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, handed 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 struck by his appearance as a Black man that, from that day on, I’ve been a Steelers fan. Fast-forward. We’ve won 6 Super Bowl titles and made the playoffs this year, but we’ll 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 everything seemed to be going smoothly. However, after an uneventful play, Metcalf walked past the stands, and it looked like 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. Hooray! Nope. The league suspended Metcalf for two games and fined him over $500,000, equivalent to two games’ pay. They suspended him under league rules for violating player conduct. While I understood the need for regulations governing NFL players' professionalism, I believed this was excessive. 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, told me she just celebrated her first anniversary and is considering leaving the uniform to become a detective or apply for an administrative position. I thought this was a good idea because she just had her second child, and spending more time with her children is more important than a job. 

These two separate stories say a lot about our individual place 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 risk their lives on every play, generating billions in annual profit for team owners. One bad play could leave a player paralyzed, injured for life, or even dead—like in 1971, when Detroit Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes died of a heart attack during a game. Still, the owners set clear rules. If players break them, they can be fined, have their contracts canceled, or be released. The owners hold all the power over the players; if they step out of line, they pay the price. It’s a reminder of a dark chapter in American history, but I digress.

The New Jersey State Police exercises the same authority over its employees. My former student, while on duty, risks her life every day she wears her uniform. However, she is also bound by rules governing her conduct, and if she makes a mistake at any time, she can be fired or even sent to prison without pay. While police officers' salaries are not as high as those of professional athletes, both are overseen by their supervisors and are replaceable. 

This isn't about Marxist ideology criticizing the ruling class's exploitation of the working class. Or is it? It's frustrating that workers are dependent on their employers and, at any moment, can be discarded. For example, thousands of federal employees were recently laid off by Elon Musk, a non-elected official, under the direction of President Donald Trump. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was tasked with cutting costs. While many might have thought the federal government was already bloated, they often forget that these workers dedicated their lives to serving the American people. Yet they were suddenly unemployed. What kind of system does that without consequences? I’ll tell you. A system that doesn’t care about its workers. Though they may not be easily replaceable, they’re still just a number.

Do you want to know about another system that doesn’t care? The United States military. I said it! Yes, I served in the Army Reserves, and most of the men in my family served on active duty, but we were lucky and didn’t face mental health issues. However, many post-9/11 service members struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder. You can see many of them sitting in bus terminals or camped outside old, dilapidated buildings because they are homeless and strung out on opioids prescribed by Veterans Administration doctors to cope 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 I do know that approximately 22 service members take their own lives each day. So, you tell me.

I am by no means able to tell anyone what to do about their employment situation. However, keep an eye on the rules that govern your employment. I hope DK Metcalf gets what he deserves regarding his guaranteed salary. I also 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 in pain and experiencing mental health issues to get all the help they need and then some. They deserve it for what they were required to do and what they observed while doing it. Lastly, remember that to your employer, you are just a number, so do what’s best for you.