HOOSER: DEI — A line in the sand

Each of us looks at the world through a unique lens formed by our unique life experiences.

Some of us grew up surrounded by poverty and hardship, while others enjoyed lives of wealth and privilege. We are brown, black, red, white, and many shades in between. We are men, women, transgendered, and like our colors — many shades in between. Some of us are young, and some very old. There are many who’ve obtained high levels of formal education, and many more whose education comes via the streets, the forests, and the oceans. We speak different languages, we have different talents, different abilities, different disabilities, different interests, and different cultures and religions.

We’re all in this together and deserve a seat at the table.

Whether it’s a government institution, public corporation, nonprofit, or school, the active and conscious practice of diversity, equity, and inclusiveness can result in a stronger, better, more ethical, and more effective organization.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness (DEI) is more than just a whipping boy “woke phrase” that President Trump and Musk love to hate on and toss out like a slab of red meat to their true believers every chance they get.

Everyone deserves a seat at the table and to be treated equally, and our diversity strengthens us—this is the core of DEI.

We’re all related, interconnected, and interdependent.

We all share a responsibility to help each other and to protect the planet we call home.

At least, this is the world I believe in.

And this, my friends, is where the line in the sand has been drawn.

We can agree to disagree on how best to deal with government waste, fraud, and abuse. We can even agree to disagree on tariffs, vaccines, and immigration policy.

But we cannot agree to disagree on the inherent evil of bigotry and the fundamental values inherent in the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusivity.

My immediate family, of which I can trace direct lineage, includes individuals born in America and those who immigrated there from other lands. My blood relatives are all of modest economic means and include people of all colors, sexual identities, ages, abilities, and disabilities.

My extended community, ohana — the people I love, respect, and know well — are the same. They are just regular people representing the diversity of our planet.

Without question, our lives here in Hawai’i are more prosperous and better because of the diversity that surrounds us. Yes, we can and must do better here, but we are blessed and privileged in many ways.

I understand but cannot forgive nor accept the bigotry and hate coming from the Trump/Musk worldview.

They each were born into a white world of extreme wealth. Their worldview is shaped by experiences totally different from those of ordinary people who struggle daily to feed their families and pay the rent.

It’s not unusual that they surround themselves with other white men of wealth.

Most of us hang around with people like ourselves. The socioeconomics of life tends to support this trend. People who live in our neighborhood tend to look like us. Even our place of employment too often reflects the inherent bias of the boss, who will likely favor employing people most like them.

Thus, the importance of DEI policy. Unless we consciously and actively seek out, support, and practice diversity, equality, and inclusion – it’s often too slow to happen.

And, of course, the sooner it happens, the sooner our world becomes a better place — for all of us.

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Gary Hooser served eight years in the state Senate, where he was majority leader. He also served for eight years on the Kaua‘i County Council. He presently writes on Hawai‘i Policy and Politics at www.garyhooser.blog.