A few days ago, I was speaking with a friend who suggested the State legislature or County Council involvement in passing “Resolutions” dealing with international affairs such as a ceasefire in Gaza, was a waste of time.

Why encourage people to testify on something that neither the State or County government had any control over? Why “expose” legislators to negative political repercussions on an issue not within their power or jurisdiction?

Passing a Resolution will do nothing to help achieve peace or a cease-fire they said.

So why bother?

My response was short and to the point.

Why do people stand on the street holding signs promoting issues? Why do they march? Why write letters to the editor? Why do legislators sometimes show up on picket lines in support of labor unions? Why do legislators hold press conferences on issues?

The answer of course is because every voice matters and the voice given to an issue by a formal Council or Legislative Resolution is worth thousands of individual letters, statements, signs and petition signatures.

All voices, matter. Individually they are important. Collectively they are unstoppable.

Note to readers: In addition to The Garden Island Newspaper, I also write a regularly for the Hawai’i
Filipino Chronicle. Below is my most recent column written especially for their anniversary edition.

Title: Our Voice Is Our Power – Let’s Use It

During my 30 years of work in politics and policy, it’s become undeniably clear that our voice is the most powerful tool in our tool box.

We can and we should vote, of course, but speaking out on issues, and letting the world know our thoughts, feelings, goals, and hopes – is the most important tool for change that we have.

Unfortunately the world of mass media has become a morass of content, with opinions too often disguised as facts, and marketed as “click bait” designed to sell advertising.

Mahalo to the Hawai’i Filipino Chronicle for the valuable role they play in helping to amplify the many local voices of change that might otherwise go unheard. By providing a straight-forward community based forum for coherent voices to tell their own personal stories – our world is a better place.

Telling stories and voicing opinions allows the writer to publicly “come out” on issues and values. Often when one person “comes out”, it gives confidence to others to do the same on perhaps an issue they might otherwise feel is too controversial or that they are in the minority on, and thus they are hesitant to speak about.

The issue could be about the tragedy occurring in Gaza, or the right for workers to be paid a living wage, or medicare for all, or that affordable housing is a basic right, or a woman’s right to choose, or yes…LGBTQ rights.

The bottom line is when one person begins to speak and write on issues, values, opinions, and goals – others are motivated to do the same.

When people start talking out loud about these issues, then others are empowered also to join in the conversation, and soon “policy-makers” hear the chorus and start pushing policy in the direction of the conversation.

This is how the tide of public policy shifts from one position to another.

Our Council-members, Representatives, and Senators serve at the pleasure of the voters. If the voters are increasingly vocal in their support or opposition of various public policy issues/positions – the elected representatives will ultimately notice and move in the direction of the voter. This is a fact of life in electoral politics.

Those who serve in elected office love their jobs and they can remain in office only if they win the votes of residents. Thus it’s critically important that each of us continue to raise our voices in public support and in opposition to the issues important to us.

We must use all methods of communication to ensure our individual and our collective message is strong and shared widely: Letters to the editor, emails and telephone calls to elected policy-makers, direct communications with our own friends and networks, holding signs and marching with others – and yes absolutely with strong support of those media sources that provide a coherent forum for diverse opinions – like the Hawai’i Filipino Chronicle.

Please join me today in raising our voices together, united in purpose with people across the islands and in fact across the globe, in support of a world that puts people and the planet first, above greed, above corporate profits, and above ego and personal aggrandizement.

Gary Hooser