Motorcyclist USA — September-October 2017

26 | september | october 2017

LETTERS

IN YOUR OWN WORDS

Suggestions for our Roadster, creative-writing criticisms, and Gresh gets told

JOHN ZAMORA

FUTURE FAILURES

I read the Megaphone article by Joe

Gresh (July/August, MC) and had to

re-read it to make sure I understood it.

In essence, he has compared the risk

takers at NASA with the “stunters” he

sees on the highways.

I have no issue with stunters in a

controlled atmosphere, but the jerks

that find it necessary to put others at risk

on public roads are a menace to society

and to motorcycling as a whole.

“As irresponsible as stunters are, we

need them.” You could not be more

wrong with that sentiment, Gresh.

—Colin Walker / Richmond, VA

I have been a middle school science

teacher for 23 years and a motorcyclist

for much of my life. I cringe when I

see stunters and the bad press they

can bring, but part of me cheers at the

sheer bravado of a wheelie at speed.

Despite the heat the members of Gen

X, Y (“Millennials”), and Z catch, I see

these kids shine in my classroom. I

have students that not only ride but

wrench on their own machines. With

technology and social media it’s a

different world to be sure, but there is

greatness among them. Like the rest of

us they will grow up, and when needed

they will rise up. I am not worried.

—Clay Lubbers / via email

No, Mr. Gresh, the selfie-obsessed

motorcycle stunters will not magically

grow up into a new Greatest Generation.

There is no fire to forge them and

they lack grit. If there is to be another

greatest generation, their members are

in our all-volunteer military.

—Daniel J. McElroy / via email

Gresh seems to have confused purposeful

risk taking with recklessness. Since

stunting has been around a good 20

years or more, you’d think by now we’d be

able to find at least one bona fide hero or

someone who has made a selfless contri-

bution to society who was a stunter in

their youth. I can’t think of any. Can you?

P.S. Just because you’re old doesn’t

mean you can’t ditch the Sansabelts and

squeeze your butt into a pair of Levi’s

skinny jeans. Now that’s some risky

behavior for pretty much anyone over 50.

—Tom Short / San Rafael, CA

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