The roar of hollow patriotism

of course, it is b/c of men, and women, like the bikers that Mr K has the freedom to say whatever he wishes...no matter how moronic....

Some of those fat, pony-tailed men rode all acorss the country to honor the dead.... on their own dime. Just curious, were you in town on business, Mr K? If so, who bought your plane ticket? Where did you stay? On who's business account? Yep, it is the veteran who allows this free market ecomony to work as it does.

As some of us say: "Enjoy your freedom? Thank Vet". They are all around you....

borlo

Mr. Keilor,
I have spent the majority of my adult life, 1976 to 1998, in the service of my country... I've stood the watch, gone into harms way, protected your 1st amendment rights so you can share your offensive and cantankerous opinion without repercussions from our government, or the group that you so freely insult. I can only make this observation, base on your article... It must suck to be you.
I Remain,
Woody Wagner
Call Sign – RustPicker
Combat Vets Motorcycle Association (FM #880)
Sr. Ride Captain of District 5/Hampton Rds - Virginia Asst. State Catain
Patriot Guard Riders (USA)(#1835 12/12/2005)
Blue Star Dad/Parent (3rd time) of
Spc Justin Wagner, USA (UH60 Crew Chief, A Co. 4/3 CAB, 3rd I.D.)
Virginia Beach, VA USA
Blue, Green & Brown Water Navy(s)(Retired)

Sir,

I first read your article about the hordes of bikers you encountered during Memorial day through a posting by my friend Kevin on a motorcycle forum. I spent some time pondering what you wrote and was about to chalk it up as ignorance on your part, then as I thought about it I came to the conclusion that perhaps ignorance isn't the correct assumption, it's more like outright blindness.

You speak of fat men on Harleys roaring by, disturbing the silences as they play soldier and get drunk, then you suggest that maybe we should air lift them to Baghdad where they might be of real service. Well sir if you stopped to dig into things, if you did some research, you would find that hardly neccessary, seeing as many if not most of those fat drunks ( your assumptions ) have already served. They served in places liek Baghdad, they did time in the Gulf War, they were in Afghanistan, they saw the horrors of war forst hand, they have seen their friends bleed to death, blown up by roadside mine. The older ones, those balding greybeards, served in Viet Nam, and a a precious few, the anicents Word War two and Korea.
Maybe you didn't make the connection when those POW/MIA flags went streaming by, but these were men who still had comrades, brothers in arms, are missing. Some wounds never heal. I am not a big fan of the word closure as it usally imparts some new age feel good phsyco babble to me, but some of those nast loud bikers are stilll looking for it.Did you happen to catch some of those vests on those burly hariy guys? I bet the had names on the back like Vient Nam Vets MC. Warrior Brotherhood MC, Leathernecks MC, etc. Maybe your prejudice cluded your vision and you missed that, you probally missed those same boisterous bikers sharing a hug, or shedding a tear as they remembered, their brothers, sisters, fathers, daughters, and mothers who served and died. as they recollected friends that will never share the wind with them again.
There is a reason why there is a strong showing of motorcycles at such events, motorcycles and their riders are forever intertwined with freedom, and freedom is eternally joined with service to ones country, for the ideal of freedom is never free, it takes it's toll in the blood of men and women to continually keep it safe from those who would destroy it.
Even on our home turf there are those who are constantly serving, giving their time to make sure that that fine line between freedom and anarchy does not get crossed, groups like the Patriot Guard Riders, of who I am sure you have heard. They help make sure that the right to protest does not intrude on the right to a proper burial. Here in America we do value freedom of speech, not matter how hateful it is, but when that speech interferes with a soldier funeral, when that speech attacks a dead individuals service to their country, and degrades grieving family members, thats where the Patriot Guard will be to draw the line.
Let me close by sharing one of my poems with you. Keep in mind that the character in the poem is not one individual but a collective of the many people I have met in my journeys.

