So it has come down to it at last. The final nail in the coffin. The ending waltz on the dance floor. The last Pringle in the can. Or something. Either way, we have sworn in another president, we have upheld our particularly American brand of Democracy, and we are all certainly awaiting every politician to be taken into custody, executed, and then for Trump to rule forever. Q just has to be correct right? The track record is.... stunning? Pictured: Q at his computer, or something. Creator: Rembrandt | Credit: Hermitage Either way, our country has reached the dawning of a new administration. An event that has happened 45 previous times, and will undoubtedly happen many many more. But along the way, there was a bit of... discourse, if you could call it that. Most of it was spurned on by the greatest of all threats in this day and age, the Keyboard Warriors. Yes, this multi-class, 12th level, 5h Edition DnD champion has, for the last 5-6 years at least, had an alarmingly large a
A little over 100 years ago, the RMS Titanic set sail on it's maiden voyage, which would also prove to be it's last. Those aboard came from all walks of life, ranging from rich to poor, and everything in between. One couple, sailing back home from a holiday in Europe, was Isidor and Ida Straus, co-owners of Macy's.
Once the iceberg sealed the fate of the Titanic, Ida and Isidor did what many other passengers did, and made their way onto the deck and towards the lifeboats. While they were offered seats straight off due to their social standing, Isidor refused, as there were still women and children on board, and he could not bring himself to go before them. Ida followed suit, and gave her seat and coat to the couples newly hired maid. As recorded by numerous accounts, Ida bluntly stated "As we have lived, so will we die, together." Although no one knows exactly when they perished, eyewitnesses claim to have last seen the Straus' arm in arm on the deck, regarding each other with the same love and devotion they had their entire lives.
Upon news of their passing on the ship, the employees of Macy's Manhattan store were devastated and heartbroken at the loss. While it may seem odd for employees to care so much for a CEO of a company, Isidor had endeared himself by personally visiting and greeting employees by name at the store, as well as created a health-care structure unheard of in that day and age, and built a cafeteria with hot and inexpensive meals for all employees to partake in. It was said that he felt a responsibility to his employees, and in turn, they felt a love and responsibility for him. So it goes, that a year later, the employees scrapped together what meager funds they could, and bought a beautiful memorial plaque in dedication to the Straus' and their lives. Etched onto the surface, an epitaph, "Their lives were beautiful and their deaths glorious."
Now, 108 years later, that plaque sits at the 34th St Macy's, a reminder of the selflessness that a great person can achieve, and the love and dedication they can inspire. Woe to modern Macy's that they would sully that legacy. Modern Macy's cares little for the employees under it's care, and only for the dollar they can make from an ambivalent consumer. For many years, the company has struggled with it's identity, not sure where they stand in a world that shuns retail shopping for the convenience of online buying. They also struggle with the past, and living up to the heyday for which Macy's and it's executives have long striven to recreate. But for all their efforts, they ignore the lessons of the past.
Covid-19 has been ravaging the world in 2020. Nearly every nation on earth has taken actions to stem the spread and impact of this virus, some better than others. Many corporations and workplaces have been hit hard, and have had to lay off or furlough record numbers of employees, just to weather the storm. Macy's is no different. Where they are different, is in the people. Long have there been those who work and love Macy's, and show a dedication that is rarely, if ever, reciprocated. Now, during the moors of a world wide panic, would be a great time for Macy's to live up to the Straus' legacy, to prove that they can honor their roots, and the legend they so desperately wish to adhere to. And yet, in this, they are failing. They are failing because of decades of poor planning and a lack of vision. They are failing because the executives salaries are more important than those who padded them to their current wealth. They are failing, because Macy's fails to realize the almighty truth of leadership: If you care for the workers, they, in turn, will care for you.
As many states begin their talks of re-opening and getting things back to normal, Macy's pledges to protect it's workers, and do right by them. And yet, never have they shown a willingness to do so, forcing many employees to purchase their own safety materials such as masks, gloves and sanitizer, and when they are supplied, they are done so in a lackadaisical and seemingly uncaring way that screams "we are only doing this for appearances". Many stores' leaderships adamantly refuse to treat the situation as anything but normal, and are determined to keep their workers' eyes on the prize. The prize of course, being money. Customer guidelines are said to be in place, and yet, Macy's has historically had a record of siding with customers over their own employees in a vast number of issues, even stating on numerous times, that the customers happiness is their number one priority, and that anything should be done to achieve that. Unfortunately, this happiness often comes at the expense of the employee. Even now, as workers of other businesses are getting harassed, cursed at, and at times, even physically assaulted for attempting to enforce mask rules and pandemic guidelines, Macy's has made it's intentions clear by not enforcing the mask rules on it's customers. While a mask is "recommended", it would be a cold day in hell when a Macy's store stepped up for it's workers and kicked out any customer who lacked an adequate face covering.
