According to today's Courier, it is going to end at Waterloo, but according to the Trail of Tears web site, it is going to end in Florence. So where should it end. And are there two different committees now, or what is going on.
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If anyone could actually PROVE which part of the water was where the Indians were, then it would be a no-brainer for any of us ... Florence just wants the MONEY, that is why they pushed so hard.
My personal opinion is Waterloo... my Son-in-law is over half Native American, and Waterloo has a special place in his heart. McFarland Park does not.
Everything was okay for years, UNTIL Florence started seeing all ths $$$$$$$ that the poor town of Waterloo was making ONE DAY A YEAR, and they wanted the pie.
Their reasoning is blatantly STUPID, and for whatever reasoning they gave, probably money, the T.O.T. organizers are now going along with them.
Did I ever say that I hated political people who have $$ for eyes!!!!!!
My personal opinion is Waterloo... my Son-in-law is over half Native American, and Waterloo has a special place in his heart. McFarland Park does not.
Everything was okay for years, UNTIL Florence started seeing all ths $$$$$$$ that the poor town of Waterloo was making ONE DAY A YEAR, and they wanted the pie.
Their reasoning is blatantly STUPID, and for whatever reasoning they gave, probably money, the T.O.T. organizers are now going along with them.
Did I ever say that I hated political people who have $$ for eyes!!!!!!
The city of FLorence didn't have anything to do with the ride stopping at McFarland, the TOT board decided that they had too many bootleggers (tshirt and unlicensed merchandise) in Waterloo and THEY wanted all the money. The money is supppose to go for educational scholarships. Unfortunately you can't stop that kind of thing easily. The TOT board still wants the ride to stop in FLorence. Its a shame that all things can't be worked out so it will go as it is suppose to. We ride it every year. Its gotten out of hand and I don't think the TOT board of directors have a clue how to handle it.....
quote:Originally posted by bluesmann:
It's the money game, right, just like anything else, example Christmas is no longer about the birth of Christ, it's about money. Like Easter is the all about the money. Like the 4th of July, it's no longer about the Independence it's about money. Being 1/4th Native American, the Trail of Tears is just like anything else, it's all about money, so is everything else. Money talks and bulls/it walks and you that is a fact.
bluesman, you nailed it!!!
And the City of Florence had EVERYTHING to do with it stopping at McFarland!!! WHO do you think started the crap about all the bootlegging, (which won't happen in Florence, YEAH RIGHT)... The TOT Organizers were content with the way things were going, until the City of Florence wanted the pie...
All about that almighty $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
And this is the ONLY time of the year that Waterloo is able to make any sort of revenue.. Geeezzze, can politics NOT factor into something that concerns them NOT one iota!!!!
Can they NOT sit and allow anyone else a piece of that pie? I think not, they are greedy, and pitched all this greed to the Organizers...
Native Heritiage will still be in Waterloo... just you wait and see.
I have never understood, If the TOT organizers are so concerned about their official merchandise, why have there never been a time that if you dont get there and buy their stuff on thursday you did't a shirt? Because of all the B.S. they have brought up, I have dedicated myself to buying only unofficial merchandise. I don't ride but I do spend the weekend in waterloo. The only riders I care to see is the ones who go to waterloo. I invite anyone to chalenge me and tell me I can't go to waterloo, hell I see florence every other day of the year.
quote:Originally posted by unclegus:
I have never understood, If the TOT organizers are so concerned about their official merchandise, why have there never been a time that if you dont get there and buy their stuff on thursday you did't a shirt? Because of all the B.S. they have brought up, I have dedicated myself to buying only unofficial merchandise. I don't ride but I do spend the weekend in waterloo. The only riders I care to see is the ones who go to waterloo. I invite anyone to chalenge me and tell me I can't go to waterloo, hell I see florence every other day of the year.
IF it was ONLY about the shirts and stuff, the Organizers that have been going to Waterloo EVERY year until Florence's greedy little hands got put into the pie, they could WRITE the Vendors a month or two in ADVANCE complete with an ORDER FORM to buy authentic TOT merchandise!!!!
I think all the vendors would be happy to do that, in fact probably would LOVE to do that, not only for the profits of their own, but for what the extra money goes for.
Do you all REALLY believe that there will be DIFFERENT Vendors at McFarland than at Waterloo (if they close Waterloo)???????
Everyone needs to really think this through and start flooding TOT and Florence with opinions, especially if they are opposing.
This subject has brought to mind another thing I want to bring up. I think the Shoals area is ready for an organized barbeque competition. I am going to sugest it be held at Shefield riverfront park. Any thoughts or oppinions?
quote:Originally posted by unclegus:
This subject has brought to mind another thing I want to bring up. I think the Shoals area is ready for an organized barbeque competition. I am going to sugest it be held at Shefield riverfront park. Any thoughts or oppinions?
Absolutely GREAT idea!!!!! Where? When? I AM THERE!
Maybe you should post this under FOOD TALK also...
Just a suggestion quote:Originally posted by bluesmann:
according to the http://www.courierjournal.net/news/news.html trh Offical Ride Route Will Be Chattanooga to Waterloo. Solution lets' set aside two other days and have our own Native American Indian Festival, so both sides can get what they want http://www.aiassoc.org/photos.htm The city and the county did both reject that the ride end at Florence last year.
I thought so too, bluesman... but I seem to remember TD having an article about it ending in McFarland in 2007. I hope we can get this cleared up soon, and I HOPE that it goes ALL the way to WATERLOO!!!
Gorgeous country down in 'them there parts'...
My Husband is half Cherokee Indian, and because of the mess last year, he missed going to the T.O.T for the first time ever in his life. He refused to go to Florence, and thought it was a big smack in his heritage's face, despite whatever reason whomever had to have it end at McFarland.
We also didn't go because everything was so up in the air about whether they were allowing people into Waterloo, or not. We didn't want to waste the drive from where we live, just to be turned back to McFarland, he would not find as an acceptible alternative to Waterloo, anyway.
I think whomever it was that had the awful idea of having it in McFarland, didn't respect the whole reason for this event. They thought that it would be easy to move it more into the city, when it disgraces the memory of the Native American's that had to walk that trail that ended in Waterloo. Until you talk to a Native American, or someone with Native blood and knowledge, most wouldn't think this was a bad thing.
My husband told me that this year we are going to Waterloo, whether they like it or not. He is not going to have his son miss out on his heritage, and knowing the road that his people had to walk, even if there isn't an "event" in Waterloo. It's the reason behind the Trail of Tears, that should be what the organizers/deciders should have as top priority. It's become commercial to too many people, I'm afraid.
*shakes head* Which is sad.
~Manda~
We also didn't go because everything was so up in the air about whether they were allowing people into Waterloo, or not. We didn't want to waste the drive from where we live, just to be turned back to McFarland, he would not find as an acceptible alternative to Waterloo, anyway.
I think whomever it was that had the awful idea of having it in McFarland, didn't respect the whole reason for this event. They thought that it would be easy to move it more into the city, when it disgraces the memory of the Native American's that had to walk that trail that ended in Waterloo. Until you talk to a Native American, or someone with Native blood and knowledge, most wouldn't think this was a bad thing.
My husband told me that this year we are going to Waterloo, whether they like it or not. He is not going to have his son miss out on his heritage, and knowing the road that his people had to walk, even if there isn't an "event" in Waterloo. It's the reason behind the Trail of Tears, that should be what the organizers/deciders should have as top priority. It's become commercial to too many people, I'm afraid.
*shakes head* Which is sad.
~Manda~
I don't know the organizers of the TOT, but I do know a lot of people who go to Chattanooga each year to ride here with the rest of the riders...
Each and every one of them said WATERLOO!!!! So Florence just MIGHT not get what they want afterall.
Each and every one of them said WATERLOO!!!! So Florence just MIGHT not get what they want afterall.