Rainbows are rare among the leather and silver hardware worn by America's proudest patriotic motorcyclists.
Hidden on the outskirts of the political community were progressive patriotic motorcyclists, some of whom joined the movement. liberty ride Learn more about what it means to be a free American.
Liberty Ride is a progressive bike-centric movement that has been committed to a more perfect union since 2019 in our Constitution. Bikers organize a relay carrying copies of America's founding documents.
The relay started with a copy of: Emancipation Proclamation Sent to Phoenix. From there, a group of activists on wheels carried the document to Flagstaff, where they stopped at Buffalo Park to discuss the progressive message they espoused.
Flagstaff bikers then took the documents to Page, Arizona, and then to New Mexico and Colorado. The ride stops in 42 states across the country and ends in the nation's capital, Washington, DC.
Dan Greenspan has been named the new organizer of the Arizona leg of the Liberty Ride. In this role, he was tasked with expanding the audience for the event.
Greenspan said he, along with other motorcyclists in attendance, saw the event as an opportunity to promote participation in American political life. He said it's an opportunity to go against the typical biker stereotype, which consists of more conservative or restrictive views.
“Our traditional symbols of freedom, the eagle and the flag, have been associated with reactionary and regressive forces,” Greenspan said. “A lot of motorcycle riders don't want anything to do with that, so they want to bring back these symbols and the very idea that you can be a patriot without being regressive.”
As stated in Written testimony of Andrew L. Seidel, the driving force behind the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was Christian nationalism. The attackers passed through the government's capital carrying Bibles, prayers and Christian flags, threatening separation of church and state.
in this case, Nationalism disguised as patriotism, combining love for America with love for God.use Religious ideology in government It can exclude those who don't follow the same morals and prevent them from flying the Star-Spangled Banner.
The Liberty Ride encourages the abolition of such ideological behavior in a democracy that targets only certain groups of people. Greenspan said the riders hope people of all races and identities will come together for this message.
“This is really a form of political protest against xenophobic behavior,” Greenspan said. “Anyone is welcome to come, even if you don't ride a bike.”
One of the groups participating in the relay was Reason Riders Atheist Motorcycle Association. The group seeks to dismantle the typical images associated with patriotism and prove that God is not required to do good.
The group promotes inclusivity and separation of church and state with T-shirts and patches that stand out against leather vests graced with the winged wheel logo.
Reason Riders member Eric Tannehill participated in the relay to make an impact in the community while interpreting what it means to be an inclusive patriot.
“This type of patriotism is unique in that it's open to everyone,” says Eric Tannehill. “Everyone is guaranteed to have rights.”
Eric Tannehill said he will promote inclusive patriotism, which can be a difficult perspective to promote given the increasing bipartisanship in American politics.
Eric Tannehill said true patriotism comes not from resistance to change, but from a drive for a better democracy.
“If you look at the right, patriotism has almost been taken up and incorporated into fascism,” said Eric Tannehill. “Maybe that's true. abominable We say it out loud, but it is true that fascism is at the heart of radical nationalism. True patriotism is inclusive. ”
Eric Tannehill said his main motivation for promoting these ideas is to support his sister, who is a transgender American. He said he saw through his sister's experience how those who preach a “land of the free” think they can decide who gets that freedom.
Bryn Tannehill has been relieved of her position as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. It was in 2010 that she began her gender transition. 2018 Transgender Americans were allowed to serve in the military.
Bryn Tannehill said she worked tirelessly to return from the moment she was eliminated. The process took more than a decade, but Bryn Tannehill now serves as Chief Warrant Officer in the Army National Guard. Her experience as a convert during her working days provides an interesting perspective on the true inclusiveness of the two-party system of American democracy.
“I used to see our two countries as just sharing somewhat different visions, but a common vision of what needs to be done for the United States,” Bryn said. Tannehill said. “Those visions are so far apart that even a basic agreement has not been reached.”
In addition to serving in the U.S. National Guard, Bryn Tannehill is the author of American Fascism: How the GOP is Subverting Democracy and has spent more than 30 years writing academically about fascism. She said the influence of American fascism is emerging as one of the greatest threats to American democracy.
Bryn Tannehill said the two parties being debated in the upcoming presidential election are not equal and are not opposing forces. She believes that the left is fueled by centrist, humanist ideas, while the right is dominated by fascist ideology, which she said has no place in government.
“Good governance by experts in the field, making decisions based on good science and good policy, is critical,” Bryn Tannehill said. “The attempt to subvert good government by replacing it with ideology is something you see in dictatorships.”
A common symptom that follows fascism is nationalism, and Bryn Tannehill said that typical American patriotism is synonymous with it. She said nationalism has put America in a dangerous place, pushed the democratic sphere to the right, and that the center remains a threat to many Americans.
Reason Riders and other groups involved in progressive and patriotic causes are breaking down stereotypes about what it means to be a patriot and finding a compromise that makes more sense to both activists and patriots. We are dedicating our image.
“Patriotism doesn't mean believing your country is always the biggest and best in everything, without fail,” Bryn Tannehill said. “It's about working to make your country better.”
At a time when democracy is at stake, Bryn Tannehill said it's important to value individual opinions.
Despite ongoing social trials in the United States, the Pledge of Allegiance promises “liberty and justice for all.” Inclusive patriots have struggled to stand out, but they remain active in reminding Americans that they are a key component of the land of the free.