special workplaces

Last Sunday, Detroit Free Press columnist Susan Ager wrote about a departing Henry Ford/Greenfield Village exec. and mentioned he knew by name even "those lowest on the ladder, the ones who sweep the droppings of Greenfield Village horses." Ager got some flack for the "lowest on the ladder" comment and today did some backpeddling, declaring that "The only way to hose the poop from my boots is to apologize, and give these folks a voice." (Essayist literacy in the house!)

So she goes on to quote a teacher who used to do the job, and a real estate appraiser who does the job on the side because he loves history, and the Henry Ford's v.p. who, err, doesn't do that particular job.

I like the end of the column:

I was wrong to write "lowest on the ladder" and I am sorry.
In some special workplaces, there is no ladder. Everybody's essential.

I can't seem to get a read on whether or not she's being sarcastic ("isn't that special"?). An ironic reference to Ford's announcement two days ago that they'll eliminate 30,000 factory jobs, a sobering stat in conjunction with Ager's feel-good vibe. Belletrism's struggle with a moment of conflict, a moment of tension, a moment of material reality.