issue 34

Over the top - War and combat, touchy subject all round I reckon. Still I don’t mind admitting I’m intrigued by it all. As much as history and my research tells me there was nothing particularly good about World war two other than a small lunatic tyrant from Austria with only one testicle was put straight. The whole experience looked pretty gruesome and I’m certainly thankful I wasn’t on the front line, that’s why I wear my poppy with pride. A point that once again came to the forefront of my mind the other night when restless and stressed I stayed up for the whole sitting of ‘Saving Private Ryan’. I don’t mind admitting that film makes me feel emotional. Not only does it make me realise just how lucky I’ve actually got it and I should quit my bitching when I come across what I class as aggravation and stress, which in actual fact is nothing really worth worrying about. It also makes me realise the value of friendship and how when the chips are down everyone pulls together. It puts my faith back in human spirit.

I woke in the morning, bleary eyed and tired but upbeat. Sat there whilst eating my fruit and fibre I was checking over the websites and forums like I usually do and I started to read about the American MXoN team selection. I couldn’t help but feel like they really make sure the whole nation gets right behind the team. Maybe it’s the American way but it all seems so positive, so much so that I had an urge to ring Easty to find out how it was going at our end and fire him up too. It didn’t take very long, he’s like touch paper or a very short fuse on a very big bomb (what was printable can be read on pg.122). Now I know I may be a little premature here as the nations is still over a month away, but I just can’t help but feel we really have to start building an atmosphere over here in Blighty right now and really get each other up for it, particularly the riders. After all we are going to be fighting the rest of the world in our own backyard and not on desolate foreign shores. Not quite the life changing combat or indeed life ending that I make reference to I admit but a fact remains the same, as a nation we should all stand together.

In America in particular patriotism is something not to be embarrassed about, we treat it here as a bit of a taboo subject, like we do sex I suppose, stiff upper lip and all that rather than openly discussing something else that is stiff. Over the Atlantic pride and heritage is driven into kids from a young age. They are taught that it’s the winning that counts, not the taking part, same goes in Australia. With all the negative vibes currently surrounding this years MXoN it’s time to do what us Brits do best with our backs to the wall and that’s fight, and that doesn’t mean smash a bottle over someone’s head like so many small minded people seem to think. We need to start firing back now with positivity before we get taken down. I hope the Donington organisers do the same. We’ve got the strongest team we’ve had for a while so let’s help them make us proud. Never mind any of Winston Churchill’s war cries, like that mad, pissed up cook from Norwich, Delia Smith famously enthused “Let’s be having you!” Right on that note I’m off down to the Rose and Crown for a tear up. Until next month – get busy. Roger, over and out. - Jeff

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