THE SHOCK DOCTRINE

It has been a long time……


Life, with all its twists and turns, takes us down different paths and through many journeys. Priorities change to adapt to the current season of life.


In my time away from writing, I have challenged myself to open the gateway for learning in the political and economic arenas.


The political climate is charged! What goes on politically directly affects the economic climate positively or negatively. Sometimes both. There is nowhere to run from it. It is plastered on the news, social media, mail flyers, church and the work water cooler.


Since COVID, so many things have changed. The world, as a whole, is a different place. Of course, change is always happening, but it seems a drastic pivot took hold. One would have thought that once the pandemic was over, life would have gone back to normal but just the opposite reigns true.


Take a moment to think about the changes, obvious and not so obvious. Many businesses closed, never to return. The work environment has changed, whether you work in person or work from home. The food industry has changed, whether it is going to the grocery store or eating at a favorite restaurant. Items that were popular are no longer available or scarce to find. Even going to the doctor has a totally different feeling to it. The cost of everything is soaring.


What about COVID created this worldwide overhaul? Did it have anything to do with COVID at all? Was there a bigger plot in place that manifested through COVID? There are so many “conspiracy” theories.


I am not one to run after the latest rabbit trail, but we must admit something on a grand scale gave way for a huge transition that is continuing to be prevalent.


In a search for understanding, the book, “The Shock Doctrine” by Naomi Klein was recommended. The size of the book was intimidating; however, my thirst for knowledge outweighed. It is an eye-opening, mouth-dropping, thorough documentary of the ways capitalism has and continues to overtake the world.


What is capitalism? Dictionary.com defines it as an economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.


Why is capitalism so important that a plethora of books have been written about it including “The Shock Doctrine?”


Capitalism, unfortunately, provides the opportunity for greed to enter the picture. Instead of shared wealth for all, wealth becomes unevenly distributed. When those greedy for wealth determine that they will stop at nothing to attain more and more, it can lead to the destitution of others.


The book provides a glance at natural disasters, tragedies and hostile takeovers, all in the name of capitalism: from the Iraq War, Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami in Sri Lanka and so many more. While many suffered greatly in these events out of their control, others profited from their suffering. Heart breaking to say the least.


Do I have the answers on how things could have been handled differently? No! However, how can profiting from the pain of others suffice as an acceptable MO? Where is compassion and empathy?


It is a great read that is thought provoking. It is a wake-up call to no longer ignore or be in the dark regarding the inner weavings of systematic capitalism designed to make the rich richer while the poor grow poorer with nothing in between.

WAKANDA FOREVER

Wakanda Forever was a much-anticipated movie. It was great to see returning cast as well as meet new cast members.

Although I enjoyed Black Panther more than Wakanda Forever, the movie was full of action with many twists, turns and unexpected surprises. I would rate the movie an A+.

It’s not my habit to dwell on whether a movie was good or back. I view a movie with the intent to draw life lessons.

I gathered some from Wakanda Forever.

Life lessons:

1) There are more for you than against you.

2) Unresolved grief can keep you stuck or create illusions to steer you in the wrong direction.

3) Teamwork covers more ground than working alone.

4) Many times, triumph comes out of tragedy.

5) We all get angry, but vengeance is never the solution.

6) Cherish those dear to you.

7) Be willing to go the extra mile for those you love.

COMMUNITY

Currently, technology is booming. Technological advances are happening every day. There are not many things technology is unable to do.

For example, a cell phone can call, text, take pictures, record memos, be an alarm clock, keep track of appointments, grant access to our bank and social media accounts, be a GPS, allow us to watch movies as well as listen to music and so much more.

It’s normal to spend more time with and on the phone than with people. In many ways, we have become more isolated than ever. Though technology assists us in reaching out to others, it cannot never replace being connected with others.

Life without good, healthy relationships is unhealthy.

Society may applaud disconnectedness. However, the truth is isolation creates space for a lack of growth, immaturity, and narrow-minded thinking. Often those who are consistently isolated find themselves depressed, double minded and lethargic.

We need people. We need community!

What is community?

Community is defined by the dictionary as: a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists.

In other words, community is a support system to walk out life alongside us.

Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on, a hand up, and/or an encouraging word at some point. No one makes it through life without challenges. Absolutely no one!

