Capsun's Corner – by Capsun M. Poe

Note:  This is part of my (supposedly) Weekly AQ Wisdom special series.  To see other posts in the series, click on the Best Bets tab at the top of any page here and scroll down to the “AQ McElrath” section.  Material for this post was take nfrom information available at her Celebration of Life in February.

Ever since the second or third post in this series, readers have asked why I still write about AQ, months after starting it.  AQ was one of the most accomplished, compassionate, and passionate people I knew.  I was fortunate to serve with her on the UH Board of Regents to witness her in action first-hand.  And now with the State’s budget crisis and pending furloughs, it’s only a matter of time before people opt to go without health insurance – and that is something AQ would have had a lot to say about.  In short, in these tought times, the lack of AQ as a vocal moral compass is most apparent.

Were she alive, she probably would have quoted Nicole Kidman in Australia (OK, honestly, AQ would come up with something even more eloquent), “Just because it is, doesn’t mean it should be.” It’s a bit odd that a pragmatist like me would quote something like that and blog about an idealist like AQ, but she truly brought out the best in people.  And if you didn’t bring your best, she would have pointed that out, too.

Now, for today’s post…

“Ah Quon will be remembered by many:  by some for her memories of the early days of struggle against the power of the Big Five; by the many whose lives she touched in her role as social worker for the union; by those who worked with her on social issues at the state legislature; by hte Unviersity community for her work as a regent and as a stimulating speaker in various classrooms.

“Ah Quon was an excellent teacher.  From my [Ed's] arrival in Hawaii in 1963, she graciously taught me much about Hawaii and the development of the labor movement.  I was able to go with her several times as she spoke to ILWU retirees – her ability to communicate in pidgin and to work with and on behalf of the working class was outstanding.  For some of us, she was also a stimulating and caring friend, a supporter of good causes, a formidable poker player, and someoe we could always turn to for reliably information and avice.

“We attended the Hawaii People’s Fund banquet honioring Ah Quon in November.  We heard a typical Ah Quon speech – on which looked forward to a future devoted to the struggle for equality and justice.  She will be missed by all, but she leaves behind many friends and co-workers who will continue that struggle.”

-Ed Beecher, Labor Historiani and Alice Beechert, Writer

Mahalo!

Tags: ah quon, aq, mcelrath