Silence and neutrality enable oppression (Robert's Rule #11)

[Tweeted 2011-05-09]

Today's post isn't directly related to work experience...at least not for most people.

I grew up in the middle of blue-collar union country at a time when unions were strong. Members of my family would have never considered crossing a picket line. Why? In part because it feels good to know that someone has your back. Of course there's always the collective bargaining thing too...after all, it's usually difficult, not impossible but difficult, to oppress a large group of committed, active people.

History is full of examples of people who have stood up to those who oppress them. One of the most famous in American popular culture is the Molly Maguires (if you haven't watched the Sean Connery/Richard Harris movie you really should). I understand that the real history of the Mollies is a bit clouded, and also that history is written by those who win. However, instances of the oppressed standing against those who oppress them provides a valuable lesson that applies to all of life, both working and non-working life.

Because this lesson applies to both work life and non-work life, it's become one of the rules I strive to remember every day. Every day, silence and neutrality enable oppression (Robert's Rule #11), and every day we must combat it, because oppression brings everyone down to the lowest common denominator.