Speaker 1 0:11

My wife and I volunteered that summer day about two years ago to give away coffee the morning of the 10K run in our hometown here in Loveland , colorado . I had just started this podcast and , even though I really had no clue what I was doing my friends tell me I still don't have a clue , but I was getting positive feedback about it and I felt good about it . When the line to our coffee stand began to shorten , I told my wife I wanted to take a stroll around with all my new Peace , love , moto cards in my pocket . You don't find a lot of motorcycle riders at 10K runs on a nice sunny morning in Colorado because most are already on the road somewhere way up in the mountains . That's generally me . In addition , most of the riders I know don't dress in a way that makes it easy to identify them when they're off their motorcycle and outside of their motorcycle gear . So it's like , unlike a cowboy , walking around with their hat and boots . We typically don't walk around with a helmet on . Sometimes maybe we should , but we typically don't . You know , sometimes we'll wear a hat or a shirt that gives away the fact that we love to ride , and so that was going to be my target audience .

Speaker 1 1:25

As I strolled around before the event and with all my cards ready to hand out , I saw a fellow in a Klim shirt . Most of you know the Klim company K-L-I-M Really good stuff . I have a Klim helmet and some other gear . Spoke with him . I seemed to be really receptible to listening to the podcast , Gave them a card . I saw a lady in a Harley Davidson shirt . Spoke with her . You know lots of friendly people there were several and those who seem to be really interested in the podcast , and especially a podcast that has the words peace and love in it . So those are the kind of people I'd like to connect with . Yeah , I was having a ball , I was having you know something so positive to share , I felt like , and I was really proud to talk about it . I'd talk about it to anybody who would listen . But we also live in an imperfect and broken world , and that's what I experienced .

Speaker 1 2:19

Next , it was then that I saw a t-shirt with an image of a demon riding a motorcycle , being worn by a really large guy , a writer , I assume . But this time I made no effort to approach him at all . I just tried to avoid him , just had to walk away . Those words were clear and large , written on his shirt for everyone in the crowd to see , and they were disgusting . He was walking with his wife or a girlfriend among those supporting the runners . They were walking around mostly families , a lot of young children . Regarding the woman walking next to him , I thought to myself how can you even be standing near someone who spews such hate ? I can only imagine what he says to her .

Speaker 1 3:21

Today , hate speech is all around us , not just on t-shirts , but easily found on Twitter , youtube , instagram , facebook , all those Really yeah , all the social platforms . Sadly , words like may they rot in hell , which were somehow associated with a Christmas message . Those words were tweeted not too long ago for all the world to read , coming from the highest levels . These words , by the way , which were recorded as historical records , are now referred in the National Archives , words which are available to our school children to read today and will be available to read in our schools for generations to come .

Speaker 1 4:20

I share my thoughts on this not to cause controversy . There's too much of that going on already and that's not at all the intent of this podcast . Not at all . I share this because I love our global motorcycling community . There's a lot of great people out there . I'm sure you've heard them interviewed already , right . A community that comes together for many things to raise money for a good cause , the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride , just for one , just being a great example of over 100,000 riders around the world raising awareness for men's mental and physical health , it's made a big difference . We are members of a community that waves at each other going down the road . We do the biker wave right . We'll help a total stranger stranded on the side of the road . A community of individuals who , just like most of the world , are good people who seek peace of mind through this beautiful experience of riding a motorcycle , and we realize how really blessed we're able to do that . As for that man out there , I didn't confront him at all . He was a large man and wearing that very hate-filled t-shirt . If I confronted him , independent of his size , I probably would have ended up on my back looking up at the stars . No , I just walked away . But I got to tell you later that day , when my anger subsided , I asked God to fix him and to protect that young lady who was walking with him .

Speaker 1 6:10

As this podcast progresses and seems to gain more listeners around the world . I'm more and more convinced that the vast majority of the people , whether you ride a bike or not , are really good people who have a really good heart and who wouldn't harm anybody , not with their words or actions , people who would never spew words of harm , publicly or privately . I'm proud to go out each day on my bike in hopes of a conversation with a stranger . I know you are too A stranger who well , very well may become a blessing to your heart for having met them . Let's just keep focusing on that , as always . Thank you very , very much for listening . I care about you all very much . May not know you all , but I do care Until next time . I wish you peace . I wish you love .