Around The Bend: The independent biker

We are all different, some of us more “different” than others. Motorcycle riders have been singled out for many moons as being “out of the ordinary”. We have been joined on the outskirts of society from time to time by others also singled out, but as each group is eventually accepted and enters the main-stream, we, the motorcycle rider, still remains behind on the fringes. I think we have something to be proud of in that.

“It gives me great pleasure indeed to see the stubbornness of an incorrigible nonconformist warmly acclaimed.” —Albert Einstein

I think Albert would have loved the bikers of this day. He says he loved to see the incurable rebel applauded. And in that we are, incurable rebels in our own distinct way, but applauded? Not so much.

It doesn’t surprise me that he would be the one to say this since he himself was a non-conformist and unafraid to speak-up against what the majority thought.

The motorcyclists’ stubborn refusal to conform to public opinion has long been that which is considered unacceptable by conventional America. Most of us have strong views and we aren’t afraid to speak them – I know – I’m one of them.

But throughout my life I have noted that the really great people, the ones I can admire, are the ones who speak out, have the specifics of the situation backed up with facts and they do not necessarily agree with the majority, just because it is the majority. Another important point, they seem to know the difference between an opinion and an opinion based on fact, a critical element in discussing anything.

“It is proof of a … low mind … to think with …the majority, merely because the majority is the majority. Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people.” – Giordano Bruno.

Okay, he uses a lot of words to say simply what I said above; the truth is the truth even if the majority of those around you don’t believe it. And how ludicrous is it to agree merely to fit in? And truly, how like “totally un-biker-like” Dude!

It is quite fascinating that so many folks we see will quote something they hear, see or read as a fact, all the while having absolutely no idea whether it is or is not the truth, yet still they spread it to others as though it were the accurate information because after all they heard it from the mouth of say George “Not So Hot” Clooney! It’s like believing all the emails are reality-based just because it shows up in your in box! If you don’t use your brain to think for yourself then why have it at all? (And here’s a point to consider, a great number of Hollywood folks were at the bottom of their high school classes, if indeed they even graduated.)

Stating opinion as if it were truth has worked for politicians and actors for so long it’s becoming normal for...

We hope that you enjoyed reading this excerpt from "The independent biker". If you would like to read the entire article and more, you can order a back issue of Jan / Feb 2007 where this article was originally published.

availabilty: sold out