cranky

Sometimes I feel as though my fellow countrymen believe that activists(especially bicycle activists) are unpatriotic. So this 4th of July I intend to raise a flag upon my steed and let it fly.

vulpes

"Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the
name of patriotism -- how passionately I hate them!" --Albert Einstein

You are a fool.

Dulce et decorum est pro patria more. --The age old lie. (How sweet and good it is to die for ones country).

BeTheChange

Yeah, can't say I'm a nationalist. Seems nationalism and patriotism are great ideals for which to control people. But hell, flying the flag will probably help cyclists in your community considering it may make some drivers realize we are actually living, breathing people.

Enjoy your 4th.

hotwheels

Enjoy your 4th of July whatever you choose. I would guess that most of your countrymen don't care one way or another. That's been my experience so far- except some extra attention to my smoking hot calves of course.

Bikepacker67

I thought you were supposed to make the other bastard die for his country

cranky

One trip to the hardware store later...

I find some of your comments strange. To be a little more clear, I'm not some kind of blind-faith nationalist. My point is that in these days it seems if you question our government, you get accused of being unpatriotic. I feel it is patriotic to hold your leaders accountable.

Anyways, it's just my opinion that people believe activists to be anti-America. But I'm not. And since driving a car is a quintessentially American thing to do, I will fly a flag on my bike to mark that disparity.

In the end, some won't care. But some will laugh, and some will smile, and that's what I'm all about.

scattered73

Sweet, maybe some sparklers mounted some where, that will probably get you a little breathing room on the road. Correct me if I am wrong but isn't the 4th of July one of the worst drinking and driving nights of the year? If so be careful.

donnamb 

I like your style, cranky.

gwd

The neighborhood where I raised my daughter had a bike decoration contest every 4th. Mostly for the kids, they'd have a parade with the decorated bikes. I might have one or two pics of my duaghter's bike but haven't scanned them in. Some people got these fold out things that went in the spokes red whit and blue. We used red white and blue crepe paper to wrap around and stuck small flags on with tape. Its not a patriotic thing its an excuse to be silly (sillier?) with us. I always served up Raspberries, Blueberries and whipped cream for breakfast that morning to get things going on the right foot. Because of the intense traffic and huge crowds on public transport, a bike is the best way to take the kids downtown for the parades and firewoks and what not.

billew

If I may be so bold to say that knee jerk liberalism is as bad as the opposite. The flag does not represent the neo-cons but all of us. And it didn't stop me from flipping off W. as he flew in on the helo on thursday.

Roody

I'll ride my bike to the fireworks, of course.

Worst thing about riding on July 4 is the amateur fireworks. Around here, the air is literally smokey from the fireworks people are setting off. And they're all illegal here in Michigan. I think it's only a matter of time before somebody throws one at me while I'm riding by. I hope I'm just being paranoid....

Cassiel

Last year I had a good time riding my bike through the neighborhoods watching the kids do their sparklers.
Cranky, if you believe in it I think it's a great statement. ::cue "My Country 'Tis of Thee":: We live in a country where my neighbor can fly flags on his gas-guzzling SUV and you can fly one on your bike, and we experience no dissonance because the right to do either is protected (though I tend to think his right to fly them on his SUV may quite literally burn itself out, in the not-too-distant future). Of course, thanks also to the country in which I live, I can't actually afford to emulate your patriotism (even the few bucks for a flag is beyond my budget at the moment), but it will make me happy to think of you out there. Be safe.

Nycycle

Thanks for the reminder,, I better get the tape out and get it mounted.

cranky

What a great 4th of July bike ride. With my big ol' flag full mast, I rode aimlessly around town, much to the cheers of strangers, people who I would not have connected with on my usual bike rides. Hundreds of them! It was great. I received a lot of smiles, waves, honks, thumbs ups, and compliments. To make people happy, even if for only a moment, is a wonderful thing. And perhaps, maybe like ripples across a pond, some were even more inspired. Maybe they realized that cyclists are people too. Or perhaps something else. Who knows? I like to remind myself never to underestimate the impact each one of can make in the world individually, no matter how small it may seem.

It was a fantastic ride, I was disappointed only that it had to end.

All this, for only 8 bucks.