ON THE FLY : Vroom, vroom, vroom

So much going on, but the rally is on everyone's mind

— There is so much happening in the world, I had a hard time this week focusing on one topic.

From local news, the future of a new Fayetteville High School to the firing of the city's animal services superintendent; to the national stage, anti-healthcare reform rallies to the fear of H1N1 outbreaks; and to the world stage, from the United Nations speeches by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - the options seem limitless.

There are even the oddball items I could touch on, from Tom Delay movin' to the groove on "Dancing with the Stars" (which I don't, by the way, watch on a regular basis) to the newest season of "The Biggest Loser" (which I don't miss an episode of ).

But alas, nothing seemed to be coming together for a full-fledged column. Walking aimlessly around the newsroom and later out in the public (yes, they do let me outside sometimes), I seek ideas from people from all walks of life. The most common response to my question of, "What do you think I should write about this week?" was "Write about how much you hate Bikes, Blues & BBQ."

Wow. So much animosity for a four-day motorcycle rally that brings thousands of people to our little burg in the foothills and adds dollars to an economy that can use as much help as it can get.

Having moved to Northwest Arkansas from South Dakota, I know what other rallies can be like. The Fayetteville rally prides itself on being "family friendly," which it is during the day. I wouldn't take my daughter down Dickson Street as the night wears on and the partying really gets going, but then again, I wouldn't do that on non-Bikes, Blues & BBQ weekends.

Other rallies, such as Sturgis, S.D., are anything but family-oriented. We should be happy at the way this rally has matured over the last 10 years. Hopefully itstays on this path into the future.

So why do so many locals have disdain for this event? The easy answer is the noise and the traffic. But those are both things that can be accommodated for a short time. And honestly, is traffic really that much worse for this event than it is for a home Razorback football game?

The noise can get old, but if you close your eyes and forget about what the sound really is, it almost sounds like thunder. From a distance it is a gentle rumble.

I do have some sympathy for people who live close to the action, but I see that as a price you pay for living near an entertainment center such as Dickson Street. If quiet is what you seek, I suggest moving to the country. The downtown area does come with its pros and cons. You have to take the good with the bad.

Now, I am no motorcycle mama. You most likely won't see me on Dickson Street this weekend. I'll do my best to avoid the traffic and festivities, but that by no means indicates I wish the rally didn't happen.

I say live with it and appreciate the benefits that come with the infusion of people. Do you realize how many towns out there would kill for this event in their community?

Christie Swanson is the managing editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times. Her column appears every other Friday.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 09/25/2009

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