Grosse Pointe Park's Hans Barbe
plays a tune for the 2nd District race

Hans Christopher Barbe has two main priorities for the 2nd District Michigan Senate Democratic primary – raising consciousness and getting elected.

Barbe, a 26-year-old Park resident, has participated in a variety of political and social events over the years, including organizing work for student groups and anti-war coalitions. In 2007, he became the Michigan director of Mike Gravel’s presidential campaign, where he met many influential and passionate people.

“My whole premise is that if we’re going to be serious about creating anything sustainable, it has to be based locally. It has to be a localized economy,” Barbe said.

His beliefs in the politics of the community at a local level eventually coalesced into the founding of the Phoenix Cafe, a community center in Hazel Park that serves as a performance venue, art gallery and meeting space.

“No business can operate sustainably without having full regard for all three bottom lines – economic, social and environmental. That’s the sort of consciousness I’m trying to raise,” Barbe said.

GrossePointeToday.com met him in the sunshine for a coffee at Bigby on Mack Avenue.

Why are you a Democrat?

I don’t have a special attachment to either party, and I’m not afraid to say as much. In the broadest sense, the difference I see between the Republican Party and Democratic Party is the Republican Party tends to see things more through an economic lens and the Democratic Party sees things more through a social lens. I strongly feel that the two-party system is old, antiquated and dominating. I’m running as a Democrat because frankly to run as a Green or an Independent no one takes you as seriously. It has less to do with ideology and more with pure politics.

What do you think you can bring to this office that no one else can?

My calling has been organizing in the grassroots, so I would say I have a strong connection to the everyday people. The umbrella of my platform is to localize our economy and institutions. The urban agriculture movement is the perfect example of people saying, “Hey. There is no money here. There are no jobs here to get money, but we have all of this vacant land and it doesn’t cost very much to get some seeds so let’s start gardening and grow our own food.” It simultaneously refurbishes the land, brings communities together and provides food that they can either eat or sell.

Name one interesting thing about you most people don’t know.

I’m a musician.

There’s a music video on your campaign website, Two Questions for (R)evolution. Can you explain it?

The text is Spanish and was written by Pablo Neruda, who was a poet and a politician in Chile. He wrote this book of questions, and I thought they were relevant to what it means to have an inner calling. The first one is, “Does he who is always waiting suffer more than he who has never waited for anyone?” The second one is, “Where does the rainbow end, in your soul or on the horizon?” The first one is meant to push at the idea of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” Are you going to get involved and try to make a difference or are you going to sit back and suffer anyways? The second question makes the connection between the world as it is, and the world as we think it ought to be.

What’s your favorite book, movie or TV show about politics and why?

"1984," by George Orwell. The reason that springs to mind is again there is a sort of haze over our minds. The idea that the world works the way it works and that’s the way it works just because. Television, if you watch that, will tell you the same. Most mainstream media will, too. It’s still about a better standard of living as opposed to a quality of life, and I make a distinction between the two. We have the highest standard of living in the world, and yet the indicators of actual happiness have declined. "1984" is a book that points to a society that is so brainwashed, and there are those within the society that know from within that there’s something not aligned. Something completely backwards and wrong and manipulated.

What inspires you?

Love. I think it’s a powerful force. When you confront issues with nonviolence, the result is reconciliation. Nonviolence is the idea of loving your enemies. To love is the one thing that transcends. We all have an experience of it. You can’t always put words to it, but you can live it and convey your actions. It’s something that will ultimately be the only thing that will transcend the walls between Grosse Pointe and Detroit. Jimi Hendrix once said, “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”

Barbe will be playing in a piano recital and giving a public address at “Music for a Manifesto,” Aug. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Church, 16 Lake Shore Rd. in the Farms. It is free and open to the public. For more information about Barbe, visit his campaign website. 

• Login or register to post comments
• Printer-friendly version
• Send by email