Col. Jon Standingbear is home safe.

[Wayne]

Many of you here know Jon Standingbear, as he was on the old Yahoo site, and I believe is still is on the other Yahoo XSlist.
Just wanted to let those that do know him, know that he is back in the states fresh from being stationed in Iraq during the war. I have been receiving occasional emails from him while he has been in the middle east for at lease 8 or more months.

Jon, if you read this, welcome home man and thanks for your service to our country. Now, you are free to RIDE XSively about the country!

[sixtysix]

I don't recognize the name, but I am solidly in support of any of our troops who served........THANKS for whatever you did, I wish it could have been but I am now a little too old.......

You guys are my heros....stand tall....

[strom]

Great that you (whoever) made it home safe...

But can we PLEASE not discuss politics here coz there would probbably be another war or two.

For example: I think all this iraq biz. is a bunch of crap. They were as much a threat to the US as a bar of soap. For all I know, u can make explosives out of it. Sure, there was some bad **** happening to the people there, but this was a waste of lives, time, money, equipment, etc...
Hey, we've got a nuclear power plant, please kill us. Oh, yes, we aint free coz the big mac is too expencive and served too hot.
The US people that died there... they didn't die for the good of the US, but coz a polititian had an itch.
I can understand the US soldiers that went there... They were ordered to do a job and they did it.
Now the most frequently mentioned word comes to mind... freedom.
Are the ppl of the US really free? I think they've forgotten what that is and call the present condition "freedom". Hura.

OK, no more politics here... I hope everyone everywhere comes home safely.

LP

[strom]

See... I cant write **** here... Im opressed!

LP

[Wayne]

Hey Strom I completely respect your right to your opinion, BUT...
You started your post out by requesting we not talk about politics and then go into a big rant about politics.

I was honoring a friend and fellow XSive rider who has served his country when called to, your the only one who mentioned politics.

(tone is with all due respect, no flame intended)

Ride Safe

[uk1.1s]

Take cover

OK - best I not mention that I have a Dixie Chicks album then

[fusionking]

Hey Strom why don't you go tell all that to the victims families of 911 and see what they think! Maybe if jetliners were crashing into your homelands you might have a different view point on "USA politics" Sorta funny how you say you don't wish to discuss politics and when we want to honor one of our fellow countrymen you give us a big lecture on your political views! I just sat here with my mouth open and shook my head in disbelief when I read this. You didn't by chance used to live in hollywood did you? One thing is for sure, I'd say you have officially made this thread a political one!!!!!!!!!!! Garry

[NOMAD]

STROM,

YOU HAVE A KINDA' STRANGE WAY OF NOT TALKING POLITICS.

NOMAD

[tradeshowjoe]

A couple of days ago my emotional response to this thread was welcome home Jon, thanks, and to praise Jesus for his and others safe return. Oops, perhaps I should not mention religion.

Regardless, I usually enjoy storms point of view. About my freedom, I believe I have the freedom to block specific members responses on this site.

I have wished for twenty years for our troops to vacate Europe. Sometimes it appears that the only ones who appreciate them would be their fellow countrymen. Oops, no politics.

Oh speaking of religion again, I will pray for forgiveness tonight for being so upset about storms comments. Oops, no religion.

Once again thanks Jon and others. If what I have is not freedom (according to storm), one thing is for sure, whatever it is it does taste extremely grand, and for that I am grateful.

[fusionking]

Most of the people in the world form their opinions about us based on the things they only see and hear such as television and movies and the rest of the media. After they have actually lived here they are the ones who enjoy the freedoms we have the most of all! I'm pretty sure if we were to move to EU we would be missing several "freedoms" that only true experience could feel. I am very thankful to be a "free AMERICAN" I also very much enjoy being able to travel from state to state across this vast and varied terrain known as the good old U.S.A. Try just blowing thru the borders in the countries over there and see how far you get. We got states over here as big as most nations and and we are free to come and go as we please! Just one of the many things we take for granted that others don't even realize in the rest of the world. I bet if america didn't exist neither would the XS1100 ( or yamaha as we know it) or even the internet!!!! Another thing I noticed was you think with 430 posts invested in this forum one would act in such a manner as to deserve respect and not bring up something that so many people feel so strongly about! I for one would be willing to overlook this incident and move on. P.S. I sure am glad that somebody made sure to see that we don't have all the nasty langauge here that we put up with every day everywhere else we go.

[strom]

Well, I guess you're right... and I appologize if I hurt anyones feelings and bout talking politics and stuff.
I just hope everyone comes home safe and I'm glad for all who did and sorry for the families of all those who didn't.
Fusionking, I don't know what experiences you had with borders in europe. There are a lot of small countries here, lots of diverse people and cultures, not too unlike the US. For example I have bout 1.5 hour drive from a ski resort in the alps to the beaches of our small portion of the sea. Gotta go a bit further to find a desert tho.
Countries inside the EU don't have any border stations or checkpoints, just a welcome sign, if you have time to spot it. Those countries that are not in the EU have border stations, mainly due to import-export taxes and contraband (drugs and stuff). You are free to pass the border, if you're not carrying anything illegal and if you're not wanted by the police/interpol or if you are required not to leave the country by court order, stuff like that.
There is a downside... bikes in italy are a lot cheaper than here. But it's nearly impossible to import a bike that is either older than 6 years or not an oldtimer. That is bout the only thing that bothers me bout borders in Yurp.
Tradeshowjoe, amen to that
NOMAD, I'm a strange guy... ask anyone who knows me.
No worries, wayne


Ride safe everyone!

LP

[skippy344]

Welcome home Jon StandingBear! It is an honor to be affiliated with someone patriotic as you.

While I didn't support the reasons we were there, I fully supported the troops who were asked to go. They did a job they were asked to do. Can't get much more honorable than that!

Welcome home, and ride safely,

greg

[Wayne]

Strom, thanks and apology accepted for sure. I'm glad we cleared this up, I didn't want a flame war or anything like that. (too much of that went on in the old list and I like that it doesn't happen here much). So ride safe my friend and keep posting as I am always happy to read your XS posts.

P.S. to Skippy344
LOVE the sig line!