Bikers and Bottle Nippers:
Respecting our Differences
Bob MacArthur
Appalled by Bikers Week
In central New Hampshire June means bikers week. Thousands of motor cyclists converge for an annual ten-day rite. They showcase their bikes. They hold races, and they party. Their numbers clog the arteries of our roads, already congested by vacation traffic.
In herds of headlights they challenge oncoming cars and intimidate drivers with their tactic of riding the center line. Even from the distance of our remote hillside, the roar of their bikes rumbles like faint thunder throughout the night, as they travel to and from the epicenter some twenty miles away.
When we first arrived in our town, we were living in temporary quarters near one of the major highways. I was appalled by the biker phenomenon. We were seeking a respite from the noise of the urban life we lived for almost 20 years. These loud and, I imagined, lewd night riders seemed antithetical to the values I associated with the new home we had chosen.
My Views Broaden
Four years later I have learned that not all bikers conform to my stereotype of Hell's Angels. In fact, members of a local biking club are pillars of our community and contributors to our local business group. While they are here, most out-of-state bikers explore the backcountry roads and amenities that give this area its charm. And, while they do take over the roads and venues, they infuse the region and its businesses with millions of dollars.
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Notes from the Universe
It's time to have fun! Start you day with a note of affirmation from the Universe.
Introduced to us by one of our children, the Notes are unconventional, humorous, insightful, upbeat, positive and gentle reminders of the unique gifts each of us has received and the invitation to fully express them.
The creation of Mike Dooley and his cohorts, the Notes are free and sent to you five days a week.
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Steps to Increase Your Respect
for Differences [1]
Here are three steps to deepen your understanding of differences in your life and to develop your capacity to respect others. Write your answers in your journal AND take the appropriate actions.
Click here for the Three Steps:
[1] Marian Head, Revolutionary Agreements, p. 100. |