Brian’s Column: “Open in Defiance”

An Owosso barber shows the world at large how to throw off the collars[1]
By  Brian R. Wright

It is a turning moment in the freedom movement—on a deep psychological level, as when the colonials read Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, and realized they had to let go of not just the King of England but the whole concept of kings, entirely. Karl Manke, Owosso, Michigan—haircutter for 60 years, author, pillar of the community, and occasional hobo train rider—just came right out and said what all the Howard Beales of America are thinking these days, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this any more!”

Literally, “I can’t afford to not be working,” “Lockdown makes no sense for a mild flu,”  “I don’t need the governor to be my mother,” “I can… run my business how I feel I should run it,” and “I’m opening, and will stay open… ‘until Jesus walks in or they arrest me.'” That was the day after he opened, Monday, May 4th. He’s been putting in 12-14 hour days ever since. I cite mainly from the the unexpectedly well-written article from the corporate paper on Tuesday, May 5th, then I digest for a few days.

Sure enough, up and attem, today, Friday, May 8th, needing to be no place, “Hmmm, you know I can really use a haircut.” My prospective Toledo, Ohio, haircutter tells me her Governor Ball-Less Whiner, goose-stepping to the antisocial-distancing potentates, is not letting grooming services back for two more weeks.

I’m going. Have to. North and west about 70 miles to stand up for my country and its First Principles… and its second one, too: Never leave active liberty-front fighters without support. What’s this from the East Room, among us social terrorists, grandma proudly displays her Q-buster of a trim! Continue reading