I love words. I have made my living with words, both spoken and written. Words are a powerful thing. Words have meanings and they can be used to build or destroy. But there is one word I’m tired of hearing. In part because it’s really being overused, and in part because I’m not sure that I know, or for that matter, the people who use the word know for sure just what it means. The word is….

Woke.

Ask 10 different people for a definition and you’ll probably get 10 different answers. If they really have a definition at all. Many might not really know what it means, but they know they’re not supposed to like it.

For some, “woke” must mean you care about the environment. Because Nebraska, along with 10 other states, has filed a lawsuit against Blackrock, and other investment firms about the “woke” pressure they are putting on coal companies to reduce carbon emissions into the environment.

How are big investment firms woke? I’m not entirely sure, but the “woke” term was used by at least one of the 11 AG’s in describing why they were filing this lawsuit. Iowa’s Attorney General Brenna Bird said that she was going to “keep fighting until we take down every cog of the woke machine and protect hard-working families and farmers.

Huh???

AG Brenna Bird goes on to say “While woke Wall Street lines its own pockets, families and farmers are forced to pay the price.”

But aren’t families and farmers already paying the price by dealing with the effects of climate change? What about the rising cost of homeowners insurance due to the damage tornados, floods, hurricanes, tropical storms, and fires cause? Or the issues climate change causes farmers with droughts, floods, and unusual planting and harvesting seasons?

Yes, I guess if you care about trying to find safer, more renewable forms of energy. You must be “woke.”

And while Nebraska’s Attorney General Hilgers and many of the other AG’s didn’t use the term in their press releases, they still have a problem with a private investment firm using their power to make a difference in the companies they invest in. In their lawsuit, they claim that by using their financial pressure to make a cleaner environment; it’s costing consumers more money for their energy.

Working to clean up the environment isn’t the only definition of “woke.” Evidently, if you think people should be treated with respect and dignity regardless of their race, sexuality, gender identity, religion, liberal political beliefs, or some other made-up reason some would use to divide us, you must be “woke” as well.

“Woke” has its origin in the African American culture. The first known use of the word was by blues singer Leadbelly, who sang about the risks black people were taking if they were traveling through Alabama in the early 20th century. He said, “So I advise everybody, be a little careful when they go along through Alabama. Stay woke and keep your eyes open.”

So, while it initially meant to be aware of what’s going on, which, to my beliefs, is a good thing, many on the right are using it as a pejorative term for anything or anyone they don’t like.

I would like to ask Attorney General Hilgers, and his other AG buddies…

“Why are you against stockholders deciding what their companies should be doing? Why do you think these investment firms trying to clean up the environment is a bad thing? Why do you think the government and courts should be involved in what these investment firms are doing? If you don’t like it, find an investment firm that is pro-coal and put your money there.”

I doubt this lawsuit will go anywhere. My guess is, that this was more of a political stunt than an actual attempt at helping lower consumer’s energy costs.

I know many think that climate change isn’t real or that if it is real, it’s a natural thing and not man-made. I would say to them, if you are right, there really isn’t anything we can do to stop it. But what’s the harm in trying to reverse the damage if it is man-made? What harm is being done in trying to find cleaner, renewable sources of energy instead of the emissions burning coal causes?

But I guess having a pro-environment, pro-stockholder rights, and pro-alternative energy attitude makes me “woke.”

Whatever that means.

Tom Becka is a long time Nebraska broadcaster who for over 30 years has been covering Omaha and Midwest issues on both radio and TV. He has been a guest on numerous national cable and news shows, filled in for nationally syndicated talk radio programs and Talkers Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 talk show hosts in the country 10 times. Never afraid to ruffle some feathers, his ‘Becka’s Beat’ commentaries can be found online on Youtube and other digital platforms.

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