discrimination

[Mike]

Since soapboxes seem to be in order, I'll jump on mine. I drive a truck. Many states have 2 speed limits, one for non-trucks, and a slower one for trucks. Many of these will issue citations to trucks for 2 or 3 mph over the truck speed limit, while non-trucks are allowed more leeway. All states limit the number of hours a truck driver can drive his (or her) truck. None restrict the number of hours someone can drive a non-truck, even though that person is operating a potentially lethal weapon (their vehicle) in a fatigued condition. Many states restrict trucks to driving in the slow lanes, even though many trucks are capable of moving with the flow of traffic. (I personally try to stay under 75 mph while in city traffic, even though, often times traffic is moving MUCH faster. Hello Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, L.A., Salt Lake, and many more.) If MLK Jr. were still alive, I'd vote for him, in the hope he might take up the truck driver's cause. How many of you whining about the discrimination over jumping favor the split speed limits? How many of you whiners have sent money to the "Its our Parks Too" Fund? I'll stop here. This is food for thought.

[guest]

Your argument is bogus because:

You and your big rig ARE allowed on the freeways right? RIGHT?

Now let's apply your analogy to BASE jumping on Nazi Punk "freefallways."

We are NOT ALLOWED on NPS freefallways - period.

Your trucks ARE ALLOWED on US freeways - under certain conditions.

We do _not_ object to being subject to certain conditions when jumping in Nazi Punk Land. If you had followed my comments closely (and if you haven't I don't blame you -- I make a lot of them ) -- you would know that I (and others) have proposed a variety of terms and conditions to integrate our activities with the other activities going on in Nazi Punk Land.

What we object to is being summarily banned from the freefallways.

So until your big rigs are banned from all the freeways, you gonna havta come up with a mo bettuh argument than that.

And in the meantime, YOU oughta read a little MLK Jr. too so that you might understand mo bettuh what it is that is actually happening here.

Love,

BASE 44

[Mike]

Robin, using your argument, it should have been OK for Rosa Parks to have to sit in the back of the bus. After all she was allowed on the bus, wasn't she??? Discrimination in ANY form is discrimination!!!

[guest]

at least they let Rosa ON the bus, and yes, if it had been so bad back then that they didn't even let her ON the bus, then I'm sure SHE would have been damn glad to just get a seat, regardless of where it was.

And so would we. At this point, we'd all be happy if the Nazi Punks would just let us on the bus, even if we had to sit in the back -- at least then we would be considered marginally human, if not full citizens of this country.

Remember, too, that there used to be hotels and water fountains reserved for white people only, but again, at least the "colored" had their own places to sleep and drink.

We don't even have that yet, but we're going to keep after the bigots who discriminate against us until we do.

After that, we'll worry about which seats we get, and in the meantime, enjoy your freeway.

Love,

BASE 44

[guest]

Mike,

No offense, but I think the DOT and the voting public has decided that a vehicle weighing 80,000 pounds and on the road for hundreds of thousands of miles per year longer than the family automobile has to be limited in speed and area of operations due to extreme damage done in accidents involving trucks. Couple this with the "I own this road you stinking four wheelers" and the "I'm bigger than you are, so get out of my way" attitudes; it's no wonder that trucks are limited in speed and area.

Earl Redfern

[Mike]

Earl, Your comments sounds similar to comments made by non-BASE people about BASE. Discrimination in ANY form is STILL discrimination. If you haven't been where someone is, you really don't understand the whole picture. Believing all truck drivers have the attitudes you mentioned is as wrong as the NPS banning BASE for the actions of a few irresponsible individuals. ALL BASE jumpers carry a can of spray paint to mark the "Exit Here" point don't they, and ALL BASE jumpers drive a flatbed up a restricted road don't they? The actions of a small minority affect all of us, for years to come. Incidentally, I am not condemning the FB10 for their actions, only for their trust in someone who was misinformed.