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Post by freebird on Sept 8, 2009 9:21:32 GMT -6
Well said Bird The lack of our presence at public functions gives the haters a sense of accomplishment. The more presence we make the more they will feel their efforts are failing. I assumed the whole idea from the beginning was to maintain presence. As for the boycott I don't think helping the shriners or other non city controlled charities is giving in. BB I feel the same way. The more bikes in the City the better. Was great to see you guys.
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Post by hdgoddess on Sept 8, 2009 14:31:50 GMT -6
Hey Buck... By stating that you were just "law abiding citizens at a public event" cuts to the core. WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THAT!!!! Going there to prove it (somehow) makes everything that has ever been said or done to protect our rights as citizens in Myrtle Beach a moot point. I'm sure you guys have been put under a lot of pressure from the BOOST and HELP folks but shaking hands with a liar and thinking all is well (for the sake of a good sandwich) is, in my opinion, unthinkable! (...just my opinion) I guess the first thing I would like to clear up as I have stated in my previous posts is the the sandwich wasn't all that. There was no BBQ to be had but one type of sandwich and a bag of chips. The money went to the Shriners so I am only going to be but so critical. As to us attending a function that was open to the public I feel the ones who stay away are actually doing a disservice to the cause. The haters feel they ran you off. Well not me; I will attend any thing I want to from now on Didn't go to see the Mayor and wasn't aware he would be there but acting civil in public is better then living up to their low expectations. Didn't go for a photo op. As for HELP I do not have a link to them on my site neither do I converse with them. So there is no pressure from them and I do not care what they do. I do converse with BOOST and work with them on projects that are mutually beneficial. No one has put any pressure on me from that group. I do however choose to support those that support me. As to having anything to prove to anyone that isn't me or anyone who went. As a law abiding citizen I can go and attend anything I want to. I just chose to do it in the City with Friends. Others that choose not to it is your call. I feel that those who choose to stay away could be viewed as saying the City was right. We are just a bunch of hooligans. Until the Supreme Court rules and the elections have happened there is nothing more we can do and I am going to live my life as I always do and not let the City or the Haters change what I do and where I go. Those that wish to live in a self imposed exile may do so. Who actually wins in that case? I've been saying this all along.I support you & anyone else that will not be told where to go or who to support. They WANT the biker community to quitely go away & basically by staying out of MB we are giving the fine Mayor & his council just that.
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Post by howardstern on Sept 8, 2009 15:27:47 GMT -6
Perhaps I've missed something here? What has taken place since, say, the Mayor's little luncheon party? Did something happen and I slept through it? Perhaps the committment is a little too inconvenient for some folks? Perhaps some folks miss their favorite haunt? But riding my bike in the city is not happening and attending events that are City sponsored won't be on my agenda until things change. Are we still "Not a Dime in '09"? I'll shut up now... Wasn't here to cause problems. I guess I'm just a bit surprised by the sudden change of heart?
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Post by geezer on Sept 9, 2009 5:50:13 GMT -6
Nothing's changed for me. Like I said earlier, I haven't missed anything in Myrtle Beach.
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rick
Junior Member
Posts: 39
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Post by rick on Sept 10, 2009 18:41:08 GMT -6
Hey bird and buck...had a great time riding with ya'll last Saturday. And it was fun dunking JR. Have to agree the BBQ or whatever it was sucked. Let me know if there's any other city riding you wanna do. I don't have the least bit of problem riding in the city. And remember, complaining is like sitting in a rocking chair. It takes a lot of work but don't get you anywhere.
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Post by outhouseking on Sept 10, 2009 19:34:11 GMT -6
Ditto. Nothing's changed for me. Like I said earlier, I haven't missed anything in Myrtle Beach.
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Post by freebird on Sept 10, 2009 20:03:10 GMT -6
Hey bird and buck...had a great time riding with ya'll last Saturday. And it was fun dunking JR. Have to agree the BBQ or whatever it was sucked. Let me know if there's any other city riding you wanna do. I don't have the least bit of problem riding in the city. And remember, complaining is like sitting in a rocking chair. It takes a lot of work but don't get you anywhere. Thanks. Had a great time as well. Will ride in the City anytime. Went to the airport to welcome the Silver Star recipient to MB. Guess who walks by. Mr Rhodes. First thing he sees is Bird and friends getting interviewed by the news about Freedom Fest. I dont think they even knew the Mayor was there but he knew WE were there. I intend for all to see me and anyone else every day. ;D
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Post by dynadaddy on Sept 11, 2009 5:09:20 GMT -6
I've cruised MB for 40 years & I'll cruise with you guys. I'm not gonna let anyone tell me where to ride. Who's going to Dead Dog tonight?
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Post by dynadaddy on Sept 11, 2009 5:16:07 GMT -6
Doesn't it take more of a commitment to stand up to the city & be in their town rather than turning & walking away? Kinda like I'm taking my toys & playing elsewhere thang.
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Post by DG1 Phillip on Sept 11, 2009 6:45:07 GMT -6
I ride thru the city every time I'm there but refuse to spend a dime there.. I rode thru 3 times spring rally and in august when we were there and STILL no helmet ticket...
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Post by freebird on Sept 11, 2009 9:43:11 GMT -6
I've cruised MB for 40 years & I'll cruise with you guys. I'm not gonna let anyone tell me where to ride. Who's going to Dead Dog tonight? Back at ya. Going to NMB for the wreath ceremony. MB news showed up this morning when we were doing the flags on 90 and shot some video. I hope they air it. Everyone was honking their horns and waving. Just about when you get cynical one is reminded of just how great this area is.
