The One-man Revolution

"Therefore the only revolution worthwhile was the one-man revolution within the heart. Each one could make this by himself and not need to wait on a majority." — Ammon Hennacy

Ammon Hennacy (1893-1970, Christian, anarchist, social activist) formed his one-man revolution theory during a long spell in solitary confinement following his imprisonment for promoting draft evasion during World War I. The authorities tried to trick him into registering by telling him his fellow arrestees had all registered. He wrote "I felt that if they gave in, someone had to stick, and I was that one." The authorities made the mistake of thinking Hennacy valued his belonging more than his integrity.

I'm no Ammon Hennacy, but I do value my integrity more than my belonging. I find it almost impossible to compromise, to surrender my beliefs or my ideals to some supposed 'greater good'—or as corporate leaders are wont to say (and indeed have said to me in the past) to 'get on board'. This is not about being right; this is about being true. Five years ago my publisher wrote this about me, "Tobias has never held an opinion lightly. His orientation seems to be: If something is worth believing, it is worth believing passionately and absolutely." [ref] I won't go as far as to say I am my own one-man revolution, but as soon as I read Hennacy's quote I realised that it is what I aspire to.

Over the past fourteen years I've been immersed in the corporate world. Immersed in, but not swallowed by—an important distinction! My role has been akin to that of the court jester, to speak truth to power. Well, that's how I see myself. Sadly the rulers and kings of the corporate world actually hire me as a trusted advisor, and by speaking that same truth I commit treason. And they burn me for it. Happily, phoenix-like I rise again for the next challenge, hopeful, resilient and always seeking that one organisation I can actually make a difference in, a lasting imprint.

Well, more accurately that is what I once sought. More recently I've been understanding that desire as vanity. What folly it is to think I can change an entire organisation. I don't even really know what an organisation is. As Walter Wink wisely said, no one has ever seen an organisation, or a school, or even a church. How can I change what I cannot perceive? I'm no jester, merely a fool. But I know this. There are people I have touched, people I have helped to wake up. Not many, for sure, but maybe that doesn't matter. Even if it is only one in the past fourteen years, that's one human being seeing the world differently, maybe confronting authority, maybe seeking kinder conversation, maybe replacing judgment with observation, maybe having a heavy burden of bullshit lifted from their shoulders, and finally being able to stretch their wings. I take much solace from that image.

Here's Hennacy again.

"We really can't change the world. We really can't change other people. The best we can do is to start a few thinking here and there. The best way to do this, if we are sincere, is to change ourselves."

That last part. I know how hard that is. And if I actually want to be sincere about it, I simply won't have the time to try to change anyone else, let alone that gigantic and ambiguous monster named Corporation.

I only recently discovered Ammon Hennacy—three days ago to be exact, just as I was begining to worry I had nothing to write in this newsletter. I rather stumbled upon him while searching for something completely unrelated. Such things happen. I no longer remember what I was looking for, but I know what I found. As I wandered the internet, as a deep sea diver scours the sea bed for the sunken ship after finding a single porthole window, I began to uncover jewels of wisdom, shining with humor and humility, enough to whet my appetite, and have me return to seek further. I'll leave you with one final Hennacy quote, one that touched my own anarchist heart.

"Oh judge! Your damn laws! The good people don't need them, and the bad people don't obey them."

May News

Rayna went to Los Angeles to visit family and attend her sister's graduation. She was gone the best part of nine days, and I was home alone with the children. This was a new experience for all of us. In over five years Rayna hasn't spend a single night away from both children, and I have not been alone with them for more than a single day. Worked out fine for all of us though. Rayna enjoyed her well-deserved break. Holding our family life together for all those weeks I was away in hospital and rehab was exhausting and fraught with worry. And for my part, it was time I immersed myself deeper into parenthood.

Happily there was plenty to occupy me and the girls. We've recently connected with a few Sheffield Home Education groups, people who plan outings to parks, woodlands, museums and other places of exploration and play—including that particular week a drumming and storytelling workshop. We all got to know new people, and make new friends. And we had our first trip to the Peak District, which shamefully, given that it is on our doorstep, we haven't managed to do until now. It's beautiful, and we are all going back this weekend to a Friends of the Earth gathering, and a night in a youth hostel—because we're all so young you see ;)

In other news I spent a few days in Manchester, and taught workshops in Birmingham, Leicester and Cambridge. In each city finding time to meet up with people I care for, people like 'the six-string theologian' David Blower, 'linkybrain' Mike Sutton, and Clare, a good friend from way back when. Good times were had by all.

It's two hours into June. Feels like summer is here, on this warm, damp night. Enjoy the next thirty days, with this shimmering imagery from Pablo Neruda.

"Green was the silence, wet was the light,
the month of June trembled like a butterfly."

Tobias


May Writing


1st June 2018, 2.00 am