But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show
— “True Colors” Cindy Lauper
By Randall Grantham
Community Columnist
Years ago, my wife (and I, to some extent) ran a small bar and grill. It was a fun little spot and doubled as her personal party palace, but hey, it beat having to put up with all those drunks coming over to the house. One evening a friend and patron asked if she allowed “colors” to be worn in the bar. Not understanding that colors usually meant motorcycle gang members’ common dress code, she replied, “Sure, you can wear whatever color you want in here.”
She later found out what they were talking about and, despite being cautioned about it, we never had any problems with gangs or colors or anything other than drunks.
I bring this up because I read that an attorney friend of mine, who often represents members of motorcycle clubs when they get in trouble with the law, actually tried to pick a fight with the law during the State Fair this month. He was involved in a coordinated visit to the fair by various club members who were wearing their “colors.” But what I don’t get, is why he called the Sheriff’s Office up front to tell the SO they were coming and to ask if they would be allowed entry.
Of course, they were not allowed entry and I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. Some sort of Freedom of Speech action or legal complaint is not beyond the pale. It’s not a reach either. The fair does discriminate between different groups based on their perception of who is in the group.
For instance, a group of my friends went to the fair and had no problems getting in. This despite the fact that they were dressed in very similar vests, and carried heavy bags and stout extension poles that could easily be used as weapons.
While they were there, they noticed several other groups, or gangs, wearing identical outfits visiting the fair “en masse.” There were a group of girls, all wearing little brown uniforms with gang patches on them. They had no problem getting in. There were also a bunch of redneck looking youths, males and females, obvious gang members. They were hanging around the animals looking for trouble, all wearing blue jackets with some acronym on them, seemingly insinuating the “F” word, Two “F” words actually.
I’m being facetious, of course. The group of girls were Brownies. The red-necks were FFA, or Future Farmers of America, and my friends were amateur photographers, with photography vests, camera bags and tripods, but the point is, why would grown men who happen to ride motorcycles and dress alike be denied an opportunity to ride the merry-go-round?
I know many upstanding citizens who would fit that description, judges, doctors, lawyers, and they are not a menace to society. Just because someone belongs to a club with others who share their interests and wear a prescribed outfit, however outrageous, does not make them bad people.
The Brownies are nice little girls. The FFA is a great organization that promotes animal husbandry and teaches kids the values of farming. And my photographer friends…well the Brownies are nice girls; let’s leave it at that.
See you at the Strawberry festival, or in court.
Randall C. Grantham is a lifelong resident of Lutz who practices law from his offices on Dale Mabry Highway. He can be reached at . Copyright 2010 RCG
