Narrating Shock and Trauma

Okay, let’s get the shameless bragging out of the way: Naomi Klein said I was “brilliant.” Well, what she actually said was that my question “was so brilliant, [she] could not restate it” for the crowd. That’s right! She said I asked a “brilliant” question. She spoke at my home church about her latest book The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. Here is a short film Alfonso Cuaron made with her about the focus of the book:

She spoke at length about whenever a large scale trauma happens to us–either as individuals or as a larger human community–we seek to try and find meaning. We look to others, specifically leaders of our faith, civic, interpersonal or political groups, to help narrate for us the meaning. A quick example would be the outpouring of trust given W following September 11, 2001. So many people looked to him to help point the way, provide assurance, and lead us through a time of great fear and loss. This is a natural and normal response to grief of any kind–and I say this as one who is an “expert” on grief. The problem comes when those we look to utilize our vulnerability to capitalize on it and push through harmful agendas. On the individual level, I see those in my bereavement support group struggling with the painful comments others make to try and help them “get over” the traumatic loss of their loved one. Naomi Klein’s point is: As a society we are taken advantage of in times of crises when our leaders push through dangerous and corrupt laws we would never agree to in times of harmony. Think: Patriot Act!

My question was this: If I as a chaplain and Ordained Minister have to work so hard to help those facing individual crises re-narrate these losses so they can be incorporated into their lives in such a way that leads to more joy, more love, more hope, more imagination–more authentic living WITH the loss, how in the world can we help society as a whole? I do not know the answer to my own question, but I want to work on it. Do you have any ideas?

My friend Pixie gave me the single best Christmas gift: A tee shirt emblazoned with “Naomi Klein said I was brilliant.” The word “brilliant” was bedazzled!!! Ooolaalaa!