| Members of the Hells Angels motorcycle club have | | | | are just people too. The only difference with the |
| been rolling into Missoula this week. They will be | | | | Hells Angles that were working out at Gold's Gym |
| staying through the weekend, and naturally the local | | | | last night while I was there was the t-shirts with their |
| news has focused on the notorious group and their | | | | club's name and the Harleys in the parking lot with |
| Harley Davidson motorcycles. | | | | Hells Angles on them as well. Besides that, they were |
| This morning's local newspaper, the Missoulian, ran an | | | | just people in the gym working out like everyone |
| editorial titled "A guide for getting along with hells | | | | else. People are people. And if you want to get along |
| Angels." I chuckled at one of the bullet points: "Don't' | | | | you just need to remember a couple of important |
| touch their bikes. They don't like that. In fact, keep | | | | things. |
| your hands off anything that doesn't belong to you. | | | | Treat others with respect and be polite and |
| And make sure you have permission before taking | | | | courteous. That's it. That's all you really need to get |
| any pictures." I chuckled because this and everything | | | | along with just about everyone. Sure there are |
| else in the editorial seemed so obvious. | | | | always exceptions, but if you are polite and |
| But then, maybe some people have not learned | | | | courteous and treat others with respect, you will get |
| certain lessons the way I have. Back when I was | | | | along with just about everyone you ever meet or |
| stationed with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort | | | | interact with. This is not as easy to practice as it is |
| Bragg, N.C., I came out of a bar on Hay Street and | | | | to write about. All of the great teachings and religions |
| witnessed the tail end of an altercation where one | | | | of the world have taught variations of this "Golden |
| individual got his head stomped in. I asked someone | | | | Rule" throughout the ages, but people still don't follow |
| who say the entire fight what happened and found | | | | it and people still don't get along. However, if you |
| out the guy laying in the street had leaned against | | | | stop and think about it, and put this basic principle |
| the other combatant's motorcycle. It didn't take | | | | into action, you will find that you get along with |
| much more for me to know that you never touch | | | | people and enjoy yourself all the more. |
| someone's bike without permission. That goes for a | | | | So let me repeat this one more time. Treat people |
| lot of things, not just motorcycles. | | | | with respect. Act polite and courteous with all of |
| In fact, it is pretty easy to get along with Hells | | | | your interpersonal interactions and you will get along |
| Angles or anyone else for that matter. After all, they | | | | with just about everyone. |