Vocation and dissidence

Vocation and dissidence

“You do not become a ‘dissident’ just because you decide one day to take up this most unusual career. You are thrown into it by your personal sense of responsibility, combined with a complex set of external circumstances….It begins as an attempt to do your work well, and ends with being branded an enemy of society.”  Vaclav Havel

Quoted by Matthew H. Young, Lessons in Revolution from the Republic of Professors | First Things.

Havel was a playwright in Communist Czechoslovakia, and his plays got him into trouble with the leftwing authorities, which in turn led him to jail time and eventual leadership in the anti-Communist dissident movement.

What are some other cases in which “an attempt to do your work well”–an aspect of vocation–can lead to cultural or political dissidence?

"OK, I have to add this. Probably more apropos to Thursday's post, but somewhat relevant ..."

Telling Us What We Want to ..."
"Talk about telling me what I want to hear . . . James Carville has ..."

Telling Us What We Want to ..."
"Could there be nonhuman extraterrestrial beings made in the image of God? No! Could Scripture ..."

Would Evidence of Aliens “Shatter” Christian ..."
"Sorry, I got busy offline yesterday.Yes, it's true that the context of that quote was ..."

Telling Us What We Want to ..."

Browse Our Archives

Follow Us!


TAKE THE
Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Paul say was the purpose of the Law?

Select your answer to see how you score.