Page 10 - C.A.L.L. #46 - Summer 2020
P. 10

Kibbutz Mishol, Israel



        Anton Marks
        March 29th

        Tfw #socialdistancing and #stayinghome are a contradiction in terms.

        I've spent half my life removing my front door, intentionally, hinge by hinge. Now I need to

        put it back on, I haven't got a clue where to find it, and even when I do, I don't even know
        which way up it goes.

        I've had text messages expressing envy that we have lots of people around during a time
        when others don't. However, since we have lots of people coming and going in and out of the
        building, those that work in health services or the voluntary work that we are doing, in order
        to protect our most vulnerable (we have a significant number of people with pre-existing
        conditions which puts them in danger), and to protect those that we are working with
        outside, we need to distance ourselves from one another, something which is emotionally, but
        also practically, a real challenge.


        No, I'm not going to lose my
        job, or the roof over my head.
        We'll definitely take a
        significant hit economically,
        but will probably only start to
        feel that in the months to
        come. I won't succomb to this
        disease personally and I don't
        have my own parents or
        grandparents to worry about.


        The life I have chosen is an attempt to actualize an antidote to rampant capitalism. An
        alternative to the fractured society that we see all around us. Aspiring to create a society
        that challenges the blind acceptance of poverty, violence, racism, sexism as 'that's just how
        life is'. It's an alternative for ourselves, but also for those we meet and create new realities
        with.

        And suddenly we are thrown into a new, unknown and unexpected crisis situation which
        challenges us both physically, mentally and financially. But the social side is the most
        confusing, where our all-encompassing togetherness actually works against us.


        I'm not writing this looking for sympathy, but to share the complexities of being part of a
        very intentional and close-knit community that is also committed to taking responsibility for
        our surroundings.






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