Big Annie — An Inspiration for Our Times

Last week, I traveled to Michigan to visit my family. I spent time with my brother, who was in the hospital undergoing several treatments to manage the difficult after-effects of long‑haul COVID. There he was—clad in a hospital gown, connected to multiple IVs, and clearly in pain. Yet even in that challenging setting, we found moments to laugh, memories to cherish, and hope to embrace. Michael’s enduring sense of humor shone through despite the tough hand life had dealt him, reminding me that we are always choosing our response to both life’s exquisite highs and its undeniable lows.

Most of you know that I am deeply troubled by our current executive administration and its policies. Like many others, I am alarmed by what appears to be a rapid erosion of constitutional guardrails and the emergence of an oligarchic approach to governance—values that I find fundamentally opposed to my own. In these moments, I ask myself, “What is there to do?”

Last night, I finished reading a book that seemed to find its way to me at just the right moment: The Women of Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell. Set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, this work of historical fiction tells the story of Big Annie Clements, a determined 25-year-old woman who ignited a community in Calumet, Michigan to stand up against a copper mining company. Though not the worst of its kind, the company’s long history of unsafe, torturous practices—which resulted in the loss of a life nearly every week—finally pushed Annie to act. One funeral too many, one orphaned family too many, one grieving widow too many; these losses spurred her to organize the women of Calumet to peacefully, yet forcefully, declare, “No more.” She even urged their husbands to support a seven‑month strike championed by labor movement legends like Mary “Mother” Jones and Ella “Mother” Bloor.

The Copper Country strike, however, fell short of its chief aims: an eight‑hour workday, a $3 daily wage, and the ban on dangerous one‑person drill machines in the mines. Annie was imprisoned and brutally beaten by law enforcement after strike‑breakers incited a riot that led to her arrest. The strike’s momentum was further shattered when, after her release, Annie organized a Christmas party for union workers’ children at Calumet’s Italian Hall. Amid the celebration, someone—reportedly not a union organizer—shouted “fire!” in the crowded hall, sparking a panic that tragically claimed the lives of 59 children and 14 adults as they rushed for the single exit. That day, the spirit of Calumet was broken, and the town, along with its mine, soon entered a rapid decline.

Sitting quietly in my recliner after closing the book, I found myself reflecting on the many fortunes and privileges I have experienced: a superb education, a fulfilling career as a psychologist, speaker, and writer, and the comfort of never having gone hungry. I have been fortunate to witness gradual progress toward gender parity and to benefit from the advantages of my background. Yet I never imagined living in a time that feels so chaotic, so fraught with danger and division. Big Annie’s story reminds me that throughout history, people have faced seemingly insurmountable challenges, summoning uncommon courage, conviction, and inner strength to do what is right.

As we navigate these unprecedented times, I often wonder: What will I do if my own fortunes, or those of the people I love—take an unexpected turn? Who will I be when confronted with unexpected levels of adversity? I cannot predict the future, for so much remains uncertain. But I do know this: I will strive to embody the spirit of Big Annie of Calumet. I will stand firmly for what I believe to be right, just, and humane, guided by an inner moral compass that favors love over hate, courage over fear.

Ultimately, life asks only that we do our best to be love, to love, and to be lovable. That simple litmus test—does an action embody love, kindness, and compassion?—guides me every day. I remain deeply grateful for the Three Principles Understanding that shapes my life and provides the logic of the way back to love when I find myself fearful or judgmental. I trust that within each of us lies unfettered access to the Truth of Love. And truly, that is everything.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! How are you doing in these tumultuous times?  Reach out to me through https://drlindapettit.com/contact/