GREYBEARD KEN
His hair is white and almost gone
his beard remains grey and long
He's been coming to bikeweek since I don't know when
and he goes by the name, GreyBeard Ken
He rides a servicar trike with a wheelchair in the rear
a sucide shift to go through the gears
the front and rear brakes stop as one
he rides alone alot so he packs a gun
he lost his leg in the Viet Nam war
He did'nt make it back home until 1974
He'll talk your ear off, he doesn't care
but most times he just sits and stares
He's winding down and just passing time
GreyBeard Ken he's a friend of mine

I am sorry that your Memorial day weekend was not as good as you would have liked, perhaps next time it will be better

I'd like to suggest a few things, boycott the Tribune ( call their advertisers and let them know ), and show up to any speaking engagemnt he has with your beer guts and pony tails( American flags required) get there early so you can get you bikes close to the event and when he starts talking make sure you bike will start and that your exhaust pipes are not clogged with any debris. Maybe he will understand that he's not the only person in this country that can voice their opinion. J.R. Anderson LVMC

So funny, people completely agree with this article, but yet, there are people out there fighting for our country. Sounds like you and everyone else that agree with Garrison are completely against Patriotism, and saluting those fallen in the War. Thats a disgrace, not to yourself, but also to our country; you call yourself a citizen of the United States, well you better start acting like one.

This article just goes down in history as one of the most pointless, disgraceful articles I have ever seen in any news paper. The Tribune should be embarrassed that they posted such an article.

There was once a day, everyone stood by their country, no matter if they agreed or not with what was going on, and if they disagreed they sure did not diss those whom were Patriots. Times like that are no more, and it is a shame. Our forefathers, grandparents would be ashamed if they could see what America was truly like today, maybe even roll over in their grave.

Stand up cowards, go fight a War, then tell me about your Patriotism.

Bombdog Horseman wrote:

I will bet you that Garrison Keillor never spent one day being proud of his Nation, nor understanding why man rides a motorcycle. he hates this Nation so much that he is threatened by the sheer numbers of Patriotic Bikers, it shatters his delusion that his beliefs are the in the majority when in fact he is the minority.

Amen my brother! Very well said.

Garrison, I've been a faithful follower of your radio shows and your writing for years, but for the first time, I must TOTALLY disagree with you. How dare you think that the thousands of bikers are displaying "hollow patriotism" and are just an annoyance to pedestrians in Washington.

I love solitude and quiet, but I also love my motorcycle and the motorcycles that my "brothers and sisters" ride. Many of those folks who rode in Rolling Thunder ARE veterans, many of them lost family members and friends to war, many of them are members of the PGR who honor the fallen, many are police officers, doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers...and many just want to pay tribute to the fallen in their own personal way.

I'm sorry for your annoyance at having to wait to cross the street, but I think that you should understand that one of the things that makes America great is the unique and varied types of people who live here. Including bikers. And NO, we are NOT all "fat men on Harleys" and no, we do not all "get drunk and fall off" our bikes.

Shame on you for your intolerance, I am really surprised at you on this one.:(
EclecticDawn

Garrison, you are the boatman, leaning on your oars. I am a Viet Nam-era vet, but I did not make it to Viet Nam. However, I remember how nervous I was about the prospect of fighting and dying in a foreign land. Today, every chance I get, I thank those who did go, as well as those who served then or are serving now. I also ride in Rolling Thunder to remember those who did not come home and keep the POW/MIA issue in the headlines and in our hearts, hoping we never leave any of our heroes behind. Sure - there are those who ride in Rolling Thunder because it's a chance to get the bike out on a nice day and have people cheer you as you ride by. So what? To label this a "celebration of internal combustion" is an injustice, especially as you lean comfortably on your oars - thanks to the many who paid the price of service, suffering, injury and death to ensure you would enjoy that privilege.