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Post by rangemaster on Sept 11, 2009 10:36:36 GMT -6
I ride through the city quite often - by both necessity AND choice.
I had tasks to take of today - all in the City of Myrtle Beach but NONE involved spending money - and just got done and parked the bike again about 10 minutes ago. I will use the bike again tonight to go to work, and ride back and forth EVERY day I can. One thing REALLY stands out to me, and I really can't remember if I shared this earlier on any local forums: I spoke with Tom Rice several times on the day of the Train Depot TakeBackMay event.
Tom Rice SPECIFICALLY told me that he had numerous relatives who ride motorcycles, and that he had nothing personally against bikers per se - . Thus - I ride my bike in the City EVERY chance I can. And it's quite satisfying seeing the look on the faces of staff of various businesses that I USED to patronize when they see me there often BUT NOT SPENDING ANY MONEY.
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Post by beachbikers1 on Sept 11, 2009 11:28:31 GMT -6
I've been quiet up till now but what happened to "Not a Dine in '09" and maybe "Again in 2010" that you have been preaching so heavily Bird? I live in the City so I have no choice other to wear my helmet and drive through the City like Range & Train. But I'm far from burying the axe with the City and do any business until I know what kind of support we are going to get from BOOST and HELP durring the election and what we end up with after. So far I'm not seeing too much in our favor or request for our support from any organization or canidate. Rhodes and Gray must go as a package or we're in trouble. As much as some people don't like McBride he must be elected along with Karon & Donny. Randal Wallace is ok, he is anti-helmet and would side with Karon & Donny in a heart beat (I know him).
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Post by Pat on Sept 12, 2009 22:31:34 GMT -6
I've been quiet up till now but what happened to "Not a Dine in '09" and maybe "Again in 2010" that you have been preaching so heavily Bird? I live in the City so I have no choice other to wear my helmet and drive through the City like Range & Train. But I'm far from burying the axe with the City and do any business until I know what kind of support we are going to get from BOOST and HELP durring the election and what we end up with after. So far I'm not seeing too much in our favor or request for our support from any organization or canidate. Rhodes and Gray must go as a package or we're in trouble. As much as some people don't like McBride he must be elected along with Karon & Donny. Randal Wallace is ok, he is anti-helmet and would side with Karon & Donny in a heart beat (I know him). Beach, I personally look on the current moment as a bit of a pause while various threads sorts themselves out. There are the upcoming fall elections. There is the movement within the business community via BOOST to attempt to affect positive change and restore some economic sanity and moral standing to the Beach. There are the continuing slowly grinding wheels of justice in the lawsuits. There are new people popping up and participating in the political process. There are the new taxes and their impact on the local economy. There are the constant battles by TERC to prevent the local political establishment from misusing the A-Tax funds. And the larger swirl above all this is the general state of the economy and the public distrust and anger at abusive politicians who disparage the will and views of the public. And so, how we move forward requires, in some sense, some resolution to various of these threads and a bit of dust settling, not to mention a final accounting from the summer and just how poorly local businesses fared. I agree with you that not a single thing has changed in real substance to disuade me personally from altering my view of a general boycott of Myrtle Beach businesses and carrying that forward into 2010. On the other hand, that is not the same as saying nothing has happened at all. Quite a bit has and is happening, some of which is positive and which needs to be nurtured along to see what fruit it may bear. We're in this for the long haul, and the goals have not changed. But, when you are trying to start a fire out in the woods and you get a bit of tinder to spark and smoke, you don't want to blow too hard on it lest you blow it out. Anyway, that's kinda where I am at the moment. Taking a breath and watching to see what develops and what doesn't over the next month or two. Bird will offer his own views on all this I am sure. Just on a personal note, I find myself in the position of fighting to keep the lights on at work, scrapping for new contracts, and working long hours to help make that happen. At times, this has meant longer delays in updating the website and less public participation here in the message forums than I would like, but we're still at it and still have not taken a nickel from anyone. We do this because we believe in it, as does everyone here, and particularly because what is happening in Myrtle Beach is in many ways a microcosm of what is happening on the national scale and the concept many politicians seem to have developed that we the taxpaying public work for them, rather than the other way around. That pisses me off, as I know it does a lot of you also. Heck, I'm doing this from the People's Republic of Maryland. If you think Myrtle Beach is bad, you outta come up here sometime! And, just to let you know that we do think a little bit ahead, I did mention to Dilligaf last time I saw her that it might be time to start working on the "Do it Again in 2010" apparel, just in case. Only difference is, this time we'll have the infrastructure, contacts, and credibility in place to make it hurt twice as much. Not everything that goes on is in plain sight. That is certainly true for the enemies of individual liberties but it might also be true for those who oppose them. Regards, Pat PS - As an aside, I do not personally trust HELP. At all. I think they are opportunistic and "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." I do not believe they have any appreciation for (or care about) the fundamental infringement of liberty that motivates so many of us here. I have never heard a single word from any of their membership or leadership to persuade me otherwise, although I tried to keep an open mind about them in the beginning since they appeared to have overlapping goals with ours. You will notice that there is not a single mention of them or link to them from our website or forums. That is not an oversight. Just one man's opinion.
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Post by howardstern on Sept 13, 2009 5:50:58 GMT -6
Thanks for the insight Pat. Let me be the one to pose a question to all. Perhaps it will enlighten me? Why, suddenly, is it okay to roll over to the laws of Myrtle Beach and allow them to demand that we wear helmets in a State that has no law.
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