[dc-critmass-list] CM Ride

[docguch at juno.com]

Really big CM ride, this Friday 04 July 03.  Time to Declare Independence
from Big Oil and Big Automobile Manufacturers.  CM ride is every Friday. 
With the low turnouts, the reason, it is not because we were doing it
every Friday, it was because you all weren't doing anything to let the
public know of our rides.  When you all rode through Capitol Hill, you
all did nothing to let the public know what we were doing, you all acted
like you all had tunnel vision and just ignored the public.  I know many
of us are too busy with our jobs, schooling, and other major obligations;
but if anyone has time, make flyers and pass them out.  Oddly for some
reason, there are many bicyclists in Dupont Circle on Saturdays,  pass
out the flyers to them, and let them know the truth of CM as a bike ride,
and CM is not a criminal activity.  To make many flyers and pass them out
to every single person I passed would be financially draining and time
consuming for my busy life.

Shame on any of you who made accusations of my comments being racist. 
First off, Racist is a person makes policies or is in power and has
prejudicial feelings towards ethnic groups.  Second, a person who is not
in power or doesn't makes policies and has prejudices towards ethnic
groups is prejudice.  The definition, came from taking Ethnic Studies
class--Perspectives of American Racism--at Laney College in Oakland CA. 
On racial debates don't try to pawn the Dictionary when it comes to words
related to race and ethnic issues, because the dictionary is usually the
Eurocentric definition of  a word.  Before you try to debate me on race
issues, take some ethnic studies class before you try.  You may think you
all understand people of non-Western European origin, you all ain't going
to understand people of non-Western European origins unless you are one
yourself.  You may think you understand African Males, but you don't
understand one unless you are one yourself.  That would be a big lie if
you are not African American and understand African Americans.  Many of
you didn't have to grow up fearing police harassment and brutality, being
followed by store security whenever you went to any department store, a
person grasping their bag upon your presence, the social injustices in
your neighborhood--from freeways in the middle of your neighborhood to
having industrial activity next to where you live and go to school.  If
you didn't live the experience, you are not going to fully understand the
experience.  I don't expect any of you to understand people of
non-Western European origins, but you have open opportunities for ethnic
sensitivity training.  I recommend reading Strangers from a Different
Shore, by Ronald Takaki.  For anyone who want to cry acts prejudice or
racist, I can accuse you of being prejudiced and if you are a policy
maker--a racist--for not trying to attract a non-Europeans to the CM
rides.  

Suggestion Box:  

In Sacramento CA, Critical Mass meets at the steps of the State Capitol
Building.  When they meet up, first they hold a rally, protesting the
preferential treatment the government gives to automobiles and for more
bicycle friendly public policies, then they ride off @ 6:15 PM.

We should do something similar, like change the meeting place to the
Capitol Mall, closest to the National Capitol Building as possible.  We
can hold a rally then ride off.  Advantage of Capitol Mall, is the it is
more of a central location in DC, great place for a pre-ride rally, and
easier to reach for people who live in the SW, NE, and SE locations in
DC.  Riding in Dupont Circle and only riding in the confounds of NW may
be exclusionist.  

We need to attract more people of non-European origins.  If anyone know
how to speak and write in Spanish, make a CM flyer en Espanol, and pass
them out at Mount Pleasant.  If anyone has time to go to SE, NE, and SW,
pass out flyers in those locations.  There are many bicyclists in those
neighborhoods.

For school teachers, let your students know about CM and give them extra
credit for participating and writing an essay about participating in CM. 
    

After summer semester is done and I come back from my Bay Area trip, I
can pass out flyers in SE  and Gallery Place/Chinatown.  I can go to the
Greenpeace office and let them know about the CM rides.  

At the end of the Month, I will be on vacation in the San Francisco Bay
Area.  Hopefully my sister will loan me her bicycle so I can ride in
Oakland, SF, Berkely, Sacramento CMs.

David (real name Mustafa)   

PS:  Let me know if anyone wants to change the CM location to Capitol
Mall, so I can change the flyers to reflect the Capitol Mall.
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