Sandi's Blog

The Bulldozers

I am awake, I am alive, and this morning I want to chat about a certain group of people. I call them … the bulldozers.

They are the ones who INSIST on making their point known. They will keep repeating what they have to say without ever paying the other party the same courtesy. They have no interest in discussion or learning.

It’s pure ego.

This style can be seen when you walk into some of our big box stores. As the salesman swoops in, determined to attach himself to your side, the air leaves the room. It takes assertiveness to back down their aggressiveness, but it can be done. (Personally, I do it all the time.)

At meetings, I have had to cut off bulldozers in mid-speech because they had cut me off one too many times. (The last time, I simply asked if he could let me know when he was done lecturing me like a child because I’m not a child and I did want a chance to speak.)

Many wouldn’t back them down, however. Many would just stay silent, leave, and never work with the bulldozer again or worse, talk behind their back. My two cents – that changes nothing and this has to change, especially online.

For those unaware, I have long had the policy of deleting comments from my page that I do not agree with or more, ones I find offensive. If you are slamming another, chances are good your comment will get deleted and that happens for one simple reason – I protect my readers.

My online pages are safe places where men and women of all ages (often Indigenous) can come. There they will not read offensive opinions because there I shut down those that disrespect (even if the bulldozer is also Indigenous). My focus is the safety of my followers, even if that means a bulldozer thinks I am rude. (Personally, I don’t care. There the power balance has shifted and BOY, do they not like that!!

And when that happens, I get the private messages. For the record, I delete those just as quickly, as I imagine passing the individual a sign embossed with the word “BULLDOZER” to serve as a warning to others.

I work hard not to be a bulldozer. I don’t always succeed. Doesn’t mean I don’t have strong opinions, but I do not post said opinions on YOUR page. I do not direct message you. I don’t even EMAIL people unless you subscribe to my list. Instead, I post on my pages, sharing my thoughts with those willing to read if they so choose.

Bulldozers don’t give you a choice.

And contrary to popular belief, it has been my experience that bulldozers do NOT build bridges. In fact, they destroy them. Indigenous men and women of many nations are deciding “enough” and turning their back on those who think they can overrun us, over talk us, or just out and out bully us.

Let me say clearly – those days have passed.

So, to those followers and friends and colleagues who respectfully read my words, those who choose to sit with those words before hitting the keyboard, those who ask respectful questions rather than coming at me with demands and accusations … I say thank you. Chi Miigwetch.

Thank you for building bridges with me.

This is my lodge after all. We listen here. We do not push. We do not yell.

Beautiful, isn’t it?
I love you!
HUGSSSSSSSS

Sandi
***This is an excerpt from Sandi’s most recent book, “I am Awake …”. available for purchase on her website or on Amazon.ca.***