vary wildly, from one individual to
another.. Whatever our political persuasion may be, all of us have been
horrified and outraged by what we have seen.. Reactions to what we've seen
and heard have been expressed with the enthusiasm that is typical of a free
and democratic society.. This newsgroup is primarily for use by motorcycle
enthusiasts.. Some who participate, are offended by any posts which are OT
and does not directly address a specific subject of motorcycles.. That is as
it should be also.. My long experience with groups of bikers who gather, is
that you will hear conversations ranging from the mundane and ridiculous to
the outrageous and far fetched.. Some have been known to exchange ideas
about whether the "Fouke, Ark. Swamp Creature" actually exists, or not..
Bikers will actually argue about whose motorcycle is the "best"..Can you
believe it ? The abuses of prisoners being held in a prison that is being
run by the US government in Iraq and Guatanamo, Cuba have blasted us with a
dose of reality.. There are many questions .. So far, seven low ranking
individuals have been charged and the trials for those offenders will
determine the extent of guilt.. We have yet to determine, who gave the
orders and issued the directives that justify the abuses .. Those are the
ones responsible for the actions of those privates and non-coms.. Another
horrifying image that blasted into our awareness, is the horrific and
equally monstrous murder of a fellow American.. We witnessed the brutal
beheading of Nicholas Berg.. An act that is so abhorrent to us all, that we
cannot imagine how such a thing could be inflicted on any human being by
another.. Immediately.. two camps divided.. supporters of this
administration and it's policies commenced to point and posture about
justification for attack and revenge.. The opposition to this administration
and it's policies began posturing and calling for heads to roll.. During a
political campaign, each candidate will try to win his election, using the
best strategy that is available to him.. That is the way it should be.. let
the voters decide.. The most disturbing and frightening element in all this,
is the divisions that exists of our own people.. Declarations of "you are
with us, or you are against us".. What the hell is that all about ? Who are
you talking to ? I went to Korea, volunteered at the ripe old age of 17.. I
fought communists, alongside others the same age as me.. Some of us didn't
come back.. We left many in that hell hole.. Many of us came back home in
pieces, to live the remainder of our lives as invalids.. We all went to that
terrible place and fought and died and maimed for life..Some of us became
Democrats and some became Republicans, we all shared the love of our country
and how dare anyone, call any of us, unpatriotic or a traitor.. How dare
anyone complain about "topic" or "subject" when any of us speak about "real"
concerns that affect all of us.. Many speak about our Constitution in terms
of the abstract .. Many live in such a world that our lives are consumed and
focused on a specific subject that interests that individual.. Motorcycles..
I do not have a problem with motorcycles, I do have a problem with the
individual who cannot tolerate the discussions of other subjects..The
importance of what is happening in our lives and in our world is crucial to
motorcycle enthusiasts and each member of our society.. Unless we address
those issues, our freedom to ride and enjoy can be snatched away from us in
a heartbeat.. We live in a frightening and terrifying time.. It is crucial
to our future freedoms and liberty for all of us to carefully analyze and
find our way to the truth, make our best judgements and cast our ballots for
the candidate which we believe will serve America best.. The fact that so
many questions are evident, for so many of us is frightening.. The fact that
so many will belittle or criticize the ones asking the questions, is
frightening.. The fact that some can question the patriotism or support for
our armed forces, when a demand for answers are expected is frightening..
Some of us with many questions just happen to be veterans of past wars and
conflicts.. We serve in those campaigns as volunteers and our patriotism,
bravery and love for America and it's people have never been disputed, as it
is today.. Our leadership has brought us to this crucial period of time..
Our president has foolishly engaged us in a war that has never had the
support of the American people who were shoulder to shoulder .. This has
been a war that has divided our American people .. The longer we are engaged
in this war and the more we learn about it, the more divided we become.. Our
president led us into this war against advice and counsel of historical
friends and allies .. Against advice and counsel from his own military
leaders and intelligence agencies.. We've defeated a brutal and maniacal
dictator, and the people who we liberated from that animal have turned on
us.. We can kill all of them.. we do have that power.. But we cannot win..
that should have been the hard lessons we learned from Korea and Viet Nam..
When it is finished, after all the bitterness and hate, can we then come
back to being Americans, united and as one.. Can we return to riding our
motorcycles with those who so bitterly called each other traitors and
unpatriotic ? Our leaders have brought us here.. to this point.. We no
longer live in a world of the frontier heros, where the blazing six guns
established law and order.. This world has "six shooters" that will destroy
the entire planet.. Our government has control over the majority of that
power, and we have no idea who controls the rest..
The leaders we select, must have the wisdom to marshall and to use that
power without the posturing and antagonistic actions that invites the
hostility of the rest of the world against us.. This too shall pass.. and
when it does, can any of us look our neighbor in the eye, shake his hand and
say to him.. "You are my brother and my friend, we are Americans"...

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker