Curious about 'Colors'

[fatboy02]

We've likely all seen the scene in Beyond the Law where rat fu(king someone's colors is explained but I was only left more curious about 'Colors'. I have been told things like never cover up your Colors (ie, if you have your Colors on your vest you wear the vest outside your coat and if you go into a bar you take your coat off and put the vest back on). Obviously you don't let someone else wear or take posession of your patches. Just wondering what the other do's and don'ts are .

[bikertrashdude]

Deleted due to better minds saying better things......

[fatboy02]

Never meant for this to 'go somewhwere' I thought that might be the general reply but I thought I might learn something anyways. Basically I was more curious about the differences in treatment of earned and 'purchased' colors.

[BadgerOctane]

Well, BTD has a very good point on this one. Its true too, but since you've asked an honest question out of curiousity and you seem humble and genuine about it, I'll see if I can clarify a little of it here. Hopefully this won't turn into a flame war like past threads of this nature have. Your question was asked for the purpose of education on the subject and hopefully all answers and comments will remain in that field keeping all biased opinions, club names, associations and differences aside or otherwise left alone.

With that said you can already see the nature of your subject is a slightly touchy one and here's why.

When you earn your colors, you EARN them. You can't buy them, no one will just give them to you, you have to work hard and follow guidelines, and even take a little hell now and then but all that is to make certain you are a worthwhile person.

Think of it like joining a family, you're either born in, or you're accepted by the family in some way. To be accepted you have to prove that you're willing to be a member who's soul concern is the prosperity and well being of that family. If you're not proud to be in that family, then you're better off not being among them in the first place right?

That's a small sense of what colors are, a reflection that you're a member of a family, that you support and uphold the beliefs and values of that family and that you have also become accepted by that family. They will defend you, just as you will defend them.

I realize I'm being a little vague here, but I'm trying to keep bias opinions out of it.

Your colors also reveal your place in that family so to speak, and depending on the club. Say you're walking down the street, you see a man, woman and child all walking together, you can assume he is the father, she is the mother, and this is their child. Something similar happens with your colors in a sense, you have a position within that family. You have a designated purpose and you are important. The group needs you, just as much as you need them, and together you are strong, together you are all family.

[BadgerOctane]

As far as do's and don'ts go, no matter what your place with the group, you display your colors, even if the only patch you hold reads the word, "Prospect". This one you've already mentioned.

You alone wear your colors, since you alone earned them.

You have an equal voice in who else should wear the colors of your club, as the club has an equal voice in assuring that you will still retain yours.

Colors are a reflection of your family, any threat made to those colors is a threat upon your family.

Your colors show that the property in which you own is considered family property, they will help you defend it, and you will help defend theirs.

Your colors show your Constitutional freedoms in the right to assembly, and freedom of speech.

Many things can be said about colors. Pros and Cons, do's and dont's, rights and wrongs... and you'll find that there are many variations and different rulings depending on which club you are referring.

Be it known, that no matter which club anyone rides with, or what they think of other clubs we all share one thing in common... that we enjoy life on two wheels.

And with that said I hope I've been informative and answered some of these questions without flaring any ill opinions about this subject.

To all:
Ride safe, and whatever beliefs you hold true to your heart, no matter what the rest of the world thinks, stick true to those beliefs and you have been true to yourself.

BadgerOctane

[fatboy02]

Badger, thanks for the replies. You have confirmed much of what I already 'knew' and I never meant for this thread to be more than a curiosity about what others think and perceive colors to represent. I was mainly interested in the idoisyncrasies, if any, of 'flying colors' becuase I see so many people doing what I would consider disrespecting their own.

[BadgerOctane]

I know what you mean fatboy02, and I see it too highlighted in news here and there. Which is why I posted that last comment there, about holding true to the beliefs in one's heart.

I myself am curious on which forms of disrespect you've seen personally. And I think as long as you could post it here excluding names or specifics, others might benefit and learn from it too. Feel free to fill us in and give us your thoughts on this.

I really do think this is a topic worth learning even though it hasn't been conducted so well in the past, and that's simply because many have only been subjected to forms of mediated reality on the issue rather than listen to some first hand accounts and such.

Let's keep this one going, but by all means let's keep it civil and simply for the sake of knowledge on all sides. I think if people knew a little more they'd quit thinking of this as so much of a tabboo.

BadgerOctane

[fatboy02]

Badger

Personally, I have seen only two 'rules' broken--and these were by people that obviously EARNED their patches. First was covering of the colors (ie, came into a bar and removed jacket to reveal a patch covered vest). Second was coming back into a bar to retrieve his colors--(different guy)--not only did he take off his colors, he left without them. Peace

[BadgerOctane]

Well, as mentioned different clubs will have different rules so to speak, but there could also be another factor involved, and here's an example:

Here in Colorado, there are still a few bars with a "No Colors" rule. And I'm not talking about 60's segregation they clearly mean that you cannot display something that reflects an affiliation to which there could potentially be a rival and thus cause for dispute.

