# Metaphor and Reality By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2024-01-20 Organizations can be defined in any number of ways. They can exist to enrich capitalists; they can exist to benefit workers. They can exist to please consumers; they can exist to serve society. Sometimes, the reason an organization exists is explicit; sometimes, it is implied. In the 1890s, America experienced a significant recession, during which about 20% of the labor force was unemployed. At that time, there were no federal welfare programs. Some argued that the federal government had a role in addressing this concern. President Grover Cleveland, in his Second Inaugural Address on March 4, 1893, made it clear he disagreed by stating, "the lessons of paternalism ought to be unlearned and the better lesson taught that while the people should patriotically and cheerfully support their Government its functions do not include the support of the people." The imbalance here is noteworthy. "People" should support their government "patriotically and cheerfully," and in return expect nothing as the functions of that government "do not include the support of the people." Jacob S. Coxey created an "army" of unemployed people to march on Washington, D.C. to address this imbalance. Coxey intended to give a speech at the Capitol asking the representatives to "heed the voice of despair and distress that is now coming up from every section of our country" and that they should "consider the conditions of the starving unemployed…and enact such laws as will give them employment." Coxey and his metaphorical "army" met 1,500 soldiers of the real army. Coxey was arrested for, no kidding, walking on the grass and was prevented from giving his speech until fifty years later. It's challenging to work through all the lessons to learn from this vignette. First, some will argue that one owes all to them and is due nothing in return. Second, a metaphorical army is no match for a real one. Third, the law is essentially an instrument of the status quo. If a message is unpopular to those in power, one can be effectively silenced for nothing but walking on the grass. Lastly, the message will usually come out, but after the moment has passed and all its vitality and relevance are gone. #### Related Items [[Organization]] [[Politics]] [[Government]] [[Metaphors]] [[Reality]] [[Resistance]]