Page 23 - C.A.L.L. #23 - Spring 2004
P. 23
KALEIDOSCOPE
After a rather extended silence (since August 2000!) we Kommuja’s latest issue, No. 57 of Fall 2003, was
were agreeably surprised to get a Newsletter of June edited by several “Laerifari” people, comprising at
2003 from Kommune Niederkaufungen, entirely present 15 humans, 4 cats, 2 dogs, 2 sheep and one
dedicated to the theme “Children and Youngsters in chinchilla. The current issue was put together by the
Community”. Here comes a small sample by Antje trio of Christina, Jana and Mel – who dedicated the
Rausche, entitled “One-parent Education in first five pages to a debate about: Are we or aren’t
Communes”: we a Commune?
“So much has already been written on that subject! Sure, Not having a joint economy nor communal jobs or
but yet – it’s different with each Mother or Father. At the children; but processing a great collective mission:
outset of my Commune period, being a single parent LIFE – can we claim the right to be publishing
meant to me that almost everyone had some advice to “Kommuja”?
offer. Of course it was well-meant advice, for which I am
quite thankful in hindsight – but it reminded me of the Subsequently, 24 year old Christine expresses her
saying “Ratschläge sind auch Schläge”, loosely translated views: “We are people who have a place here, where
meaning “Advice can also be Vice”… or shall I put it that we feel sheltered, from which we start afresh every
way: they were “incitements” which amongst other things, morning, to shape our day individually. Some of us
incited my spirit of resistance! commute to town, to study or to work. Other ones
often just stay here. All of us bring life to this place
Nonetheless, to let the religion teacher residing inside … I always dreamt of living in a commune … I
myself, which I allow to appear much too seldom, express understood it to mean, living together with many
himself in the words of Paulus: “I checked everything out other people whom I like; owning a place to which I
and kept the best for myself!” and sometimes I even can retire and live fully. It ought to be green, with a
decided to pass on some of the advice that I appreciated. lot of animals. All the people should have the same
Philosophy: living together considerately and
When the phase of like “if I may tell you for once…” (which peacefully. Commune means many people who care,
according to my theory is much less used with 2-parent plan, discuss, embrace one another and
couples) was concluded, the one-parenting changed to a occasionally even quarrel – and create a home for
nice “you can go to work at ease, we’ll take care of your themselves … How wonderful for me to have
child!” discovered a second home!
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