<div>Based on the newpaper write-up I had originally thought joining the bike rides in Boston would be a fun, social activity. I'm glad I have seen all these e-mails. I didn't realize I would be joining a "movement" and that the group I wanted to enjoy riding with has to be seen as "lefty".
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<div>If anyone has information on other riding groups that aren't as politically charged. could you please forward? Thanks! <br><br> </div>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 1/4/06, <b class="gmail_sendername">Pete Stidman</b> <<a href="mailto:pstidman@yahoo.com">pstidman@yahoo.com</a>> wrote:</span>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">I see your point in asking it but the example you<br>chose for it is a bit out there. A neo-con would of<br>
course be driving a car in order to support american<br>industry and oil interests. Show me one neo-con that<br>commutes on a bike.<br><br>There are politics here that can't be denied. Not to<br>say we should place anylimit on who can and can't
<br>participate, but that the question is almost<br>irrelevant. CM is an urban movement, which means it's<br>got to be lefty to be worth a damn, on top of that it<br>uses an anarchist principle of organizing which ties<br>
it to radicals, or at least people who are willing to<br>go against the grain.<br><br>I think it would be possible to try and popularize the<br>thing to more people and all but you'd have to be<br>aware of all the political baggage. Everything's
<br>political really.<br><br>-Pete<br><br><br>--- Dan Zarrella <<a href="mailto:zan@stargeek.com">zan@stargeek.com</a>> wrote:<br><br>> I'm curious what everyone thinks about the poltical<br>> nature of CM?<br>
> Can CM exist apolitically? Or is this form of bike<br>> activism inextricably<br>> tied to certain "political" leanings?<br>> would a Neo-Con be welcome on the ride?<br>> -Dan<br>><br>> On 1/3/06, Jason Orach <
<a href="mailto:jorach@gmail.com">jorach@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>> ><br>> > Dan Zarella wrote:<br>> > "just as I (perhaps we?) critize the choice<br>> between wage slavery and<br>> > starvation as no choice at all,"
<br>> ><br>> > This isn't a criticism of your beliefs Dan, but<br>> one of the big turn<br>> > offs for me about CM is the constant crusade<br>> against "the machine" and<br>> > the constant stream of anarchist politics in the
<br>> ride, I know a lot of<br>> > people feel the same. It alienates a lot of people<br>> who aren't<br>> > concerned about bringing down the system, but who<br>> just want to be able<br>> > to ride their bikes in peace on the streets.
<br>> ><br>> > Let's work together to promote bikes, and leave<br>> our political agendas<br>> > at the bike rack.<br>> ><br>> > - Jason Orach<br>> > _______________________________________________
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