MORALITY: Public, Private & Personal
at- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LibertyProspects/message/997


The famous 'clothing optional' Apartment Complex located in Austin,
Texas that started in 1976 and ran for many years was actually an
experiment in LIBERTARIAN community; complete
with 'physical aggression truce' as part of the lease,
though almost nobody there regarded themselves as either a 'nudist'
or even 'libertarian' in any formal sense.

This 'Liberated Space' was a project that I (Terry Liberty
Parker) conceived, organized, promoted, founded, defended and
initially managed starting in 1976; as a 'real world' example that a
better life via liberty was not only possible for common people (like
me), but a hell of a lot more fun as well.

My first encounter with the term 'libertarian' was via Kay
Harroff's (sp?) 1975 bid for nomination by the Libertarian Party for
candidacy for US Prez. (As 1972 LP VP Candidate, Toni Nathan had
been the 1st woman to get an electoral vote in US history) Here was a
party that was an instrument in a large radically decentralized
important movement.

Libertarians advocate consistency to the notion that each
individual is free to do as each decides, EXCEPT initiate, or do a
credible threat to initiate, physical force against the person or
justly acquired possessions of another. This is a clear statement of
what is observed to be the basis for a free
civilized society to the degree that such is seen in the world today
and in history. Whatever else people believed they also abided by
this 'physical aggression truce' to the extent that their society was
free and reasonably safe.

But, at that time, the Libertarian Party and that part of the
movement immediately around it was mostly being dismissed (when
noticed at all) as some sort of little subset of
Conservatives/Republicans. Here was a socio-political premise that
was spectacularly accommodating of a broad array of lifestyles and
perspectives, but was being pigeonholed' and
ignored. What to do? I didn't have a lot media resources, or
did I.....

While 'utopia' (libertopia?) was not an option, perhaps
there could be a compelling demonstration to some degree of how a
libertarian community could be not only possible and practical, but
very universally desirable. This was why I launched New Manor Apts as
an experimental demonstration of a
libertarian community that was to garner more local, national &
worldwide media attention at that time than the LP and the rest of
the movement. The physical facility was owned by Tanglewood
Properties, with property management by Davis & Asoc (Austin Texas)
and myself as manager/consultant for the first year. I returned to
that role a year later for a few months to help transition the
property to Jack Vincent & Asoc (who in turn sold it again a few
years later). The rest of the time I tended to other business
interests (photo enlarging service on premise was one) and enjoyed to
the max the better than expected environment shared by 150 residents
of all ages
(25 were kids) and the vast army of visitors from Austin and
all the rest of the world. What a stupendous experience!

Here's how it worked. Of the 150 residents, only a handful
considered themselves to be 'libertarian' in a formal sense. However,
the libertarian premise was made part of the lease and
termed 'physical aggression truce' with explanation to each
prospective renter as to what that would mean. Some got it instantly
and some had to think about it for awhile, but
virtually ALL decide that this was a damn good place to live
and play. The large east Austin grounds were of 'courtyard' type
construction with a 20' W x 50' L x 3' & 10' D pool and lots of grass-
covered grounds all enclosed with security combination locking gates
at each of the 7 entrances. Residents were responsible for truce
adherence for themselves and anyone they brought (or let) in to the
community.

Consistency to the 'physical aggression truce' was the premise for
success. While we still had to live in a general society and could
thus not have TOTAL 'libertopia' the community enjoyed a level of
libertarian living that far exceeded the world outside the gates. The
truce made it possible and practical for very dissimilar people to
not only peacefully co-exist, but to beneficially interact.

A simplistic example would be a 'gay' and a 'redneck' Normally when
in each other's physical proximity, anxiety is experienced. The
redneck is afraid that this gay guy might touch him in a way that he
doesn't want. The gay guy is afraid that this redneck might haul off
and hit him (more common then
than now). But with a CREDIBLE 'physical aggression truce'
that level of anxiety over being in physical proximity to each other
was greatly reduced. Then something natural took over. No, the
redneck did not become gay nor did the gay guy become a redneck. But,
in the absence of some of the anxiety, each could become more open to
experiencing each other as 'persons'
instead of stereotypes. Now, repeat this scenario for a broad array
of other types of people who discovered the joy of community with
each other. And no, 'community' was not coerced, this is libertarian
remember. Rather, community was AVAILABLE.

This was a libertarian community for which I set the stage,
but which I did NOT 'create' The inhabitants did the 'creating'
Although the apt community population was aprx 150 at any time, some
stayed and some were just passing thru (spreading liberty's light)
and a lot of folk visited for a variety of reasons. The people who
experienced this environment went on to have an influence on the rest
of the world that was now modified by their exposure to this
community that resulted from a libertarian premise. It went on for
many years to 1988. Austin was the heart of the mid 1980s Savings &
Loan collapse that pulled a lot of properties into a black hole named
Federal Resolution Trust Co.

This libertarian community attracted a broad array of types
of people that included but was not limited to: conservatives,
liberals, greens, objectivists, anarchists, Christians, Jews,
Muslims, pagans, atheists, capitalists, socialists, slackers,
yuppies, journalists (print & broadcast), artisans, a few businesses
(building was zoned 'commercial) like an on site
bakery that tested experiments on us (yauumm!), musicians
(many; some even sorta famous), politicians (we were VERY tolerant),
preachers (we were VERY tolerant)

Some of the kids went to an on site 'free school' that made
the front page of the Austin American Statesman (www.statesman.com)
and apparently scared the bejesus out of the local and state govt
education establishments. The parties were great of course, but so
were the quiet 'zones' too.
Discussions ranged from banal to sublime to esoteric to....
oh, you must be getting the picture by now :)

Virtually ALL had a life experience of the world re-creation
kind!



-Terry Liberty Parker
AustinVoiceMail 1.512.462.1776
http://profiles.yahoo.com/txliberty
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian/