Triumphrat

bluesock943 · 03-26-2007, 07:08 PM

The following has been weighing on me for some time now and I thought perhaps I might solicit opinions as to how patriotic I might be…

I was recently at the local bar a few blocks from my house late one night talking with a friend and the bartender. Perhaps it was a Sunday or Monday as we were the only three in there. As it so happened, my bike was parked directly out front and my helmet was sitting on the bar in front of me.

The door opened and our local meathead drunk comes in and yells “Who’s gay ass***** café racer is that out front?” As there were only three of us there at the bar and I was the one with the helmet in front of me he surprisingly in his drunken state was able to deduce that in fact the Thruxton was mine. However, inebriation might have actually helped his mental faculties as circumstantially, I would have been surprised by his deduction had he been sober.

Recognizing me, he said, “I should have known.” We’ve exchanged words before that were less than pleasant… “Get a real man’s bike not that fag British *****. Get a Harley,” he yelled stumbling off to the bathroom. The three of us sat there in silence until he ambled from the bathroom. The bartender with his mouth agape as he happens to be from London… On the way out the front door, there were more insults directed at my bike insinuating it was lesser than a Harley. All of which were punctuated with the abovementioned homophobic rhetoric.

Now, this being New York City in the post 9-11 days, it seems one can’t go anywhere without seeing people wearing clothing advertising either FDNY or NYPD. I do believe these civil servants certainly deserve to be recognized for their bravery but it should be known that on occasion, these institutions induct people of somewhat undesirable demeanor. As this gentleman happens to be a local at the bar directly next door, he is well known in our neighborhood. Come to find out, he is not only a veteran of the first Gulf War, but is now employed as a New York City Firefighter… What would seem the all American hero type.

My question then is, would it be unpatriotic of me to have beaten a War Veteran/New York City Firefighter for insulting my foreign motorcycle by telling me to buy American?

-Markus

jimmyc · 03-26-2007, 07:18 PM

The road you took was for the better. A$$holes like that usually carry weapons so that they can spout they're rhetoric.

akenaten · 03-26-2007, 07:29 PM

It would'nt be unpatriotic. It would've been immature. Why do you care what some drunk***** thinks?Just because he's a vet and a fireman does'nt make him some kind of saint.He's still just an inebriated*****.

d2mini · 03-26-2007, 07:32 PM

Plus when he got out of the hospital, he probably would bring several firefighter friends and use a fire truck to seriously dismantle your thruxton. Better that you let it go.

But as far as patriotism goes... eff that. He was an arse and deserves a beating no matter what you ride.

5bassman · 03-26-2007, 07:50 PM

Well, I'm a Full-time Firefighter. Don't let that part stop you!
But ignoring him is the better route.

Olderyoungster · 03-26-2007, 07:52 PM

Patriotism has nothing with being a loudmouth ignorant elitist drunk who knows not of what he speaks. Nor of those who ride a machine from the "mother land." Joke him if he can't take a phuck!

I attempt not to lower myself to the same level as those who try (or have been successful) at belittling me. I choose to take the higher road..... and could well have been looked upon as less a man, "punked", or afraid. Perhaps as a result I have done no jail time, had no broken bones, narry a split lip, and I haven't hurt somebody's loved one.

Walking away from it, ignoring it, or applying some wit is my strategy. You can't change stupid/arrogant people with a punch in the nose or a war of words..... gotta just leave well enough alone.

GrayMitchell · 03-26-2007, 08:01 PM

You should have challenged him to a race and kicked his harleys ass.

xardoz · 03-26-2007, 08:04 PM

Quote:

On 2007-03-26 17:52, Olderyoungster wrote:
Patriotism has nothing with being a loudmouth ignorant elitist drunk who knows not of what he speaks. Nor of those who ride a machine from the "mother land." Joke him if he can't take a phuck!

I attempt not to lower myself to the same level as those who try (or have been successful) at belittling me. I choose to take the higher road..... and could well have been looked upon as less a man, "punked", or afraid. Perhaps as a result I have done no jail time, had no broken bones, narry a split lip, and I haven't hurt somebody's loved one.

Walking away from it, ignoring it, or applying some wit is my strategy. You can't change stupid/arrogant people with a punch in the nose or a war of words..... gotta just leave well enough alone.

Quote:

On 2007-03-26 18:01, GrayMitchell wrote:
You should have challenged him to a race and kicked his harleys ass.

:gpst:

A$$holes like this guy are another reason I choose not to ride a Harley.

[ This message was edited by: xardoz on 2007-03-26 18:04 ]

bobw3592 · 03-26-2007, 08:30 PM

+1 on very good comments above. Don't argue with drunks or fools. Not to get too far from emotions of the event, but if you are concerned as a person, tax payer and caring patriotic observer, call his boss and ask him to offer a little peer support to his troop. The guy won't be the first vet, fireman, preacher, cop, doctor....that threw away a good job due to being an alcoholic. They have an opportunity to help him before he gets in a fight, arrested etc. He represents his Dept. and if he is well known to always be drunk it is likely to follow him to work and then a big aw-***** could result. YMMV, but I would share the basic facts you presented here.

Cheers.
BobW

merlin · 03-26-2007, 09:03 PM

If you can muster compassion the long term result is a state of semi-enlightenment.
I can only glimpse it from time to time, but it is there.

Yeah, the guy is in a lot of pain and as Bobw says, it will only get worse. You're not obliged to intervene, re his job, there are others there who will see and have to deal. There but by the grace....