Bumpy trail

There appear to be more bumps and curves in staging this year's commemorative Trail of Tears motorcycle ride than the average biker would find on a country road.

The Alabama-Tennessee Trail of Tears Corridor Association decided this year to conclude the ride from Chattanooga, Tenn., at Florence's McFarland Park instead of in Waterloo. The association's board cited safety concerns because of the growing number of riders and lack of cooperation from Waterloo officials on vending issues.

The annual 230-mile ride commemorates the forced removal of Native Americans from their land in the 1830s. Waterloo was the embarkation point to Oklahoma reservations.

Now, it's turned into a big finger-pointing stink that threatens to sour the accomplishments of the association and the thousands of riders who take part in the event each year.

The association has been accused by some of caving in to Florence officials who want to reap the financial benefits of the presence of thousands of motorcyclists the weekend of Sept. 15-17. Others say the association is being dictatorial about who can sell T-shirts with the Trail of Tears logo.

Tonight, members of the association board will meet with the Florence City Council to discuss the ride. Council President Leland Howard said no one in city government has strong-armed the association into using McFarland. In fact, he said he plans to ask the association to reconsider its request to use the city park.

Money is at the root of this dispute -- and in at least one particular, rightfully so. The association is a nonprofit group that has raised money to fund a scholarship for Native Americans. An important source of that money is the sale of T-shirts bearing the Trail of Tears logo. But some of the vendors in Waterloo have been selling shirts that are not sanctioned by the association, which means none of the money goes toward the scholarship fund. Waterloo officials apparently don't want to enforce nonsanctioned shirt sales.

The association has the right to protect its logo from being pirated and to protect its source of scholarship money. If Waterloo officials can't or won't assist with that, then the association has made a sound decision.

The annual ride has raised awareness of the injustice and money to help Native Americans attend college. Those are honorable achievements that should be worth something.