Discuss: Send in the Clowns

The single most important point that connected to my brain as I read about this trip was near the end, where it is explained that in order to initiate real change in a society, the leaders of any ideology need to accrue mass from that society, to convince people to join them in that way of thinking, and compromise in order to make advances in achieving the goal, rather than to abandon and turn their backs on that society. That’s always been my untieable knot. Dave Santos will not convince any but those likeminded souls to adopt his nomadic, non-consumerist lifestyle, and the rest of society will simply write him off as a whacko of some sort.  I had never had that thought occur specifically and in such detail, and it leaped off the screen to knock me upside the head. I have a much younger friend who said to me once that she wanted to decide what she would “do” for a living without devoting her entire life to “bucking the system.” She says it’s too exhausting. I hated to admit that she had a point. And I actually gave up that devotion some time ago. As I have gotten older, I appreciate some comfort.  I like to live in a house, and I’m sitting at my own computer. I try to live as lightly as I can, and it’s a good deal more frugal and carbon-light than many, especially that oddest of animals, the “average American citizen.” But I’m still part of the problem situation, and it’s taken me a good twenty years to be able to accept that. I am, like the rest of Universal existence, a work in progress, I guess.

Many thanks to all who have taken the time to offer comments on “Send in the Clowns.” I’m deeply grateful for everyone’s interest.

Writing this piece was one of the biggest challenges of my life in that it forced me, as many of you have suggested, to examine my own culpability and complacency in relation to the environmental crisis before us. And who wants to do that, really?

We all want to save the world, but that’s not going to happen—not fast enough, anyway, unless the wheel of capitalism is engaged in the effort—unless somebody can make some money in the world-saving business, strange as that may sound. That way, “being good” (in a bike nomad idealistic way) doesn’t become a prerequisite for “doing good.”

It’s already happening. The incumbent fossil fuel regime is being slowly replaced, from within, by renewable technologies that are demonstrating their key strategic advantages. Texas, Petroleum Central, is now the wind energy capital of the country—because of the wind resource, yes, but because Texans have always recognized a good business opportunity when they’ve seen one—Guess who played an early important role in Texas’s current leadership position in wind? Then Governor George W. Bush! Another irony for the historians.

Thanks again, everyone. Your comments make this line of work all worthwhile.

Mark Svenvold

I live “normally” and ride a bike. I just wish more people would take care of their bikes and at least use them when the weather’s nice on local trips to cut down on our energy usage. That would be a big first step. No use in trying to get people to radically change their lifestyles.

I really enjoyed reading this article—-was beautifully written, funny and insightful.

And I agree the writer’s take on the issue.  The solution has to be something everyone can do…

Great article, as the brother of the subject, I feel the portrayal was precise about the passion Santos expresses and the fact he can be a royal pain in the ass. Much of this vehement fervor comes from the profound pain he feels when sees the world being adversely changed by his perception of the unsustainable selfish consumerism is embraced by so many (myself included).

Thank you, Quintin. I think being disabused of one’s complacency is always painful—I found (and still find) it so. But I have to thank Santos, however painful it was to be with him, for showing me an alternative mode of peaceful existence. It was and continues to be transformative.

I mostly enjoyed this article, except for the use of the word “illegal” when referring to Mexican Americans living in the United States.

“No human being is illegal.”

Great article…however not every car-free lifestylist lives as radically as Santos.  While, i know many anarchist bike kids that come really close to his profile, there are many of us who are anti-car, anti-oil, etc. and are working towards changing car culture in a way that appeals to more mainstream culture. 
i’ve never owned a drivers’ license nor a car and am a bike activist. While, I can appreciate Santos’ ideals, i realize that taking such a radical stance will not effect change.  People will look at you and think…crazy…out there…might work for her, but i’d never live that way. In order to really make a change,a wider appeal is necessary. 
i am part of a bike advocacy group that goes out into the community and actually puts more people on bikes. 
CC aims to make bikes accessible to everyone in our community regardless of socio-economic status, cultural background, gender, etc., but it’s more than just giving someone a free bike.  At CC, we teach basic bike repair so individuals can keep their new vehicle in top shape; we teach safe riding skills; and we try to show individuals that they too can use their bike for better health, to positively effect the environment, to save money, for recreation, for transportation, etc. 
While, we’d love for everyone to stop driving, the reality is that if we tell people to just get out of their cars, this would turn them off - they’d find a reason to say they can’t stop driving i.e. i have 4 kids or i commute over an hour to work or plug in whatever excuse you can think of.
Instead, we focus on showing people how to make minor changes - how to drive less, how to carry groceries, kids, etc. on their bike.  Once, they try and accomplish that small task and see that they too can do it, then they are more willing to make changes to their car-loving lifestyle. 
Altho., less than 2 years old, Community Cycles’ programs have had great success.  It helps that we also live in a city that is highly bike-friendly, but wherever you live, effecting change takes baby steps, coaching and providing support.  And, sure, yes, some of us ride tall bikes and some of us frequent thrift stores and even look to dumpsters for “shopping”, but we do not push that lifestyle on others. Instead, we show them that every little thing counts and that the small changes they can make DO make a big difference. 
Of course, we proudly parade our bike-centric lifestyles around town and yep, we ‘re guilty of clowning around at the shop, but the changes that we are making in our community are far from 3-ring (unless you’re talking about chain rings here).  Don’t think that you need to put on a show to make a change.  Check out Community Cycles’ website http://www.CommunityCycles.org.