Guy Lochhead, 11/09/10
An open motorcycle club dedicated to respecting those who serve in America’s military and emergency services. The group formed in order to shelter and protect funerals from protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church (after first the mourners’ permission), but has grown to assist servicemen’s families in financial difficulties, visit hospitals and volunteer at veterans’ clubs, with over 170,000 members. Anyone can be a member, regardless of their political views etc.; the only prerequisite for membership is “Respect”. Of course, “respect” can be totally blindening and damaging but there’s no consistent evidence of that here. Patriotism can also be a tricky thing, particularly when it mixes with right-wing scapegoatism, but I think this organisation is genuinely well-meaning. There may be a difference between club members’ individual views and the club’s mission statement, but by including their logo, this doesn’t matter. Soldiers are people. Patriot Guard Riders protect these individuals and their families from morons. I don’t agree with America’s foreign policies, but that is something completely different to returning servicemen. The club also serves as a means of communication between veterans, families of servicemen and sympathetic civilians.