History
What 1%
means to me?
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History
1947,
Hollister, California:
One
of the first biker meetings ever went down in history
as a big scandal. Drinking, racing, stunts, fights (so a
cosy bikerparty). The local population experienced it as
if the bikers took over the entire town.
I
don't believe the event itself was of great importance, but the media attention
was enormous. The local and national press wrote it was a scandel.
In
1953 a movie came out based on this event , titled "The
Wild One" starring Marlon Brando and Lee
Marvin:
The
movie shows, in my personal opinion, very well that the
conflict is based on mutual misunderstanding. A
brilliant performance by Marlon Brando, as Johnny
Stabler, in wich he refuses to be held responsible by
the civilians of the town. He drives his personal
freedom much further than the avarage civilian.
But also the civilians who did not want to accept the
fact that the bikers act different from them. The
escalation came forward from the silence of Johnny on
one hand and the excessive reaction of the civilians on
the other hand.
The "American
Motorcyclist Association", in short
AMA,
wrote in a statement about the Hollister-incident
that nobody needs to be worried. 99% of these bikers
would go back to their normal dull lifes on monday.
The AMA called these 99% "law abiding citizens". This statement is repeated by several orher journalists.
A few
bikers took the statement as a compliment and started to
call themselves 1%. Not only 1%, but also words as
outlaw-biker and even biker origined from this notorious
weekend.
What does 1% mean to me?
Rules, laws, upbringing, experience, religion, friends,
family, etc, etc influence your psyche. Everybody
classifies themselves eventually and feels connected to
others. Only the degree of expression differs.
Everybody
has favorite things to do. For most it stays a hobby, but others make it their lifestyle.
For
me personal, it has always been riding my bike. There is
no better feeling than seeing the road go by under your
2 wheels, the wind in your face, the power at your
convenience literally by a twist of your hand,
accelleration from a complete stop, sniffing the
surroundings. To me, riding my bike is the ultimate
feeling of freedom.
But
if you park your bike you want to keep the feeling.
Being with others like you. Being and expressing what
you are and what you feel. Not only during the weekends,
like most motorcyclists. Maybe 1% means the most
that you always are and want to be this way. 1%
does not stop after sunday-night; when everybody goes
back to work; when everybody puts up the mask or puts it
off; when most of the people go up in the crowd like a
grey mouse.
Also
my experiences as a soldier in Lebanon had its influence.
A half year with my buddies, together one job, al in
green; other colors didn't matter. I watch your
back, you watch mine. Even under difficult circumstances
you take care of each other. That creates a bond, a brotherhood. Back home it is not easy to re-addapt. People
do not seem to care; are mosty involved with themselves.
The only subject of conversation is Oprah and the
weather. Real issues are silenced or answered by the
classic "yeah, but what can we do about it?".
Your
environment experiences you as a rebel. You, on the
other hand, have the
feeling that everybody pushes you away. You give your
opinion, even if nobody asks; you don't accept people
waving you away if you stand up for something. People
think of you as aggressive if you raise your voice. They call you pigheaded if you make a stand.
Only amongst each other, with other 1%ers, your opinion is
appreciated; your honesty and decisiveness valued;
Your work and vision make sense to them.
Civilians often look at 1%ers as criminals or a-social.
Most of the time 1%ers are very social guys. Very often
they work as caretakers. They care about people and act
on it.
Code
Through the years 1% has grown to much more than a
little group of rebel-bikers.
A
1%er is a man who lives and rides by a strikt code of
honor. To the 1%er, his motorcycle is his life.
-
A 1%er
does not LIE to, or CHEAT a Brother.
-
He has RESPECT for his Brothers and their Property.
-
He stands up for who he is and what he believes in.
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He supports his Brothers against outsiders and helps
them whenever he can.
-
A
Brother NEVER takes advantage of another Brother.
That is the creed of the citizin.
-
1% is
not a patch; it's not a Club; it's WHO YOU ARE!
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