I would just like you to know that what you have posted is such b.s.! There are many bikers that are vets..and they are honoring the ones that have fallen to help keep this country free, and safe! I dont know why there are so many people against bikers, because MOST of them are some very GREAT PEOPLE! I am PROUD to have friends that are bikers, because they would give me the shirt off their back! Just as I have done for so many of my biker friends! I consider them Family, not just friends!
I would also like to say that we need to remember the ones that have fallen recently...The ones that are over in Iraq and Afghanastan (however the hell ya spell it!) Fighting for something that the people of this great country didnt do against these people! I have lost a couple friends over there, one of them was MIA for almost 2 months, before they found his body, without his dog tags, because those **** holes left his dog tags behind when they captured him. He left behind a beautiful woman, a very young son, and another baby that will never really know what a great man his/her daddy was, because he was killed before he could see him/her born!

You my Friend are the example of an IDIOT!!!!!Go sip your Latte and Kiss MY ****..I would go out on a limb and say that them same bikers there probably 1/2 or 3/4 of them that have served in our Great Military!Screw you and your article why the paper would post anything you write is amazing.I will Boycott and pass it on to many others to do the same not to buy this paper till you are Kicked tothe Curb!!!!

By the way of you can tell I think your Trash and with that My Rant is over cause its folks like you that go to the fallen Military funerals and protest!

Those fat old men with ponytails gives you the right to your thoughts and or worries about some guy in a boat. If you didn't want to hear the bikes or smell the fumes you could have gone to any of the other thousands of celebrations for the Memorial weekend, but sorry. more bikers were probably at those places to.. being just who they are "Soldiers". Thoses "BIKERS" were and still are our hope and our salvation to keep this country free. They were there and they do know what war was like. NOT some"ONES", thoughts that made money writing a book about it. I am sorry to say that I have many relatives that feel just like you and just like you they went to college and became "Democrats" . and got out of serving their country. OH>> or do you really think you are serving your country now by informing all of us that to feel something for this great nation is wrong. I know, just keeping reading your books and keep your mind in some fantasy world where the guy in the boat is you and you are just drifting along and when life bites you in the butt you can just say.. OH HELP>> where are the "SOLDIERS" when you need them.

While I wasn't one of those fat old men that you saw on Sunday, in a younger life I, and many of the others you did see were in places like Nam doing the things you should have been thinking about instead of looking at old paintings. Why weren't you down at the Wall or over at that memorial you so easily disparage. Ask a few of the old men who were there and waited so long for a memorial what they think of it. Few will tell you it looks like it came from a catelog. You have every right to your opinion, I just think its wrong headed and mean spirited,

Steve BullDog Johnson wrote:

<quoted text>
You are a complete idiot. Vietnam was not lost by the military numnuts, that war was lost by the politicians bowing to a cowardly society who did not like the images they were seeing...as for you here that have repeatedly insulted me and every other vet, I defy you, come down from your ivory towers and live in the real world with the rest of us. There is true evil out there and it is the military who stands to vanquish that evil...your snide little comments and whining and moaning over how "evil" America is...try living in Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Cuba, Russia and all the other great societies whose virtues you extol...leave us be in our decadent little country here. Unless you have the courage to take up arms against the enemies of our country I would recommend you sit down and shut up or better yet, leave.

If veterans like me don't stop veterans like you we will all be living under decadent Russian conditions. Our nazi style nationalism has replaced 1776 revolutionary patriotism (that fought a bullying despotic English govt).

If we don't stop our leviathan government from building it's empire we will have more enemies than we can beat back. Blind obedience and loyalty to government is not patriotism - it is nazi style nationalism.

"I'm having trouble keeping up with all the things I'm supposed to be afraid of."

Is Bush a LIAR ? Is McClellan a liar ? Who did you believe prior to the invasion of Iraq and who do you believe today ? And who or what was it that incited Arab patriots to attack the WTC ? Probably it was our nazi style tactics by our government, in another country, that incited our enemies.

Todays veteran believes foreign patriots have no right to attack their enemies (us.)