The future is uncertain. We do not know what will become of our way of life now that Covid-19 seems to have become a permanent part of it. What is clear, is that the reigns of capitalism have never faltered. They stay secure in the notion that the worker is expendable, so long as the economy and the top percentile flourishes. What has long been whispered is now being shouted from the rooftops, "your lives are not worth our money." As of this writing, several Macy's Executives at the corporate level have gotten bonuses to the tune of $9 Million total, while their associates struggle to make ends meet without having to put their lives on the line. So I ask, is this something that people are willing to take lying down? Are you willing to be nothing more than a cog in the great machine, ready to be replaced at any given moment?
Once the iceberg sealed the fate of the Titanic, Ida and Isidor did what many other passengers did, and made their way onto the deck and towards the lifeboats. While they were offered seats straight off due to their social standing, Isidor refused, as there were still women and children on board, and he could not bring himself to go before them. Ida followed suit, and gave her seat and coat to the couples newly hired maid. As recorded by numerous accounts, Ida bluntly stated "As we have lived, so will we die, together." Although no one knows exactly when they perished, eyewitnesses claim to have last seen the Straus' arm in arm on the deck, regarding each other with the same love and devotion they had their entire lives.
Upon news of their passing on the ship, the employees of Macy's Manhattan store were devastated and heartbroken at the loss. While it may seem odd for employees to care so much for a CEO of a company, Isidor had endeared himself by personally visiting and greeting employees by name at the store, as well as created a health-care structure unheard of in that day and age, and built a cafeteria with hot and inexpensive meals for all employees to partake in. It was said that he felt a responsibility to his employees, and in turn, they felt a love and responsibility for him. So it goes, that a year later, the employees scrapped together what meager funds they could, and bought a beautiful memorial plaque in dedication to the Straus' and their lives. Etched onto the surface, an epitaph, "Their lives were beautiful and their deaths glorious."
Now, 108 years later, that plaque sits at the 34th St Macy's, a reminder of the selflessness that a great person can achieve, and the love and dedication they can inspire. Woe to modern Macy's that they would sully that legacy. Modern Macy's cares little for the employees under it's care, and only for the dollar they can make from an ambivalent consumer. For many years, the company has struggled with it's identity, not sure where they stand in a world that shuns retail shopping for the convenience of online buying. They also struggle with the past, and living up to the heyday for which Macy's and it's executives have long striven to recreate. But for all their efforts, they ignore the lessons of the past.
Covid-19 has been ravaging the world in 2020. Nearly every nation on earth has taken actions to stem the spread and impact of this virus, some better than others. Many corporations and workplaces have been hit hard, and have had to lay off or furlough record numbers of employees, just to weather the storm. Macy's is no different. Where they are different, is in the people. Long have there been those who work and love Macy's, and show a dedication that is rarely, if ever, reciprocated. Now, during the moors of a world wide panic, would be a great time for Macy's to live up to the Straus' legacy, to prove that they can honor their roots, and the legend they so desperately wish to adhere to. And yet, in this, they are failing. They are failing because of decades of poor planning and a lack of vision. They are failing because the executives salaries are more important than those who padded them to their current wealth. They are failing, because Macy's fails to realize the almighty truth of leadership: If you care for the workers, they, in turn, will care for you.
As many states begin their talks of re-opening and getting things back to normal, Macy's pledges to protect it's workers, and do right by them. And yet, never have they shown a willingness to do so, forcing many employees to purchase their own safety materials such as masks, gloves and sanitizer, and when they are supplied, they are done so in a lackadaisical and seemingly uncaring way that screams "we are only doing this for appearances". Many stores' leaderships adamantly refuse to treat the situation as anything but normal, and are determined to keep their workers' eyes on the prize. The prize of course, being money. Customer guidelines are said to be in place, and yet, Macy's has historically had a record of siding with customers over their own employees in a vast number of issues, even stating on numerous times, that the customers happiness is their number one priority, and that anything should be done to achieve that. Unfortunately, this happiness often comes at the expense of the employee. Even now, as workers of other businesses are getting harassed, cursed at, and at times, even physically assaulted for attempting to enforce mask rules and pandemic guidelines, Macy's has made it's intentions clear by not enforcing the mask rules on it's customers. While a mask is "recommended", it would be a cold day in hell when a Macy's store stepped up for it's workers and kicked out any customer who lacked an adequate face covering.
The future is uncertain. We do not know what will become of our way of life now that Covid-19 seems to have become a permanent part of it. What is clear, is that the reigns of capitalism have never faltered. They stay secure in the notion that the worker is expendable, so long as the economy and the top percentile flourishes. What has long been whispered is now being shouted from the rooftops, "your lives are not worth our money." As of this writing, several Macy's Executives at the corporate level have gotten bonuses to the tune of $9 Million total, while their associates struggle to make ends meet without having to put their lives on the line. So I ask, is this something that people are willing to take lying down? Are you willing to be nothing more than a cog in the great machine, ready to be replaced at any given moment?
We are on the precipice of something great. Of a societal change that will forever affect our lives going forward. But it requires difficult choices. The choices to go against the owners of this country, starting with the ones who demand we treat things as normal, even when they aren't. For Macy's at least, they are besmirching the legacy of two people who understood the need for selfless action and leading by example. It took an iceberg to destroy the Titanic, and all those souls with it. For Macy's, the iceberg is coming. Only question is, what legacy will they wish to leave behind?
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