Big Guys Versus Little Guys

There is a lot of highly visible conflict going on in the world today. Here in the United States and abroad, we see citizens lining the streets every day in outrage against different forms of repression. In the United States, protesters are braving harsh weather conditions and threats of termination from their jobs for speaking out against what they deem to be an injustice. In other parts of the world, protesters are literally risking their lives to stand up for their hopes and core values. Seeing these people and reading about them is as inspiring as it is upsetting. Words can not express adequately capture I feel for everyone of these men and women. As Teddy Roosevelt once said, win or lose these people are "in the arena." Also, I fear for their safety and future well being because some may, in fact, lose their jobs and others, more tragically, their lives. Lastly, I find it highly upsetting that these men and women - here in the United States and abroad - find themselves in environments that are led by individuals who seem so detached from honesty, good-faith leadership and the well being of anything but their own perverse personal agendas.

Looking at the union-busting efforts in Wisconsin and other states and in the efforts by dictators in the Middle East to hang onto their power, one common thread that jumps out pertains to communication. Specifically, the leaders in these parts of the world are trying so hard to stifle the ability of their constituents to communicate. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, for instance, wants to remove the union's rights to collective bargaining. With the backing of highly well-funded right-wing corporate executives who would derive great financial benefit if union members lose their ability to bargain or negotiate better terms for themselves, Walker recognizes that by throwing a blanket over this particular form of communication, workers' clout is weakened considerably and his power to drive through laws and regulations with little opposition or meaningful debate is enhanced. To an even stronger degree, the dictators in the Middle East currently under siege recognize that the louder the voices of opposition the greater the threat to their seats of power. These voices, they know, must be muted if they are to remain in power.

At present, what we are witnessing represents a key component of the classic big guy-little guy confrontation. By all appearances, the big guy has all the power. He's bigger. He's stronger. And he has more resources. Not surprisingly, he is using this arsenal to squelch his opponent. But in what we are seeing currently unfold, the little guy has a powerful weapon of his own: a voice. The more the voice is heard the more allies the little guy brings to his side. The louder the voice is heard the more others become aware that the big guy is engaged in a blatant power play and is little more than a single-minded bully. The longer the voice is heard the more obvious it becomes that "right" is on the side of the little guy. For the little guy in Wisconsin and other state and in the Middle East, the challenge is to keep using their voice and not allow themselves to be stifled. It is the best communication tool they've got.