Jonathan, it's a little frightening imagining you scouring the internet to find a song to post that expresses your obsession for me. Please stop.
Jim, thanks for your thoughtful comment (a nice contrast to Jonathan's class clown apprach).
Jim wrote:Saying that Ken never gave an answer and then placing quotes around red text confuses readers, implying that Ken or someone else actually said those words.
USHPA effectively did say those words. Read the expulsion letter carefully and tell me if you disagree. USHPA dragged it out to seem overwhelming, but the summary is exactly what I've paraphrased. Ken has also effectively said those words by taking no action on the matter. Furthermore, I believe the meaning was clear enough ... as evidenced by your own understanding.
Jim wrote:They are made up by the author, not Ken. Attempting to goad Ken into a response is counterproductive.
Those quotes paraphrase USHPA's expulsion letter. Read the original expulsion letter again and tell me if you disagree. Ken wasn't on the board when USHPA took that action, but he's become a party to it since then by his own inaction. I am not trying to "goad" Ken to do anything. I am urging him to either do the right thing or take ownership for failing to do the right thing.
Jim wrote:All I have ever heard anyone in my circle of pilots (not Ken) say about BK's expulsion is that, possibly, with hat in hand, he should approach the USHPA leadership and ask what it would take to return. There is sympathy for his plight but his method of dealing with it leaves them shaking their head.
When someone steals something you've earned, do you go beg them "with hat in hand" to give it back? What message does that send to the thief? USHPA crossed a line when they took away my ability to fly at Sylmar and other sites for political reasons. I earned my ratings with my time, my resources, and my dedication ... just as you did Jim. That should never be stolen from any of us as a form of political revenge for testimony in court or at city council meetings.
Jim wrote:Since the USHPA meeting is in Silicon Valley this fall, perhaps it's a good time for some of BK's supporters, presumably local Californians, to attend and ask that question for him. Show the leadership that there is support for his return to flight.
Justice is not a numbers game. USHPA's expulsion was wrong whether opposed by one pilot or ten thousand. I won't beg the thief to give back what was rightfully mine to begin with. I will, insread, work to remove USHPA's ability to abuse their power against all pilots. That's what we've done at Dockweiler. I believe L.A. County looked at that expulsion letter and felt they could not be party to that kind of retaliation against citizens. They took the extraordinary action of allowing flight based on a waiver alone because they recognized the injustice. I believe they also agreed with arguments that no other sports require membership or insurance. That's a direction USHPA will never endorse because it would rob them of their monopoly control over free flight.
Jim wrote:I have met some of the leaders. They are dedicated to the sport at the expense of their own livelihoods. They aren't getting rich off the USHPA and they aren't megalomaniacs trying to rule us all. If the leadership were that bad, free flight enthusiasts, an unruly bunch, would abandon them. Those taking issue with their stewardship should meet them and see what kind of people they really are, which is, just like the rest of us.
I am sure there were supposedly "good folks" in Salem when they were killing their fellow citizens as witches. Human beings have a high degree of social "herd animal" in their DNA. There's a lot of "go along to get along" on USHPA's board. It's reinforced in their meetings. It takes a lot of social courage (very different from physical courage) to stand up for what's right in that kind of setting. That was demonstrated in Salem and Nazi Germany and everywhere else where injustices are perpetuated by "fear, uncertainty, and doubt".
Jim, I have no patience for the class clowns like "NME". But your message tells me that you're giving this some thought and thinking things through. While we may not agree, I do appreciate the sincerity I sense in your message. Thanks.
