“One of the most important tasks the ‘dissident movements’ have set themselves is to support and develop [parallel social structures]. . . What else are those initial attempts at social self organization than the efforts of a certain part of society to . . . rid itself of the self-sustaining aspects of totalitarianism and, thus, to extri…
“One of the most important tasks the ‘dissident movements’ have set themselves is to support and develop [parallel social structures]. . . What else are those initial attempts at social self organization than the efforts of a certain part of society to . . . rid itself of the self-sustaining aspects of totalitarianism and, thus, to extricate itself radically from its involvement in the [totalitarian] system?”
Havel is such a heroic figure. I don’t know his exploits in detail but I think he was publically resisting and helping to crumble the “Iron Curtain” when it was starting to weaken using his creative writing ability and wit during a time and in a context where you could get prison time even for being disrespectful and mocking the regime. But here he is talking practical strategy of creating parallel business channels which is so much what we need. I find that more and more I can just go in big corporate places like Home Depot, get what I want, and go through self-checkouts and nobody says boo that I don’t have a mask. Lower echelon workers couldn’t be bothered. They aren’t paid enough to hassle people, it is too stressful. My problem is with the smaller outfits that sell organic groceries that I need day-to-day. I am reluctant to create a scene because I don’t want to burn my bridge since there are very few of them out here. However, the other day, in a curmudgeonly mood, I did. The place had an internal juice bar where you could sit unmasked so I got juice and tried to check out groceries in the other part of the store. They were on me immediately but I loudly pointed out the absurdity that people were eating and drinking 20 feet away and masks do diddly squat to protect anyone. I kept putting my groceries on the counter while I argued, and the manager said it was useless because the hapless checker was forbidden to serve me. After I got my cart unloaded, I told the checker to ring me up. She just stood there timidly preserving her job. The manager was gone, I assumed she was summoning help. Finally I whipped out a piece of African Mudcloth and tied it around my face and she rang me up and I got out of there. I felt like I performed good service with this incident, because I was helping crack the dam and letting people see options. But if some entrepreneurs would put together an option for sane shoppers, a parallel channel, I believe the market would be there.
Excluding situations where criminal charges could be attached.
It leaves them off balance to begin with, if nothing else. I bet you won't even be pushed most of the time. Good Luck. One more Havel quote >
. . .[these] parallel structures do not grow . . .out of a theoretical vision of systemic change (there are no political sects involved), but from the aims of life and the authentic needs of real people.”
“One of the most important tasks the ‘dissident movements’ have set themselves is to support and develop [parallel social structures]. . . What else are those initial attempts at social self organization than the efforts of a certain part of society to . . . rid itself of the self-sustaining aspects of totalitarianism and, thus, to extricate itself radically from its involvement in the [totalitarian] system?”
Václav Havel, The Power of the Powerless
Havel is such a heroic figure. I don’t know his exploits in detail but I think he was publically resisting and helping to crumble the “Iron Curtain” when it was starting to weaken using his creative writing ability and wit during a time and in a context where you could get prison time even for being disrespectful and mocking the regime. But here he is talking practical strategy of creating parallel business channels which is so much what we need. I find that more and more I can just go in big corporate places like Home Depot, get what I want, and go through self-checkouts and nobody says boo that I don’t have a mask. Lower echelon workers couldn’t be bothered. They aren’t paid enough to hassle people, it is too stressful. My problem is with the smaller outfits that sell organic groceries that I need day-to-day. I am reluctant to create a scene because I don’t want to burn my bridge since there are very few of them out here. However, the other day, in a curmudgeonly mood, I did. The place had an internal juice bar where you could sit unmasked so I got juice and tried to check out groceries in the other part of the store. They were on me immediately but I loudly pointed out the absurdity that people were eating and drinking 20 feet away and masks do diddly squat to protect anyone. I kept putting my groceries on the counter while I argued, and the manager said it was useless because the hapless checker was forbidden to serve me. After I got my cart unloaded, I told the checker to ring me up. She just stood there timidly preserving her job. The manager was gone, I assumed she was summoning help. Finally I whipped out a piece of African Mudcloth and tied it around my face and she rang me up and I got out of there. I felt like I performed good service with this incident, because I was helping crack the dam and letting people see options. But if some entrepreneurs would put together an option for sane shoppers, a parallel channel, I believe the market would be there.
I just say, "I'm exempt."
Excluding situations where criminal charges could be attached.
It leaves them off balance to begin with, if nothing else. I bet you won't even be pushed most of the time. Good Luck. One more Havel quote >
. . .[these] parallel structures do not grow . . .out of a theoretical vision of systemic change (there are no political sects involved), but from the aims of life and the authentic needs of real people.”
Václav Havel, The Power of the Powerless