Deep Conversation - BIKERS ACROSS THE NATION PODCAST

The Many Layers of Humanity, Nonprofits, and the Double Standard of Support

We need to have a deeper conversation, one that peels back the many layers of what it means to be human, especially within the nonprofit world.

Far too often, nonprofits are placed in a double bind, they're encouraged to raise funds to support their mission, but the moment they ask for help or attempt to grow, they're criticized or dismissed. This contradiction harms not just the organizations, but the people they serve, especially when those people are already vulnerable, such as veterans, families, or underserved communities.

Recently, I came across a post involving a business that hosted a fundraiser claiming to support veterans. Yet in that same breath, they attempted to humiliate a veteran who simply questioned the direction of the event. It wasn’t just about differing opinions, it was about power, ego, and a lack of empathy. The event was clearly centered around a singular worldview, alienating anyone who didn’t align. And the saddest part? Many of the individuals being honored or “supported” are the very ones being left behind by policies and systems now being gutted, often with the support of the same people being invited to these events.

We can't keep pretending this isn’t happening.

This is the emotional double standard, raising money "for a cause," while silencing the voices of the very people you're claiming to help. Using them as a prop, not a partner. That is not humanity. That is not nonprofit work. That is not service.

In my own post, I called attention to this contradiction. I also reflected on the importance of listening, not just to the voices we agree with, but especially to those we usually tune out. We have to stop assuming we know someone’s intent based on a headline, an outfit, a bike, or a patch. If we’re serious about unity, we need to stop equating disagreement with disrespect.

This conversation isn't about shaming, it's about awareness. It's about recognizing the depth of the harm being done, not just politically, but emotionally and morally, when we allow these double standards to stand.

We say we support freedom, then let’s practice it by making space for conversation, for dissent, for truth.

The more we silence each other, the less we grow. The less we grow, the more we fail the very people we claim to stand for.

Let’s talk.