You’re just a number

 

"You are only as important as you see yourself, not how others see you." Dr. BLR

 

In 1972, I was in third grade when my teacher, Mrs. Williams, passed out copies of a Scholastic magazine. The front cover featured Franco Harris, a Black Italian American football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was so impressed by his appearance as a Black man that, from that day to this, I’ve been a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Fast forward. We’ve won 6 Super Bowl Championships and might make the playoffs this year, but we will have to do it without our star wide receiver, DK Metcalf, who was suspended for two games after confronting an unruly fan during a game against the Detroit Lions. 

This was his first year with the team, and all seemed to be going well. However, after one uneventful play, Metcalf walked past the stands, and it appeared a fan had said something that upset him. Metcalf grabbed the fan, had a brief conversation, then pushed him back. I thought, no harm, no foul. He wasn’t ejected from the game, and we went on to win. Hurray! Nope. The league suspended Metcalf for two games and fined him more than $500k, equivalent to two games’ pay. They suspended him under league rules, citing violations of player conduct. While I understood the need for regulations governing NFL players' professionalism, I thought this was extreme. Moreover, his suspension could void more than $40 million in guaranteed money if the team releases him. 

I share this story because a former student, a New Jersey State Trooper, informed me that she just celebrated her first anniversary and is considering leaving the uniform behind and either becoming a detective or applying for an administrative position. I thought this was a good idea because she had just delivered her second child, and spending more time with her children is more important than a job. 

These two separate stories speak volumes about our individual status in this world. I’ll explain. DK Metcalf is a football player who entertains us every weekend during the NFL season. Millions of dollars are made each week as players put their lives on the line with each play, making their team owners billions in annual profits. One unfortunate play could render a player paralyzed, injured for life, or even dead, such as in 1971 when Detroit Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes died from a heart attack during a game. However, the owners set specific rules. If players violate them, they can be fined, have their contracts voided, or be released. The owners hold all the power over the players; if they get out of line, they'll pay the price. Sounds reminiscent of a dark past in American history, but I digress.

The New Jersey State Police holds the same power over its employees. My former student, while on duty, puts her life on the line each day she puts on her uniform. However, she, too, is subject to rules that govern her behavior, and at any time she makes a mistake, she can be fired or sent to prison without compensation. While police officers' pay is not on par with that of professional athletes, both are controlled by their bosses and are replaceable. 

This is not about any Marxist ideology arguing against the ruling class's exploitation of the working class. Or is it? It sucks that workers are beholden to their employers and, at any given time, expendable. For example, thousands of federal employees were recently laid off by a non-elected official, Elon Musk, under the auspices of President Donald Trump. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was given a specific task: to cut the fat. While many people may have thought the federal government was bloated to begin with, they often overlook that those workers gave their lives in service to the American people. Just like that, they were unemployed. What kind of system does that without repercussion? I’ll answer it. A system that doesn’t give a fuck about any of its workers. While they may not be replaceable, they, too, were just a number.

You want to know another system that doesn’t give a fuck? The United States military. I said it! Yes, I served in the Army reserves, and most of the men in my family served active duty, but we were lucky and didn’t have mental health issues. However, many post-9/11 service members have to contend with post-traumatic stress syndrome. You can see many of them sitting in bus terminals or camped out on the sides of old, dilapidated buildings because they are homeless and strung out on the opioids given to them by Veterans Administration doctors to deal with their survival guilt, among other things. You can also see them in the news, as about 22 service members commit suicide every day. But does the government care? Personally, I don’t know, but what I do know is that approximately 22 service members commit suicide every day. So, you tell me.

By no means am I capable of telling anyone what to do about their employment situation. However, keep your eyes open to the rules that govern your employment. I hope DK Metcalf gets what he deserves regarding his guaranteed salary. Also, I wish my former student nothing but the best: an administrative position so she can watch her kids grow up, and a full pension when she retires. More importantly, I want ALL service members who are feeling pain and experiencing mental health issues to get all the help they need and then some. They deserve it based on what they were required to do and what they observed while doing it. Lastly, everyone must remember that to your employer, you are just a number, so do what’s best for you.