Page 18 - C.A.L.L. #46 - Summer 2020

"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".

Frits from Amsterdam Catholic Worker, where anyone with symptoms is immediately
isolated, feels trapped in his own community, worse than in prison. He bows to the decisions
of his community and misses the freedom to deal with a possible infection as he sees fit. He
feels that the ownership of a car or mobile phone ultimately kills people as well (presumably
due to the consequences of the production and mining of raw materials for the mobile phone
and the consequences of the operation of the car, MW), but that this decision is left to each

community member to make for himself - in contrast to the behaviour in case of a possible
infection.

In my community of Sieben Linden - and obviously in most others as well - we are aware that
getting infected with the current Corona virus is probably not dangerous for most people,
but could be fatal for some, and that the crisis with its measures and effects is simply
terrible for many. But when community proves itself here, it is also an important contribution
to the social discussion.

I suspect that people who live in familiar neighbourhoods and are familiar with constructive
exchange are less likely to experience fear and panic. In many places, it has been shown that
a community is a good place when a threat comes "from outside". Some even experience more

community in these times, less stress and a special time in a positive sense: Many community
residents seem to be doing really well. In the “Giesserei” (“foundry”) in Switzerland,
community dwellers are singing from the balconies every evening, in Pendragon (England)
some enjoy the peace, “because they find normal community life stressful with people coming
and going all the time”, and elsewhere, travelling journeymen have stayed longer than planned
and are building more than had been hoped for.

While I read that in many cases those in danger isolate themselves more strongly within the
community or even leave the community temporarily in order to protect themselves, I also
read that the communities get involved in neighbourhood help and feel solidarity with the

"outside world".

I read about hope that the pandemic will have lasting positive effects (Tamera) – and I read
about doubts about that. It does make us impressively aware that globally coordinated action
is possible despite economic losses - why are air travel and pleasure travel not restricted
simply because they make a disastrous contribution to climate change, why does a pandemic
need to happen? - but on the other hand there is growing pressure to make up for the
profits missed in this financial year, if possible. Roger from the Pendragon Community in
England writes:

Some people think there may be a positive outcome from this situation, like the more socially
responsible attitude that followed World War 2, and a relaxation of our murderous assault

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