Basically they just don't want any trouble, nor do they want to lose business because individuals might percieve the establishment as biased.

In that case, that particular club, or clubs, would likely respect the given rules of the establishment, and abide accordingly. Covering of the colors, or even removing them could then be acceptible, again depending on the club.

The key word is 'respect' not only to yourself and fellow members, but to the world and it's people around you as well.

There are many things we've heard, "Do unto others...." "Act not lest ye be judged...." and many of these are used commonly in some clubs. (I'll bet not many knew that.)

So those members might not have been disrespecting their colors, but rather respecting an in house rule. Though true, forgetting your colors not only makes you look stupid, its grounds for a foot in the ass or two.

BadgerOctane

[RedBeard]

Everyone needs a foot in the ass now and again, Badger. I've had a few, and it's been good for my humility, and helps keep my perspective straight.

I've got another question relating to this issue. Here, in this forum, we have patch holders and loners and AMA types all intermingling freely, conversing and enjoying each other's company (except for a couple of trolls now and then ), but out in the "real world" it seems quite different. Seems like there's a big wall separating us. Why is that?

There are a few saloons I know of where everyone mingles, but even in those places there seems to be a sort of a wariness between the groups. For my part, I'm happy to talk bikes and drink beer with anyone, regardless of what's on the back of his vest, or what's not. Maybe I'm the oddball. I dunno.

[FLHRIvrat]

I'm would like to see this tread grow and let EVERYONE learn from it in a civil way as Badger has emplied. There are a lot of "do's and dont's" that a lot of people here could gain from. When you sit down and drink a beer with a true patch holder, one that has been around for a long time, they will most often turn out to be one of the nicest guy's you'll ever meet. I think what RedBeard is referring to here is that maybe sometimes guy's are a little too proud, and that's not a bad thing at all! Just as when you got your first scoot, you were very proud of it. The patch holders in question may just be very proud of there colors. Proud to wear them, and let everyone know what family they belong to. There is a level of respect that M/C show each other. Some clubs have a higher position than others, and the members of that club would need to show them a little more respect. These clubs are often referred to as "support clubs". Not that they are in any way less of a club, maybe just a little newer and operating in an older clubs territory. This would mean the "younger club" would support the "older club", hence the stand offish attitude. Then you just have the clubs that don't get along with each other well, and it may be required to go as far as to get "permission" to even be in the other clubs home state. It all boils down in my opinion to treat others how you woud be treated, and ride. I'm not sure I hit what RedBeard was asking, but I did have a few too many last night, and my thoughts aren't as clear as they should be. It's all about respect man, plain and simple.

[rewind]

As far as disrespecting your own colors, I have seen people leave their colors draped over the windshield of their bikes, or just laying on a table by their camp site (and no one around the campsite).

[Bot]

To respond to Redbeard, on the real-world vs. the Forum world.

By my avatar, you will know I wear a patch, but not with a M/C, in the strictest sense of the word. One of our members was flagged down in town by the president of a local M/C, told not to wear his colors in that area. When that president spoke with our president, it was resolved that he (we) could wear our colors where we wanted, but not pass out flyers or pamplets in "their territory". This was a respectable (and honored) solution. Key word being respectful.

As it were, we now get a few of those patchwearers hanging out with us (in our "territory", imagine that) from time to time. We are happy to have them with us.

I suppose you will run into dishonorable people in all walks of life, from blue collar to white collar, from rich to poor, from employees to employers, and yes, even from bikers. I can only hope that dishonorable bikers are in the vast minority of bikers.

[marthared]

I don't know about other "Clubs", but I can speak to CMA color rules (Christian Motorcyclists Association). We "earn" our colors by completing a ministry training course. The CMA colors are considered to be very a very important tool for our ministries, and thus are to be respected and well-taken cared-for by us who wear them. We're not to allow anyone else to wear them, and we are to be very careful in how we conduct ourselves, for we are messangers for Christ. We wouldn't dare leave our vests/jackets anywhere they might be stolen
Take care.. -Martha

[mill540]

Badger,

Great way to set the tone for this thread. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, knowledge and opinions on this.

I think one should not judge another man by his affiliations. You can make certain inferences about that person and their beliefs, but you cannot know that person unless you make an effort to. Some are willing and some are not. So be it.....to each his own.

The important thing to me is that we are all individuals. That is the great thing about life....variety. God forbid that we should all want, like and behave the same way. You don't have to like everbody, nor does everybody have to like you.

Respect for each others differences and beliefs is the key.

Isn't it funny that 2 of the people that show great eloquence with words and show much respect and tolerance for others views and opinions seem to be Manny and BadgerOctane?

Hmmmmm.....something to ponder.

For what I have seen and read in the forum.....much respect to both of you and others like you.

Sorry....didn't mean to highjack.

Can someone explain how to tell the hiearchy of the colors within a club?