will be the same 50 years from now . President Barrack Obama encapsulated this point in his most recent State of the Union address on the issue of the “ Glass Ceiling .” Statistically , he pointed out that women today earn only $. 77 for every dollar earned by a man . You will recall he gave compelling examples of the significant qualifications , and reverent contributions women have traditionally brought to practically every household in America . But , more interestingly , he spoke of the positive fiscal impact for this nation ’ s economic well-being if ever women were indeed paid equal to men .
At the point in which President Obama introduced a bill to , at last , do something meaningful about equality for women , amidst thunderous and sustained applause , you only had to watch the platitudes on the faces of his dissenters who were present with him in chambers . They did not applaud , because like CAWC and others like them , they want to keep their segregated contracting policies and practices just the way they are now and into perpetuity .
The greatest challenge facing us in these modern times is not necessarily the refusal of CAWC to contract with women and small minority owned businesses , but rather doing something about it . Our mindset , with respect to this eight billion dollar conglomerate , and other recalcitrant corporations like them , must , therefore , take an uncompromising ethical position which sternly signifies that even an ocean of clean , drinkable water is worthless , if no one will drink it . Intrepidly , standing together upon a moral compass , we have the power to intelligibly propagate a reverberating message right here in the State of California and anywhere in the world that clean water should not be drank from a dirty glass record , as represented by CAWC .
In closing , as the late , great Nelson Mandela taught this world , “ it always seems impossible until it ’ s done .” President Mandela went on to deliver endless speeches worldwide , addressing what leaders must do in order to be effective towards any cause for justice . He proclaimed that “ real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people . . . For to be free is not merely to cast off one ’ s chains , but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others . . . We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right . . . When people are determined they can overcome anything ”.
Those of us who believe the struggle for equal opportunity ends with the successful negotiation of an individual business , coupled with the election of even the first African-American President of the United States , are living an illusion of inclusion .
Respectfully , this writing is not intended to serve , solely , as a proverbial Black history lesson , but rather a call to action , and to remind us that patience and inaction still remains Enemy No . 1 in our ever-elusive quest for change .
In the ensuing weeks to come , NAMCO will be calling for strong member participation in attending the upcoming California Public Utilities Commission Intervenor Hearings to testify in protest of CAWC ’ s request for its rate-setting application for the sale of clean water on the grounds that it ’ s contracting record with small , women , and minority owned businesses is dirty and , thus , morally undrinkable .
Conversely , CAWC is counting on an empty hearing room with no visible , or verbal , live testimonial protestations from those of us most affected by its outcome . Therefore , your support in any way you can best provide it is critical at this defining moment .
The Sterling incident is not a rare occurrence . While we may not see or hear about it on national television on a daily bases , minorities certainly experience it daily .
There is no time like the present , and there is no better time than now to start demanding change .
While we are committed to bringing our readers the facts , being it the good , the bad , or the ugly , we must also commend those corporations , like Southern California Edison , Walmart , PG & E , AECOM , and CVS Caremark who “ Walk the Walk ” in diversity .
NAMCO is conducting a national survey to identify those corporations and agencies that Walk the Walk in championing diversity and will publish the “ best and worst ” results in an upcoming issue of DyNAMC .
Stay tuned .