Find your community which can include family, friends, neighbors, fellow organization members, and those we meet with similar interests/goals.

Don’t live life alone. Live life with community.

THE WOMAN KING

The commentary on the movie, The Woman King, is plentiful. Some think the movie is horrible because of the violence. Others think the movie is wonderful because of the historical and cultural aspects.

My opinion: The movie is good. I enjoyed the camaraderie. The display of strength amid challenging and seemingly insurmountable adversity is fascinating.  The unexpected twists bring heart and soul to the movie.

No matter the viewpoint, it is a movie with life lessons.

Life Lessons:

1) If you don’t deal with the past, the past will deal with you.

2) There are times you will have to take a risk and walk alone for what you believe in.

3) Do not run from pain. Deal with it head on.

4) Try something new. It may be the missing piece to move your life forward.

5) Develop good relationships. Relationships are a currency in life.

6) Stand your ground and claim what’s yours unapologetically.

7) On occasion, fighting wins the battle but surrender wins the war.

Fourth Quarter

What can we say about 2022? It is zipping by! There is only two weeks left in September. Fourth Quarter is upon us.

Have you stopped to take inventory of this year? Has it been meaningful? Has it been fulfilling? Have you accomplished the things you hoped to accomplish this year?

I ask myself these questions often. It’s easy to get sidetracked with life then look up and months have passed since you have checked in to see if you are on track. It happens to the best of us.

September and October are the months I usually set goals for the next year. There is nothing wrong with waiting till December or January; however, with the holidays, life gets extremely busy for me.

If you find that you have more goals to knock out before the end of the year you still have time, but you don’t have long. Time is of the essence.

        Fourth quarter is crunch time! Get it in and get it done!

21 YEARS LATER: REMEMBERING 9/11/2001

Do you remember 9/11? The day so many things changed!

I remember the day started off as a normal workday. My mornings consisted of a long commute across town and breakfast once I arrived to the office.

As my office went about the hustle and bustle of the day, our morning was abruptly interrupted. Social media was not a thing back then, so our team watched the traumatic events unfold on a small television in our company breakroom.

Since none of us had seen anything of this magnitude taking place before, we were all horrified. We stood glued to the TV. I am sure most were wondering, “How could something like this happen in America?” It was unbelievable.

Everything came to a standstill. EVERYTHING!!

The days and months that followed were nothing short of life changing. Flights were grounded, mail was delayed, and phone lines were down. That is only a snippet of insight to the way life changed.

It took a long time for things to return to a new norm. There were some things that never returned. Airport security changed for the better. Privacy became slim, if existent at all.

What’s your remembrance? How did your life change as a result of 9/11?

LABOR DAY

We celebrate many holidays without knowing the origin of the holiday.

Do you know why we celebrate Labor Day? Do you when it was created?

Curious? Here is what I found.

Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.

Before it was a federal holiday, Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states. After municipal ordinances were passed in 1885 and 1886, a movement developed to secure state legislation. New York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day, on February 21, 1887. During 1887, four more states – Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York – passed laws creating a Labor Day holiday. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday.

Many Americans celebrate Labor Day with parades, picnics and parties – festivities very similar to those outlined by the first proposal for a holiday, which suggested that the day should be observed with – a street parade to exhibit “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day.

Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement. (Copied from https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history)

Enjoy Labor Day! Hopefully it is a day of rest for you!

Conquering Fear

I enjoy the movie “The Wiz of Oz.” It’s a story about courage and self-discovery. Dorothy finds herself lost in the land of Oz. All she wants is to get back home. She meets a few characters on her journey that seek to help her get to her destination. They are confronted with many forms of opposition to derail them. Fear grips them from the thought of “lions, tigers, and bears” that could possibly await them as they follow the yellow brick road.

All that to say, we too are on our “yellow brick road” to our destinations in life. Fear will confront us and attempt to grip us to cause our dismay. It’s going to come whether we are ready or not. We have the choice to let it stop us or overcome it. When we choose to overcome fear, we find strength and courage we never knew we had. It was there all along hidden.

I have found that most of the time what I feared was just that, a fear! Nothing more! It was not true. I continue to challenge myself to overcome my fears as they arise. We all have them. It’s not about having them, it’s what you do with them that counts.