I was reading one of those news forums, you know, the kind where you can post a comment on the news, or a comment on a comment, for that matter. The subject was celebrity bike builder, Billy Lane, and the outcome of his legal maneuverings regarding the charge that, while driving drunk, he passed a number of vehicles with his truck and hit an oncoming motorcyclist, killing him.
While some forum readers disparaged a legal system that allows for wide latitude in sentencing for a particular crime, the consensus was that Billy drank, drove and killed with his truck and that he should pay the price, regardless of his celebrity status.
That he used his wealth to try to mitigate the punishment didn’t endear him to readers who, in the same circumstance, would in all likelihood have been represented by a public defender and sentenced to the maximum punishment.
That was the bread; here’s the meat:
One commenter posted, “Fuck Lane, kill a biker, go to jail”.
He was answered with the question of whether that applied in this case because the victim was riding a “moped, or something” and was hardly a “biker”.
That sentiment was echoed in the mass emailing of an article by, "Katmandu", a Lane groupie who also seems to think the value of one’s life depends on whether he straddles a motor scooter or an 800 lb. fashion statement.
Excerpts of a rather tedious bit of sea lawyering, and my thoughts thereon, follow.
Let me run it down to you in a way you will understand.
Gerald Morelock was on a SCOOTER, one of those slow moving, un-suitable machines for a major roadway, not a motorcycle. And for god’s sake, do not call him a biker.
Oh, great, another skirt going to run it down to us in a way we’ll understand and tell us about “Real Bikers”. That' s pretty presumptuous, I'd say (translation: In a less politically correct time she’d be shaking her tits at the Playmate Lounge instead of running it down in a way we’ll understand).
She writes of Billy Lane:
“He’s not the damn poster child for DUI vehicular manslaughter. The lifestyle we live and love reached up and slapped him down, hard, and YOU tell me you don’t ever drive with a buzz on. I say that’s bullshit”
My response:
1. Wrong, darlin’, he is the poster boy; he drove drunk and killed someone. Had the victim he been your dad/brother/husband you might have a different take on it.
2. “The Lifestyle”? Jesus, please. If I ever prattle on about living a “Lifestyle” just go ahead and cave my head in.
3. Sure, I’ll tell you I don’t ever drive with a buzz on. I’ve been sober for over 25 years, but thanks for the stereotype. You “say that’s bullshit”?
I don’t know if whomever you hang with tolerates your mouth; perhaps he's too busy living The Lifestyle to teach you respect, but your statement has been given the consideration it deserves.
That you drive impaired, endangering yourself and those around you, is less than a lame cop-out for Billy’s misdeeds. That you did time for something similar doesn’t give you special insight or an elevated status, in my book. It just means you are, or were, a fuck-up who paid the freight.
And why wasn’t Morelock’s alcohol level brought up?
Maybe because he didn’t kill anyone, ya think?
What about his lack of experience on a scooter, witness concession that he entered the highway without looking into oncoming traffic?
It doesn’t take much experience to stay in your own lane, ask around.
I don’t know why the witnesses had to concede anything, but Morelock didn’t die from not looking into the lane he wasn’t turning in, Lane killed him with a truck. Nice attempt to put the victim on trial, though.
“Kill a Biker, go to jail.” was and still is a bumper sticker we’ve used for years, in attempts to get the general public to open their eyes to our headlights. Hearing it used in a court of law against one of our own was surreal, vicious, and just plain wrong.”
(She actually published that and allowed it to be emailed to a large number of people.)
So, we were just kidding? I don’t think so. Lots of riders believe that
“Kill a biker, go to jail” is a good idea, meant to be taken literally, even by famous rich people and retired politicians.
Yes, someone died. People die, get used to it.
Said that to Morelock’s family, did you?
This “motojournalist” even suggested that the victim’s legal choice to forgo wearing a helmet should have been considered as a mitigating factor. That reads like an opportunistic politician or an Associated Press hack wrote it rather than someone living “The Lifestyle”.
But, I digress. This isn’t about some smoke-blowing chick or some other snotty poser trying hard to convince the guys that he's a Real Biker, it’s about values and accountability.
Values aren't something that can be turned off when they become inconvenient. We value life, or not, for instance. There should be no sliding scale designed around the size or make of machine one rides, one's wealth or club. That doesn't say we value life, that says we value status.
