So many colors in the rainbow, none at the fair

Thor's Keepers, the rough-and-tumble, national Internet-based Buell Blast SOB organization couldn't wear its patches, stickers or T-shirts into the county fair near St. Petersburg, Fla.

TJ, our screaming mascot, isn't allowed, either.

Police have enforced a no gang colors code at that  county's fair, forcing Christian motorcycle groups and outlaw clubs -- and any SOBs taking TJ to the sunny side of the states --  to remove their vests or go home.

The idea is to keep down gang violence, which apparently breaks out as often as Broadway musical stars break into song.  Here's the responsible media's version: http://www.theledger.com/article/20100209/NEWS/2095060/1374?Title=Bikers-Revved-Up-Over-State-Fair-s-Ban-on-Club-Patches

There's also a law reported out there in the state that would have a similar impact, according to a Virginia biker's blog http://blog.yoursdomain.com/2009/12/law-bans-biker-colors-in-bars.html.

Naturally, there are issues among gangs when they meet in public, but more and more 99%ers -- the non-outlaw riders -- are being thrust into the same boat as the bad guys.

Mind you that  there is some cross-over of attitudes between the citizen rider and the committed clubber. We may wear vests with affiliations and statements such as FTW and "my inner-child is a mean bastard." We may also fall into fisticuffs if seriuosly provoked, but we seldom have shoot outs, or sudden violence follow in our wake.

For instance,  there have been no fights reported between the Shenandoah Valley Harley Owners Group and the Orange Harley Owners Group or between the Southern Cruisers and Gold Wing Road Riders, but you never know.

You really can't trust anyone who rides two wheels to be a normal, pathetic slug like an avowed cager. You can't ride very often without a little outlaw attitude soaking in.

Besides, in Florida, they're making the Blue Knights -- a cop club -- take their vests off, too.

We'll just have to make sure that the only patches we wear on our vests from now on reflect the proper attitude that  They -- those who run the Myrtle Beaches and county fairs of the world -- want us to embody: