See Ya

Soon after the criticism concerning President Bush’s actions in Iraq, I heard a lot of people say ''well, if you don't like it, leave.''

This motto is especially popular where I live in Utah because of it's heavy conservative views. I sympathize with those who have given this advice because the disapproval regarding this conventional state has been plentiful. Regardless, telling people to leave is obviously a completely elementary attitude.

The advice to ''leave'' came to my mind the other day when I got pulled over by an officer. He thought my scooter was not road legal (even though it had a tag and registration sticker) and after looking at my registration said ''well, back in the seventies you could get by without turn signals, but you should use your hand to signal'' (Utah motorcycle laws still don’t require turn signals). This was frustrating because I use my hands to signal but only before the turn (while turning I keep both hands on the handlebar).

I realize that this sole experience is not a justifiable reason to consider leaving a state, but this is not the only time I have been frustrated with crooked cops. Having been pulled over three times for turn signal problems, twice for not having them (which, again, is legal in Utah) and once for having too bright of blinkers. But these experiences do not compare to the unjustified arrest of my brother along with other harassments.

So, what should I do? Apply for a one-year German internship? Sure. Hope to learn the language well enough to apply for a real job and live in Germany? I can only hope.

This may seem like a childish mentality toward an otherwise trivial issue, but I really hate cops. They have destroyed my favorite hobby. I used to ride my scooter to release stress, but now I am always looking over my shoulder and worried that some cop has some quota to fill. The real problem is that there are so many laws that a cop can pull you over for just about anything, I wouldn’t be surprised to find a law prohibiting black tires.

So, it may not happen at all, but if it does it won't be till March and between then and now I will have to continue to stop myself from yelling ''ass hole'' every time I see a cop.