June 2020 Newsletter

Drifters,
One of the great things about riding with a group is the camaraderie that comes from sharing similar interests with others. The Drifters are really good at this, with all the rides, dinners, and parties. Everyone just gets along. Lately I’ve been contrasting this to what I’m seeing on the news and in social media. It has become far too common to choose sides, attach negative labels to other people or groups of people, making everything political, and blaming the other side. Even the corona virus is blamed on Democrats, President Trump, the Chinese, WHO, CDC, and on and on. We are currently seeing violent demonstrations because of opposition to police violence. Figure that one out! People are choosing sides on everything and blaming the other side. We all have a tendency to blame others. I do it, even though I try not too. It’s the easy way out. It means we don’t have to do anything different, after all, it’s not our fault. And it makes us feel superior because we’re right and they’re wrong. In the words of Rodney King, “Can we all just get along?” Changing the way others act is difficult to do. But we can change the way we act and the things we say, both in real life on online. And perhaps our example with affect others. Here’s a few things to keep in mind:

  1. Almost everyone wants the same things we want. Liberty. Happiness. Health. Safety. Love. The tricky thing is we have different ideas on how to achieve that. That doesn’t mean our way is right and theirs is wrong. Keep an open mind and listen to the other side.
  2. Blaming others leaves us powerless. If it’s someone else’s fault, there’s nothing we can do to change it. Instead, try and think of something you can do to help.
  3. Attaching negative labels does not further your argument, it just demonstrates your bias. Calling someone a moron doesn’t prove they’re a moron. Let the facts speak for themselves. 
  4. We live in a world with complex problems. They are not easily solved. It’s always easier to look back and see how things could have been done better. Cut people some slack. If you could do better, why aren’t you?
  5. We seldom have all the information when we judge the actions of others. Try to understand others before judging them.

Stepping down from my soap box now, your president,David Long