I only looked at this because it popped up at the top of the list. I read through the whole thing and I have a couple of questions. Just asking as a person on the outside looking in, not defending one side vs another.
When did he specifically say he was having it built for him with someone else's money? I just read he was building to raise awareness and the main question was hemi vs LS. I do believe if everyone just stuck to the engine swap question, this thread wouldn't have gotten out of control. People build vehicles, paint vehicles, build sculptures, get tattoos, etc., for various causes. If anything, it's a conversation starter if you see the vehicles.
So if I'm understanding this correctly, it's not cool to build any kind of vehicle to raise awareness to anything? Am I a tool for building a custom chopper in memory of my 4 yr old cousin who died from pediatric cancer and my father rode said chopper in every ride that the foundation in my cousin's name hosted, along with showing it in shows and going to other events with it? Will I be a bigger tool if I had a tribute to my older cousin who died in March from pancreatic cancer, whose son is being memorialized on the chopper, added to the chopper? Is the guy I met a bike show wrong for building a trike and having it painted in memory of the guys he served with who lost their lives in Vietnam wrong and stupid for doing that? The guy wasn't asking for donations, just wanted to pay tribute. And the bike itself was extremely cool to look at.
I'm not saying I fully understand PTSD, but being that my grandfather served in WWII and my uncle served in Vietnam, I can say there was a clear difference between how the 2 spoke about their experiences. My grandfather spoke about his time in the Philippines and Japan, but never got into detail (with me anyway) about battles or anything. My uncle on the other hand, I didn't realize he even served until maybe 5 years before he died. I didn't know he was awarded the bronze star until his funeral and I was pretty close to him, especially when we both got our motorcycle licenses and started riding. What I do know is everyone handles things differently, and unfortunately those who can't seem to be afraid to ask for help in fear of being called weak or a pussy. I do know some people use PTSD as a crutch like people scamming for disability or welfare and cast a dark shadow for those truly suffering from what they've been through. What category the OP falls into, I'm not sure. All I know is I would have gladly served except a back injury prevented me from doing so. My father responded to ground zero after 9/11 with an excavator to clean up the debris. I know he must have seen some disturbing things especially since he witnessed the entire attack from across the river. He's spoken about objects he found, intact wallets, a door to a plane but never the gruesome stuff. I couldn't begin to imagine what being there was like just like I can't begin to imagine what soldiers of every war in American history went through. To all of the WAYALIFE members and vets everywhere that fought for our country, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Anyway, again, I'm not taking sides, I can't take sides for anyone I don't know. I just mentioned my experiences with relatives who served, who they handled things, playing devil's advocate if you will and am trying to understand why everyone is hating on bringing awareness to anything, without the fighting, killing and rioting of course. I bet people on here hating on the fact he was building something to raise awareness for anything were the same people doing that damn ice buck challenge a couple of years ago instead of making a donation to ALS. I don't see a difference between the two other than maybe the rolling tribute would be a conversation starter and maybe people seeing it may want to help in some way in their community, whether cash donation, volunteer, etc.
The death threats the OP made to people in PM's was definitely out of line and inexcusable. It definitely didn't need to go there just like I don't understand why everyone was so bent on why he was building a jeep when the question at hand was on an engine and honestly, in my opinion, should have stayed there. I feel there's a bunch of people on here looking to start fights and I swear these are the same people from jersey Jeepers or related to them. I thought the jeep community was about helping others not attacking others because of why they are building something. Busting chops, I get and I'll do it to, but attacking someone over why they are building something, it really wasn't needed.
Last question, would all that started bashing the "cause", have done so face to face or was this a case of having a big set hiding behind the keyboard?
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