R.I.P. N.W.O.

Jeremy T. Sellers
Jerm's Joint
August 29, 2007

Freedom of speech is a wonderful asset provided us by the Bill of Rights of The Constitution of the United States of America. It has given us the ability to speak out in favor or opposition of those issues we find important as citizens of this great country. We are allowed to laugh, criticize, and be angry at our government if we wish, whereas this could have severe repercussions in other places around the world. However, that same power can cause hurt, turmoil, and conflict among our fellow mankind. Now that you've received your daily history lession, I'm certain you would like to see where this is leading.

Freedom to express ourselves as NASCAR fans is what makes this sport so powerful. We create intense rivalries among our drivers, wescream out when we're disenchanted with the sanctioning body, and damn near blow a gasket when our favorite behind the wheel is taken out. Bashing each other's drivers is common place, but is rarely taken out of context and kept to a tongue-in-cheek mentality. Nonetheless, there are those who insist on violating the unwritten rules, crossing the boundaries, and ruining something good for the rest of the crowd. I will explain.

Obviously my commentaries are of my personal opinion, and not all agree, but I do try to ensure I harm none. However, this article will take on a completely different undertone like no other, but its heartfelt and perhaps overdue. Recently, a NASCAR discussion group many of us were members, was disbanded because a select few refused to follow the organizational rules, which were simple. The only taboo was no member bashing, but feel free to unleash on any driver or subject matter that was NASCAR. It is in this forum that my articles were first recognized and further syndicated by my good friend Bill Crittenden for his automotive library. Sickened by issuing countless warnings to the offenders for their juvenilistic behavior and member harassment, the owner closed up shop with little warning. Thus proving that the freedom of speech is not always a mirror image of itself. Without a doubt, speaking freely is and always will be an invaluable tool, but it's idiotic cases such as this where it's illustrated as a weapon of mass destruction. Now, an outlet for us, as NASCAR fans, is gone due to antics of a few.

With that, I challenge you all to become involved. Leave messages in the mailbag, join the Yahoo! Group affiliated with this site, and feel welcomed. However, possessing a certain degree of maturity will be one of the new rules. This I guarantee you all!