Comments on: Willie Lynch and the Deep South http://www.bikingforobama.com/2009/01/15/willie-lynch-and-the-deep-south/ Join the Movement! Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:05:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Georgia Obama Supporter http://www.bikingforobama.com/2009/01/15/willie-lynch-and-the-deep-south/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Georgia Obama Supporter Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:43:12 +0000 http://www.bikingforobama.com/?p=443#comment-244 Ryan, I regret, but am not surprised, that you experienced these negative things along your ride. I am thrilled that Obama was elected, but because of social and economic realities of living in a small town in Georgia, I can't be very vocal about my support, especially as a while female. You'd be amazed at how many of my white friends just assumed I was a McCain supporter. Sometimes when I set them straight, the looks on their faces were priceless! I love many things about the South, but so often I feel like it is out of step with the rest of the country. Racial relations have improved in recent decades, but you are so right that we still have a long way to go. P.S. Some of my cycling friends and I have gotten similar looks while wearing Spandex. Here's a quote from one friend's blog: "The cyclists inspect this problem in the parking lot. Only 3 of the 5 crank bolts remain, all next to each other, meaning the big chainring is next to go if they can't move one of the bolts to the opposite side to more stably hold the chainring. Only problem is they don't have the necessary tools. After a few minutes of struggling in vain to remove a crank bolt, they find a man in a van who has the necessary tools. This country gentleman seems bewildered by the request, but the "USA" stamped on the cyclists shorts appear to convince the man that the lycra-boy deserves a helping hand. So, he reaches for the allen wrenches and not the 12 guage." Ryan, I regret, but am not surprised, that you experienced these negative things along your ride. I am thrilled that Obama was elected, but because of social and economic realities of living in a small town in Georgia, I can’t be very vocal about my support, especially as a while female. You’d be amazed at how many of my white friends just assumed I was a McCain supporter. Sometimes when I set them straight, the looks on their faces were priceless! I love many things about the South, but so often I feel like it is out of step with the rest of the country. Racial relations have improved in recent decades, but you are so right that we still have a long way to go.

P.S. Some of my cycling friends and I have gotten similar looks while wearing Spandex. Here’s a quote from one friend’s blog:

“The cyclists inspect this problem in the parking lot. Only 3 of the 5 crank bolts remain, all next to each other, meaning the big chainring is next to go if they can’t move one of the bolts to the opposite side to more stably hold the chainring. Only problem is they don’t have the necessary tools. After a few minutes of struggling in vain to remove a crank bolt, they find a man in a van who has the necessary tools. This country gentleman seems bewildered by the request, but the “USA” stamped on the cyclists shorts appear to convince the man that the lycra-boy deserves a helping hand. So, he reaches for the allen wrenches and not the 12 guage.”

]]> By: Charles http://www.bikingforobama.com/2009/01/15/willie-lynch-and-the-deep-south/comment-page-1/#comment-240 Charles Sat, 17 Jan 2009 05:50:13 +0000 http://www.bikingforobama.com/?p=443#comment-240 Ryan, it's just the reality of America my brother! I guess in your individual dealings along your journey you've experienced a microcosm of what America can be like at it's best and worst. And it shows why REAL CHANGE is so critical...right now! I like to use a term that was the title of a Gil Scott-Heron song in the 70s..."WINTER IN AMERICA." If you've never heard it, check it out when you get chance...WINTER is just a metaphor that describes the history of contradiction and conflict in America. Peace and Safe Travels! Ryan, it’s just the reality of America my brother! I guess in your individual dealings along your journey you’ve experienced a microcosm of what America can be like at it’s best and worst. And it shows why REAL CHANGE is so critical…right now!

I like to use a term that was the title of a Gil Scott-Heron song in the 70s…”WINTER IN AMERICA.” If you’ve never heard it, check it out when you get chance…WINTER is just a metaphor that describes the history of contradiction and conflict in America.

Peace and Safe Travels!

]]> By: Anthony Beard http://www.bikingforobama.com/2009/01/15/willie-lynch-and-the-deep-south/comment-page-1/#comment-233 Anthony Beard Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:47:45 +0000 http://www.bikingforobama.com/?p=443#comment-233 One of the more striking analysis of the 2008 election was the finding that voters under 30 do not use race as a marker in casting their votes. That give the father of a 6 and 77 year old comfort. I believe the President Elect fostered that trend by running a campaign that spoke about America and not race. Some bad habits die slowly and the internal death of the spirit of those people who still feel that way is a sad fact. The intellegent people move on past them, with the speed of Major Taylor, champion African-American cyclist 100 Years ago! Ride on Ryan, in his spirit! One of the more striking analysis of the 2008 election was the finding that voters under 30 do not use race as a marker in casting their votes. That give the father of a 6 and 77 year old comfort. I believe the President Elect fostered that trend by running a campaign that spoke about America and not race. Some bad habits die slowly and the internal death of the spirit of those people who still feel that way is a sad fact. The intellegent people move on past them, with the speed of Major Taylor, champion African-American cyclist 100 Years ago! Ride on Ryan, in his spirit!

]]> By: Dante http://www.bikingforobama.com/2009/01/15/willie-lynch-and-the-deep-south/comment-page-1/#comment-231 Dante Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:37:04 +0000 http://www.bikingforobama.com/?p=443#comment-231 I think the more that people are exposed to each other and alternative thinking and lifestyles, they become more receptive to the fact that we are usually more alike than we are different. From my experience, people who are intolerant of people based on race, sexual preference, religion, etc. have usually not been exposed to people who have these differences. They may have seen the person they claim to "hate" on television, in a store, or riding a bike across the country to go to the inauguration, but have not had any signifigant contact with them. America is just over 40 years past the Civil Rights Movement and some parts of the country are still going through growing pains. There are definitely places where people are completely open and accepting of different people and viewpoints. Hopefully the Obama presidency can be a catalyst to the growth and healing of race relations in the rest of the country. I think the more that people are exposed to each other and alternative thinking and lifestyles, they become more receptive to the fact that we are usually more alike than we are different. From my experience, people who are intolerant of people based on race, sexual preference, religion, etc. have usually not been exposed to people who have these differences. They may have seen the person they claim to “hate” on television, in a store, or riding a bike across the country to go to the inauguration, but have not had any signifigant contact with them.

America is just over 40 years past the Civil Rights Movement and some parts of the country are still going through growing pains. There are definitely places where people are completely open and accepting of different people and viewpoints. Hopefully the Obama presidency can be a catalyst to the growth and healing of race relations in the rest of the country.

]]>