People of the Rainbow: A Nomadic Utopia

5. People of the Rainbow

Iyam what Iyam and that's all that Iyam. -Popeye the Sailor Man Who Are 'these Ralinbows1 It takes all sorts of folks to create a Rainbow. Members see themselves as forming "a tapestry of humanity cutting across lines of class, race, religion, ethnicity and gender." They see the Family as "a working model of multiculturalism; a society where differences are celebrated and unity achieved" (Wetmore interview 1990). The definition of a Rainbow Family member is broad. In principle, "everyone is a Rainbow; some people just don't know it yet." Rainbows regard all visitors to the Gatherings, whether they are there for an hour or for a month, as Rainbows. Hence, they view reporters who come to observe Gatherings as Rainbows, and treat them as sisters and brothers. They treat locals who stop in for an afternoon to satisfy their curiosity the same way. Forest rangers patrolling Gatherings sometimes resist incorporation, but Rainbows view them as fellow Rainbows, albeit oddly dressed. Rainbows treat even police officers and undercover law enforcement agents who come to monitor, control, or disruptl the Gatherings, as Rainbows , albeit misguided. They just need a bit more love and healing than most Rainbows do. The prescriptive unconditionality of Rainbow love and acceptance, and the • 00 . People of the Rainbow Family's refusal to limit it to deserving members of the in-group, set it apart from other groups that promote or have promoted alternative lifestyles. Indeed, most long-lived utopian groups throughout history differ from the Rainbow Family in that they were, and still are, restrictive in admitting new members (Dentan 1995; Oved 1988, 385; Kanter 1972, 127). Utopians have traditionally hand-picked members, accepting only people who would blend easily into the community, the way many private schools select their students, taking the brightest and easiest to educate, and leaving emotionally disturbed or learning-disabled students for the public schools. Most communities also established bottom-line requirements for commitment, demanding that new members commit money or property to the group. The Amana Community, for instance, seldom admitted new members (Perkins and Wick 1891, 70), and then only after two years' probation (Holloway 1951, 172). The North American Phalanx also put new members on probation. Hutterites, despite their extraordinary population growth, have only admitted approximately a hundred members who were not born Hutterite since arriving in North America (Oved 1988, 361 ).2 The SOciety of Separatists of Zoar, Ohio (1817-1898), widely recognized as one of the most successful cooperative communities, selected new members only if a need existed in the community for their particular trade or craft. Such applicants , after selection by the trustees, were subject to a year's probation, after which they could become full members only upon ratification of their application by the full community. Zoar even preferred to hire workers rather than admit new members. Even members' children did not receive automatic membership, but were subject to the same scrutiny as new applicants (Nixon 1973, 89). Similarly, members' children at the Farm in Summertown, Tennessee, must be approved for membership after their eighteenth birthday. Rainbow membership, by contrast, is open not only to those with skills or resources the Family needs, but also to those who need the Family. The Rainbow Family requires new members only to "bring their belly buttons," and will waive this requirement under extenuating circumstances. Some members live under bridges, some in condominiums. For most, the Gatherings are a vacation from Babylon, but for a dedicated minority, Rainbow is a way of life. Rainbows call themselves "Hobos," "Rail Tramps," or "Road Dogs," as well as "teachers," "social workers," and "computer programmers." Road Dogs call the road home, perpetually traveling, usually hitchhiking. A Hobo is a dedicated Road Dog, with no plans or desires to settle down. Rail Tramps are similar to Hobos and 'Dogs, but prefer hopping trains. It is rare for a 'Dog, Hobo, or Tramp to own a vehicle. Hobos, 'Dogs, and Tramps tend to come from poor white rural backgrounds and often speak with a southern drawl. Most Rainbows hail from the middle class, however, being either "drop-outs" or "weekend Rainbows." The Magic Hat fills with both pennies and crumpled wads of fifty- and hundred-dollar bills. Rainbows People of the Rainbow • I. I come in all ages. Contrary to the media depiction of Rainbows as "aging hippies," the Family currently draws much of its strength from neophytes between the ages...