Black Voice News Online - Editorials By Hardy Brown

Editorials By Hardy Brown

Thursday, 15 February 2007

Dixie Chicks the way home can be "The Long Way Around" Sometime

Dixie Chicks backstage display their 5 Grammy wins.

I grew up on a variety of music from my church choir and school glee club singing gospel, to listening to rhythm and blues and rock and roll in my Uncle Harry’s juke joint, or listening to Randy Record Hop out of Nashville on the radio, and watching the Grand Old Opry’s country singers on television. I thought of those days as I watched the Grammy’s on CBS last Sunday and was excited for all of the winners, however I was really happy to have the Dixie Chicks garner those awards after being dissed by the Bush Administration three years ago. If you recall some conservative friends of Bush went ballistic when the Dixie Chicks said they were ashamed to be from Texas because of the President’s actions. I thought the Dixie Chicks were right then and now we know they were right. Most Americans are ashamed now after learning we went to war over misinformation. The voters removed some representatives who supported the war from office and the Grammy’s honored the Dixie Chicks acknowledging that we took the “long way around” but we are here now. I like the lyrics to their song “Taking the Long Way Around”: “It’s been two long years now, since the top of the world came crashing down, and I’m getting back on the road now; But I’m taking the long way, taking the long way around. Oh, I’ll just take my time; I won’t lay down and take the long way around. Well, I fought with a stranger and I met myself, I opened my mouth and I heard myself, It can get pretty lonely when you show yourself, Guess I could have made it easier on myself”

The Dixie Chicks could have made it easier on themselves by saying nothing, like those in congress who are now speaking up. The Chicks, like me, did not have access to any information but knew the administration rhetoric did not match up with the reality of how they were raised. Many of you know things are not matching up but are too afraid to open your mouths. Yes, it might be the long way around but you will feel better when you lay down at night. They fought with Bush, a stranger, and met themselves. Adversity has a way of revealing who you actually are. I’m happy they opened their mouths and hope their actions will pry many more mouths open between now and the next presidential election.

Happy Retirement Ella Harris

Ella Harris

Ella Harris, a friend of mine who watched my back for many years, retired from Kaiser a few weeks ago. I hired her in my office based on her clerical and organizational skills and upon the recommendation of longtime friend Wilbur Brown. I had to produce a five inch thick Affirmative Action Program Manual each year and Ella had the responsibility of typing each page with accuracy. She also had the important responsibility to tone down my direct approach to solving problems. Ella had a way of changing my phrases without changing my point of view and making it palatable to the reader. It is one thing to have your say but you want the recipient to not get angry but take action to correct the issue. When you're on a management team who views your job as the enemy and even eavesdrops at your door to see who you talk with, you need a person like Ella on your side. I was an investigator and problem solver of employee grievances and complaints and she was a keeper of the records. She also helped me recruit students for Kaiser's summer employment program of which she took over when my duties changed. She understood the mission of that program and the need to ensure that a diverse student body was essential to its success. It is my understanding that when her duties were changed the diversity of that program went out the window. It was good having her as a friend. Most of all she could be trusted and the employees could confide in her when I was not available to assist them. Earning the trust of employees and managers is critical when you work in Human Resources. Ella, enjoy retirement, you deserve it!

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

BVN Vid Cast

Caroline Kennedy provides her first-ever sit-down interview and discusses her interest in the Senate seat currently held by Hillary Clinton.

BVN Calendar Events

January 2009

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31