The Punk Dad Manifesto

Image Gallery Paul Hostetler / www.phostetler.com

This missive was found in the mailboxes of the members of the Marigold Gardens Homeowners’ Association on Wednesday morning. We have substituted the @ symbol to depict hand-drawn, encircled capital letter A’s used in places throughout the document. 

Let it be known: 

We do not recognize the authority of your crypto-fascist Homeowners’ Association, whose pantsuited army rules illegitimately through fear and intimidation.

The Anarchy flag will NOT be removed from the balcony of 38 Marigold Court (hereon forthwith referred to as “Rebel Commune”).

Until the day the fire department extends its ladder across the cul de sack [sic] and breaks solidarity with us, in no doubt threatened with loss of their jobs by the appointed thugs supported by your bake sales and tricky trays, proudly will it flap as the last banner of true freedom in our sub­division.

Rebel Commune will make NO promise that children left for playdates will not return with their hair colored with unsweetened Kool-Aid and moussed into fake mohawks. Thank your petty gods for the mercy we show in not getting out the clippers and sending them home with REAL ones.

Take note that we said unsweetened Kool-Aid. After the incident with Britton and the Geldsteins’ weinmaraners [sic] it was decided this was a wiser course. Also, Punk Dad will ensure all handcuffs, safety pins, and spiked leatherwear are collected before sending children (hereon and forthwith known as “L’il Anarchy Warriors”) home.

A decibel meter has been purchased, but the Dead Kennedys, Sex Pistols, Bad Brains, Ramones, and Misfits will continue to be played during playdates to teach the L’il Anarchy Warriors the true meaning of punk.

Riot Grrrl Mom’s playlist of Bikini Kill, L7, and Sleater-Kinney will also continue to be played, whether or not girls are present.

Green Day are poseurs and will ONLY be played during time-outs (or “sell-outs,” as we call them). This is not negotiable.

Exception may be made for American Idiot.

Vegan snacks will be available, and Cassidy’s nut allergy will be accommodated. An Epipen (and an adrenaline shot for that matter) are kept on Rebel Commune premises at all times.

Sk@teboarding at Rebel Commune WILL be restricted to between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. as per city ordnance [sic]. The swimming pool will be used for this purpose and NOT filled with water until the first day the temperature hits 80. Chlorine and Ph ARE properly monitored! The “greenish” color of the water is due to the Kool-Aid. If this offends you, please stand in solidarity with us against Maggie’s Salon until they agree to carry Manic Panic hair products.

Riot Grrrl Mom says when you buy Manic Panic online, you can’t really tell what exact shade you’re getting, particularly the difference between Toxic Turquoise and Kick Your Azure.