If we have values, then we demand that people, including ourselves, accept the consequences of actions. In the courthouse, sentencing guidelines are an attempt to make the the punishment for crime both even handed and sure.
Kill a motorist while DUI, go to jail.
3 comments:
Hi Mike...
No one wants to go to jail. Billy did what he could,(as any of us would), but in the end, he accepted what the judge handed down to him without complaint.
Many could learn a lesson from him. Billy hasn't spoken out on this and I think perhaps until he does...we should make sure what we write does not include what we THINK Billy should or should not be thinking about this affair.
None of us has walked the mile in his boots that he has...and he hasn't publicly made statements except to say "NO CONTEST"...and to express his deep regret...(PLEASE, DON'T ASSUME HIS REGRET IS ONLY BECAUSE HE WAS PUNISHED WITH JAIL TIME.) People make mistakes in their lives and live to regret decisions they've made for their entire lifetime.
To call Billy names... to infer Billy has done this or that beyond the legal wrangling of his case (which is nothing more than you or I would have done to stay out of jail and continue to support our families) is nothing more than speculation about the man...and holds no real ideals into what he really thinks, how he actually feels about his deeds, or what he feels his fate truly should be.
Leave that to God and Billy...
Some of us who knew or know Billy...have deep feelings about the man...and sometimes those feelings overshadow our best judgment...sometimes our attachments to our sense of loyalty is skewed...sometimes...we just don't see the world as everyone else does.
But to actually say this about someone you really don't know: " (translation: In a less politically correct time she’d be shaking her tits at the Playmate Lounge instead of running it down in a way we’ll understand)." Is just as wrong as what caused you to say it about her.
I'm just a tad disappointed in the fact you didn't stick to the rule of argument and discussion...by arguing the facts rather than using a personal attack against the person with an opposing view point.
Would you have said that about one of the pioneering women like Dot...? Or would you say that about me? I hope not.
As for the Moorlock family...they have posted their feelings regarding the verdict on Mike Odem's Blog... I have no more to say on the subject...Except to say...as for the law...Billy was sentenced and held accountable...
I reread my post and couldn't find where I'd called Billy Lane names. The remarks about his using his wealth came from biker oriented message boards, from people I considered to be his peers.
I was irked by Katmandu's attempt to devalue Morelock and excuse Billy Lane but it's her high-handed approach that really torqued me.
Your friend should learn not to be condescending to her readers.
I lived in those pre-PC days I mentioned and women in the local motorcycling sub-culture, at least, were more likely to be dancers or bartenders and less likely to be 'running down' anything to anyone except their kids. It was not my intention to call Katmandu's qualifications into question, only her approach. That's as close as I can get to an appology.
And, no, I'd never run you down.
Mike, Let me reword my reply a bit...
No, you didn't attack Billy at all...I didn't intend to allow my reply to sound as if you had...my bad. My reply was to those who read your blog as well as to you. Billy had indeed chosen...in the end to let justice take it's course without outburst or rebuke...While he hoped for a lesser outcome, he was also prepared for worse. He received a middle of the road...
I understand your anger at Kat. I'm not at all dismissing the WAY SHE WROTE as trivial. It is as you note: condescending and reads as if Moorelock's life, his family...and the affected lives of all the others in this sad tale are of no consequence.
Your also correct in the way she talks about the biker lifestyle, as if it alone is to be taken into account and used as a legitimate excuse to pardon Billy's behavior that horrible night...This isn't the 60's or early 70's...drinking and driving isn't acceptable behavior...
And if I may continue...I'll bet big bucks Kat has expressed real anger over how celebs like South Dakota Politician Bill Janklow who Killed a biker and received a slap on the wrist are allowed to flaunt the law and get away with murder...
I'm not at all upset that you stated your anger...only in as much that your stated anger appeared to attack the writer and her being female at one point.
Your a good man Mike, your points are valid and true. I'm over believing that I should support no matter what...my friend Billy Lane. I do support him...but not blindly anymore...perhaps that is the reality behind Kat's rant...her loyalty is blind...perhaps she should follow Billy's example and support him as he calmly offers his wrists for the sheriff to manacle, and led to his place of detention for punishment. Perhaps we should support Billy in his detention the best way we can...not by decrying his detention...but by being there for him and his family during the next six years...he will need the support during and after he serves his time...support his decision to do what he has to do...He's "manned up"...maybe it's time his supporters do too?
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