•YWCA supports civil rights
•Jobs vs. environment
•Let Superferry stay
YWCA supports civil rights
The foundation of the YWCA organization — locally, nationwide and throughout the world — has always been a passionate belief in equality, peace, justice, and dignity for all people.
The YWCA USA began promoting equal rights, the empowerment of women and supported racial justice even before the civil rights struggle in the ‘50s. YWCAs around the world continue in the day to day advocacy and work to bring into being a world where basic human values of equality, freedom, peace and dignity are a daily reality for all people.
The YWCA of Kaua‘i’s work in the community is also firmly rooted in these beliefs, and for over 86 years we have provided services that help to create this kind of inclusive community on our beautiful island. It is only natural then, that based on these core beliefs, the YWCA of Kaua‘i strongly supports the efforts to ensure civil rights for all people, and adds our voice in calling for the passage of the civil union bill in Hawai‘i.
As we have seen throughout history, discrimination in any form, whether it is based on gender, race, ethnicity, social class, disability, religious beliefs or sexual orientation, is wrong and intolerable. Aren’t we are all members of at least one of these sub-groups? Our community, state and nation have recently witnessed and been a part of historic progress in breaking gender and racial barriers in the past election. Let us not stop there in making changes for the better. Hawai‘i now has the opportunity to take another step in breaking down barriers to equal rights thru the civil union bill.
Change sometimes requires great courage, as many times it challenges “popular” or “powerful” myths and beliefs. We are hearing the same myths and arguments based on religious beliefs that were made when the same sex marriage issue was up for vote. Discrimination and inequity will continue until we move past the myths and misconceptions that have kept different populations throughout history from obtaining their basic human rights.
The ideas of equality and civil rights have always been described as “dangerous” and “destructive” to accepted traditions and practices. Objections to change persist despite the reality of the inequality or hardship these traditions and practices may cause. It wasn’t that long ago that ending slavery, granting women the right to vote, ending racial discrimination, establishing children’s rights, and allowing inter-racial marriage were all considered dangerous and harmful. Now we look back and ask ourselves “What was the problem? What were we so worried about?” Our society did not crumble or collapse, nor will it collapse or crumble if same sex civil unions are allowed.
The YWCA encourages the community of Kaua‘i and the larger Hawai‘i community to join in the call to ending all forms of discrimination and to strengthen the belief in the inherent human right to equally live in peace, freedom, justice, and with dignity for all people; there are no exceptions!
Renae Hamilton, executive director
Donna Apisa, Emiko Meyers, Angela Anderson, Marjorie Bennett, Nancy Golden, board of directors members, YWCA Kaua‘i
Jobs vs. environment
According to multiple stories in The Garden Island, the Hawaii Superferry is laying off more than 200 workers.
In the past, Superferry has used the issue of layoffs as a rhetorical jab at its opposition. This is a standard divide-and-conquer tactic which aims to quell dissent and give corporate elite free reign to do what they want in the name of “jobs” — which is actually a euphemism for profits.
Let’s remember that if the Superferry could be operated by robots, it would be. The Superferry’s Mainland investors don’t care about people and jobs. They care about one thing only: profit.
None of us working folk want to see our brothers and sisters getting laid off, especially in these lean times. But today we have begun exercise our power as working people to say that we won’t be forced to choose between good family-supporting jobs and a healthy environment.
We can, and will, have both.
Katy Rose, Hanalei
Let Superferry stay
The economy is in havoc. Tourism is at an all time low. Foreclosures are a daily thing. Businesses are closing rapidly. The current recession affects us all.
The Superferry employed many local residents and for 11 months proved herself beyond a reasonable doubt that she was safe and secure. No reported whale collisions or any rapid influx of the homeless and drug dealers which all the contrarians were worried about.
This whole ordeal was the most unconstitutional local political episode ever witnessed. Cruise ships, barges, freighters, yachts, fishing boats, cars and airplanes all operate without an EIS. Grounding the Superferry for something all other forms of transportation are guilty of will only come back to haunt us if something isn’t done immediately to reverse this immature asinine decision.
Let free enterprise flourish.
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