Hey Garrison,
You might need to take a peek at who most of those bikers are...possibly all that you saw on Memorial day weekend....VETERANS! They have served, have put themselves in harms way, to preserve your right to write and speak your opinions on anything you see fit. Maybe you should turn that accusatory finger around, do a little research yourself before you go bashing a group of men and women that have done their part. What have you done, Sat out on the prairie maybe?
Take the time to educate yourself outside of your comfort zone, it might serve you well. That is unless you think you happen to know it all already. In which case you are as out of touch with the everyday citizen as the career politician, and should probably just keep your illinformed opinions to yourself. At the very least, contained within your out of touch social circle.

Dear Mr. Kiellor
We are truly sorry for your inconvenience. Our son was with you in that crowd. He called us to tell us how jealous we would be that he was there and we were not. It filled his chest with pride, watching those fat pony-tailed bikers show their patriotism.
He could not ride in the parade with them. His bike is stuck in Germany from his last posting. He was there in Washington for training, on his way to “another sand-box� to defend your right to spew such drivel.
He just dropped his wife and new son off here in Wisconsin so he could be deployed, and they could stay with family. He will again miss the next several months of his family’s life to defend you. When he returns, his son will be talking and walking. He will only experience this via emails from his family.
Your inconvenience is nothing compared to his sacrifice. Yet it is for you, he fights.
He and we ask nothing in return, but a little respect.
Joe & Terri Leek
Wisconsin

There is something else that I would like to add to what I have posted, I would like to Thank ALL the men & women who have put their lives on hold, so that they can be taken overseas, and fight for this Great Country that we call home! If it werent for the ones who went and fought, we would have no freedom to anything...freely!
Maybe the next time you will THINK before you write your column!

Excessively loud and obnoxious motocycles owned by insensitive, incoherent veterans will not justify more war. Many of us know these bikers are practicing 'image control'(public relations) to get the public to ignore the negative aspect of loud motocycles. Police do the same. Doing so only exposes your ignorance of American politics (or your selfishness).

If you really feel for the dead then protest empire and war profiteering. And tell young Americans to never join the military.

'War Is A Racket' by Marine Corps General Smedley Butler:

http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/wa...

Garrison Keillor, Your lucky that you live in the great U.S.A.
Where you have the freedom to express your opinion without fear.
The so called "fat man with pony tails on harley's" many of which served in the armed forces proudly and who are simply paying their respect to our fallen brothers who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Y.S.
Phil Forte
Palm beach Gardens, Florida

Steve BullDog Johnson wrote:

<quoted text>
You are a complete idiot. Vietnam was not lost by the military numnuts, that war was lost by the politicians bowing to a cowardly society who did not like the images they were seeing...as for you here that have repeatedly insulted me and every other vet, I defy you, come down from your ivory towers and live in the real world with the rest of us. There is true evil out there and it is the military who stands to vanquish that evil...your snide little comments and whining and moaning over how "evil" America is...try living in Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Cuba, Russia and all the other great societies whose virtues you extol...leave us be in our decadent little country here. Unless you have the courage to take up arms against the enemies of our country I would recommend you sit down and shut up or better yet, leave.

If veterans like me don't stop veterans like you we will all be living under decadent Russian conditions. Our nazi style nationalism has replaced 1776 revolutionary patriotism (that fought a bullying despotic English govt).

If we don't stop our leviathan government from building it's empire we will have more enemies than we can beat back. Blind obedience and loyalty to government is not patriotism - it is nazi style nationalism.

"I'm having trouble keeping up with all the things I'm supposed to be afraid of."

Is Bush a LIAR ? Is McClellan a liar ? Who did you believe prior to the invasion of Iraq and who do you believe today ? And who or what was it that incited Arab patriots to attack the WTC ? Probably it was our nazi style tactics by our government, in another country, that incited our enemies.

Todays veteran believes foreign patriots have no right to attack their enemies (us.)

I'm sure most of them were Vets..what about you? You were probably there for a gay pride rally or to plead for gay marriage! You not only sound gay but certainly look the part. Go ponder your art... thats true patriotism!! By the way your make-up looks smeared you drag queen. I'm sure the troops appreciate any support they get from home and American bikers certainly gives them memories of America land of the free.