The Clown Army of Resistance

Recruitment Office

Background

CIRCA/NYC marches across the street while protesting the Republican National Convention in 2004. Photo by Fred Askew

Anti-authoritarian Clowning

Welcome to Boot Camp.

Physical health check: you’re reading this, you pass.

Mental fitness check: does the growing global fascist regime sicken you? You pass.

Basic Training

(We are waiving the bootcamp requirement to watch this movie. Recruits are expected to watch it at their earliest convenience.):

Find “Life is Beautiful” and watch it, with subtitles if needed.

You are also encouraged to read this post and watch the included videos:

Code of Conduct

Article I:

I am a human, fighting in the forces which fight for liberty and justice for all and guard ways of life which foster this goal. I am prepared to give my life in their defense using the tactics of clowning, mockery, and other disarming and joy-bringing means

Article II:

I will never surrender of my own free will. I will never surrender the members of The Clown Army of Resistance while they still have the means to resist.

Article III:

If I am captured, I will continue to resist by using the tactics of clowning, mockery, and other disarming and joy-bringing means. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

Article IV:

If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. I will help ensure consensus command structures in the ranks of other POWs.

Article V:

When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability, using every opportunity to highlight the ludicrous nature of the questions asked. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my faith in pluralistic representative democracy and its allies or harmful to their cause.

Article VI:

I will never forget that I am a human, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles that make people free. I will trust in my moral and spiritual light, however I perceive it to be.

Article VII:

I will remember always that wars are won and lost in the battle for hearts and minds. I will always remind those who choose more kinetic actions that their choices directly affect the battle for hearts and minds and implore them to choose wisely.

Article VIII:

While some fronts in the global war against kleptocratic fascism necessitate kinetic action, I will not align with any forces that target civilians or civilian infrastructure. I will do my best to help kinetic forces I do align with to maintain their mental health and moral compass, and to help them draw down and rehabilitate as soon as is appropriate and feasible.

Oath of Enlistment

I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend Pluralistic Constitutional Representative Democracies against all enemies, foreign and domestic wherever they are threatened; that I will use the tactics of clowning, mockery, and other disarming and joy-bringing means; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of my morally and ethically sound conscience, and according to The Clown Army of Resistance Code of Conduct. By all that makes me who I am as a human, I will honor this oath.

If you are still here and swore the above oath, congratulations: you have passed Basic Training.

“I'm a storyteller: the crux of the matter is to reach beauty, poetry; it doesn't matter if that is comedy or tragedy. They're the same if you reach the beauty.”

—Roberto Benigni

Additional Resources:

More about CIRCA.

Charlie Chaplin updated:

Uniform:

While no uniform is provided or required (this is an irregular regiment), any clown costume will function. Mime-face works well for defeating facial recognition algorithms; an orange base instead of white would be just as effective. Or just come as you are - it is farcical enough.

DIY Clown Costume Ideas

Clown Call-Signs:

Every member of The Clown Army of Resistance chooses their call-sign. Be creative and unique or ask an LLM or go with Chucky. Duplicate call-signs may occur. It is up to each member to distinguish themselves in the event of duplicate call-signs.

Add your call-sign in comments if you’re on board and want to join recruitment efforts! Uncle Sam needs YOU!