This I believe...

I spend a lot of time and mental effort grappling with my spiritual life. The ongoing war in my head consumes me. I am torn. Raised a Jew and now a Christian, I have not been able to shake or cement my faith. Perhaps it is not meant to be, and I will always question everything pertaining to a belief in “G-D.” So, am I losing my faith altogether, or am I shedding the supernatural aspects? If the supernatural is removed what’s left to believe in.

Where does this stance of un-supernatural faith fall in regards to my belief in Christ? Belief in something does not necessarily mean an association with the supernatural. Can one follow Christ’s example alone and be a Christian? Love, charity, and service to others should be enough, right? Must I be a “literal” believer of the bible? I don’t think so. I am not delusional. Skeptical, yes as should anyone who hears the fantastic stories of the bible. But are there logical explanations to all those fantastic stories? Does it really matter? Can I be faithful without the trappings of religion?

What matters is how we treat each other. Our connection to each other will lead us to understanding why we are here and our place in the universe. One thing that continues to elude us is the ability to coexist. If race, ethnicity, and socio-economic status didn’t already push us apart, “religion” drives the wedge between us even further. Even those who don’t hold any spiritual beliefs are guilty of the same derision. So, is there any possibility of unity with such diversity in this world? Historically it hasn’t happened with any long term success which leads me to believe it is impossible.

My dilemma is when religious fanatics rear their ugly heads and do ugly things in the name of G-D. News-feeds from around the globe never fail to show some medieval display of religion going on somewhere. This Saturday a church in Florida will burn copies of the Koran in the name of Christ. Yup, I’m embarrassed. Not for them, but for me. I am embarrassed because of the beliefs that I do have. I don’t want to be associated with the zealots and charlatans proclaiming their twisted views of G-D, but we all get lumped together and it’s not fair. But still I participate in some way because my faith keeps me hooked into a community that feels foreign.

I feel like I’m in a no win situation. Is this how it’s supposed to be?

Tea Baggers: spoiled little children refusing to grow up.

By now we should all know something about the “Tea Baggers” and their spoke-persons Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck. So, what has these people’s knickers in a twist?

Out of control government spending?

Universal healthcare?

Immigration?

Perhaps, but I doubt it, I mean where have they been for the past decade(s)? All of a sudden an African American becomes President of the United States and in one year the country has plunged into hell. Really?

Take note! Tea Baggers are having an effect on the political spectrum.

So, let us look at this movement on the local level. Here in Avondale, Pennsylvania, lawn signs have been popping up calling everyone’s attention to an out-of-control government. I guess they just figured it out. Well, the signs have a web address at the bottom AdvanceFreedom.org. Nice ring to it, who doesn’t want to advance freedom and the .org domain extension adds a grass roots earthy kind of feel. However, these baggers intent is not warm and fuzzy. Sinister? Okay, sinister might be over reaching, but their ideology is a throw back to the 1800s.

Issues these tea-baggers are complaining about were created by them for the most part. Deregulation of the banking sector has produced the financial crisis this country is in now. When George W. Bush first bailed out the failing investment houses on Wall Street the Tea Party Patriots were nowhere to be found. Why? Well, he’s was a Republican. Let’s not forget that this is a Conservative Republican movement even though they claim a non-partisan atmosphere. Republicans had been in control of the house and senate for over a decade, so the sleeping giant had no reason to wake up, because it was too busy raping the county’s coffers.

Now it’s all the Obama Administration’s fault? Granted I’m not overly impressed with Obama’s work so far, but look what he inherited, and I’m not impressed with politicians on either side of the aisle anyway. I would whole heartedly join with these so called patriots if their intensions were true, however, from what I can see… So, what can be gleaned from AdvanceFreedom.org is a lot of empty rhetoric based on the decades old 5000 Year Leap by Cleon Skousen. Not exactly a fair and balanced look at the Constitution or American History. Well, if you are white and wealthy you probably subscribe to this take on U.S. history.

At a recent gathering Tea Bagger gathering in Washington, D.C., Mr. Beck called for a return to GOD. I wonder whose GOD he would be referring. The rhetoric of coming back to GOD and traditional values of our founding fathers is perplexing to me. Should we bring back slavery, take away women’s right to vote? What values are they harping about?? In a nutshell I observe these so called “patriots” to be over indulged baby-boomers who are upset that they are not getting their way anymore. They’ve blown their inheritance and have to pay the piper, and don’t like it.

With the arrival of spring...

Now that riding season is here....think!!!



and think....



and THINK!!!



That includes us riders too!

That's it for the other one...shoe that is

We have been sold out to the corporations under the guise of free speech. Earlier this week a Supreme Court decision to not allow the limiting of corporate donations to political campaigns has weakend this country far worse than any other action against the American people. Now the circle is complete. The picture below sums it up.

Adam J. Chitjian

8/30/1968 - 10/25/2007

Forever in our hearts!

The State of Harley-Davidson

A lot of discussion this week in the motorcycle community has centered around the shuttering of Buell. Buell, a subsidiary of HD, has produced some of the most innovative designs around the Sportster type engine. While the debate continues here are two links that provide insight into the problem.

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2009/10/harley-didnt-calculate-savings.html

http://quadcambastards.blogspot.com/2009/10/so-beancounting-execs-at-moco.html

I think this view that HD has lost its way is shared by a lot of riders. Personally, I think it's a microcosm of what is affecting the United States today.

Wall of Death!!!!

The best 5 bucks I've ever spent. Saw this at Delmarva bike week this year. Enjoy!

The Grand Finale!