
I politely declined, of course. I could have gone the subversive route and helped hang a jury or nullify charges against some poor tagger, instead, but while I do love theater, I'm not that good at masquerading as something I'm absolutely not - which, in this case, would be a "good citizen".
Anyway, I thought a lot before filling this out and dropping it in the mail. I guess it's fair to say that I'm a declared anarchist now - sworn and signed to in my declaration to the state about why I'm just not fit for their jury duty. Sooner or later, I'll be able to articulate just what kind of anarchy I embrace - I try to avoid labels like that, but nothing else really seems to explain my critique of American "democracy" and the criminal justice system. Quakerism competes, though, when it comes to sorting out what strategies and tactics I prefer...real anarchists would probably call me something of a wuss (which is probably one reason I've avoided claiming to be one of them until now).

I hope the courts don't think I'm just kidding around with my answers. I mean, I do dress like an outlaw, draw on the sidewalk, and taunt the cops sometimes, but that doesn't mean I don't take this business of crime and punishment very seriously. I just thought they might not want to waste their time (and mine) by dragging me all the way down there just to shake their heads when they get a look and send me home.

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