Most of us agree that our nation and world are on fire at this time. We might disagree over causes, but few of us are happy with this current level of tension and frustration. Roxanne Jones, writing on CNN today, says her mom always encouraged her to “Use Your Voice.” Roxanne was confronted often by injustice or bullies when growing up. Most of us have similar childhood memories.
by Scott Goold, guest columnist
Scott Goold is a former professional athlete, a coach who directed sports camps for special needs and traditional athletes, and served professionally as a business analyst, programmer and civil rights activist.
Due to Scott’s sports injuries, aggravated by military training, he required numerous surgeries and suffers severe chronic pain.
Scott was hired by Hawaiian Electric (HECO) as a contract employee. Manager and coworkers rated Scott highly proficient technically and an excellent fit socially. HECO offered Scott permanent employment.
As Scott’s medical team recommends medication for his severe chronic pain, Scott checked HECO policy, as well as asked his assigned HR rep. HECO said he would be fine. They fired him two weeks later.
Scott is using his voice for people like him.
SEE HECOgate.com
Roxanne also pointed out her mom’s advice wasn’t an easy lesson, as she was a scrapper who was “used to righting all my worldly wrongs with my fists.” Another shooting today in Lexington, KY. A White male appears to have used his fists … and bullets. Why?
SEE 491 School Shootings And Counting. Without Aloha There Will Be More
Some claim we suffer more violence because political and business officials do not hear our voices — even when we raise them. They clam we’re not being respected.
Roxanne says, as we get older, the bullies “get bigger, and more stealthy at systemically devaluing your humanity. You discover that the injustices are entrenched in society — whether they come from teachers, coaches, the police or a political system that exploits communities like yours.”
“Those with power do what they do best — ignored her voice and her concerns.”
Roxanne Jones
Hawaiian Electric is bullying me. Our family believes they’re the biggest bullies in our islands. They have marginalized over 35,000+ suffering human beings, including Veterans, by denying all of us an opportunity to work, to feed and care for their families, and treating us like second-class citizens.
Roxanne says we have two choices: give up and stay angry at the world or find the power in your voice to fight for what’s right. I almost gave up; almost jumped from my 25th floor window. Fortunately, I meditated with my heroic brothers and sisters resting in the National Cemetery of the Pacific. They helped me find the power of my voice to fight for what is right.
Roxanne speaks about the Tennessee Three … Justin Jones, Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson … two Black men and one White woman, who lifted their democratically-elected voices to challenge the status quo on gun control. She speaks about a “dust-up” between 20-year-old LSU women’s basketball champion, Angel Reese, and first lady Jill Biden about a White House visit last week.
Roxanne claims Reese tried to speak “authentic truth about how she and her teammates were treated, a truth that resonated with so many Black women whose feelings, experiences and priorities have been marginalized again and again.”
TYPICALLY, writes Roxanne, “those with power do what they do best — ignored her voice and her concerns.”
Hawaiian Electric fired me for allegedly violating their drug abuse policy. “Rules are the rules,” said Joe Biden … however, Hawaiian Electric broke the rules, not me. They failed to provide me with their substance abuse policy. Their staff led me to believe I would “be fine.” Hawaiian Electric then fired me two weeks later.
“Rules are the rules” is what those with power say when convenient to them. Hawaiian Electric breaks the rules, fails to follow the rules, when inconvenient for them.
I filed a complaint of discrimination and other charges last week in the Circuit Court of Hawai’i.
SEE Scott Goold Files Discrimination Lawsuit
Have proved conclusively — beyond a reasonable doubt — that Hawaiian Electric and their agents violated my rights. To avoid messy, costly and unpleasant litigation, I extended my hand to Hawaiian Electric officials to settle and resolve this long-running dispute. It’s a small island. Native Hawaiians believed best to pau beef as soon as possible. Let everyone more forward in aloha.
The response from Hawaiian Electric: SILENCE … a silence so silent that it is deafening.
Hawaiian Electric does what those with power do best — they ignore the voice of the people and their concerns.
Roxanne says those who speak truth to power often pay a high price — especially if one is Black. Sadly, Roxanne divides on this point. Hawaiian Electric doesn’t care if one is White or Black, they are “equal opportunity” ignorers. Had I been an Asian female, likely would have been treated with kindness and compassion. Women appear to have more privilege in Hawai’i.
Corporations have [too] much power in Hawai’i. In fact, it was corporate interests that forced the Bayonet Constitution on King David Kalākaua in 1887; and those same interests booted his sister Lydia, Queen Lili’uokalani, for attempting to undo the corporate-inspired constitution in 1893. Appears corporate interests have blackballed and ostracized me to deny employment. Same thing Harvey Weinstein did to women he abused in Hollywood.
Roxanne claims Pearson, Jones and Reese have already won — by raising their voices, they have demanded to be respected as they deserved.
I’m hoping that Hawaiian Electric HEARS my raised voice. We don’t want people resulting to using fists or violence. In Hawai’i, we believe in ho’oponopono — we believe in listening and hearing each other — as we develop respect, love and aloha for each other.
Hawai’i leads the nation in many areas. Please join me asking Hawaiian Electric to HEAR our voices. There are 35,000+ medical patients, including Veterans, who want to work; to be gainfully employed; to contribute positively to our ‘Ohana.
Remember you heard it here first. Please leave your comments below and be sure to FOLLOW ClearHeath Life Strategies. We provide News of the News You Wish You Knew.
Ko’olau of Kaua’i. I am the Defiant One
“I Believe We Can”
ClearHealthLife Strategies 