The Opposite of Equality is Discrimination.
Welcome back!
When I was 20th years old I got a job at a 
Hotel front desk.
This was after I had worked at a major Department Store for 2 years, and I was consistently the top 10 producer of all of the Departments in the entire company.
At that time, I thought to myself I should go try a new industry, being that I am still very young. There is a much bigger world beside retail.
I got a job working at a Major Hotel. I was there for 6 months, and then we got a new General Manager. Shortly after the New GM got there, we have a new hire at the front desk. I was told by the GM to work beside the new hired, and to train her. On the 7th day of our training, the GM pulled me aside and told me to leave. He said that they have been having communication problem with me, therefore, he is going to let me go. He said that I don’t need to finish the day, just go now and to drop off my uniform at HR with in 3 days and I can pick up my paycheck there.
My thought was I am foreigner, it must be because no one can understand me. I was depressed. I sat home for a week. Thinking to myself what kind of work can I do if my English is so poor, and no one can understand me? Then a friend of mine form the Department store called to check up on me. I said to her, “May be being a sales person at a Department store is the best I can ever do.” I told her what happen to me at the Hotel. My friend reminded me every body at the Store and every customer I ever helped had no problem communicating with me. That was why I was always on the top ten producers list. And if the Hotel had such a problem communicating with me, why would they have me train the new hired!?
That was my first taste of prejudice - discrimination. I can’t explain to some else what that feels like, and I certainly never wish that up on anyone. I live in California, tomorrow is our day to vote. I am voting No on Prop 8! Normally I don’t talk about political issues in my work. However, to me Prop 8 is equal rights. The opposite of Equality is Discrimination, and I believe we are better than that!
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
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Great post, as always. I am sad for all the prejudice in the world but also happy for those who will proudly stand up for the fight against descrimination. Thank you for doing that.
Dear Amy
Thank You for your comment. I hope we win the state of CA on Equality, and then someday the whole world. A world that believe in Equality of everybody.
I wish us luck!
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
It’s terrible that you or anyone in that matter ever has to experience prejudice or discrimination. I think as a whole, the human race, has come a long way in seeing we are all one and equal. But unfortunately there are still a few who haven’t open their minds and hearts to this. Together, standing united, we can make a difference in the world our children grow up in. Their future depends on us.
Thank you for standing up for what you believe in. When we Believe, we will Achieve….
Many Blessings….Roxanne and Hugo ~ Believe Achieve
Dear Hugo & Roxanne
That’s right we can stand united, and we will make a difference in the world. A world with equality. All starts with us
Thanks for you comment, I look forward to reading more from you.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Don’t assume prejudice or it will taint your view of others, causing you to be prejudiced. While the way you were treated was wrong, it doesn’t necessarily stem from prejudice. Perhaps the GM was doing a favor by hiring the daughter of a friend and you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In retrospect what you should have done was gone to HR and told them you’ve been told you’re being dismissed because of communications problems and this is the first you’ve heard of it. If there’s a communications problem it’s that no one in management is communicating what they want to see from their employees.
Dear Carlos
Yes, you are right about assuming will taint our view. I wasn’t going to get so deep into the detail. Now come to think of it, I should have.
That GM got to our Hotel right after his nasty divorce with his Ex wife, who is japanese. And he did show displeased toward Asian, toward me and a few other Asian co-workers that I did talk to. The ending of the story was someone else reported him to HR. Later, that GM did get fired.
I wasn’t strong enough (20 years old) back then to report him, becasue I took his judgement without questioning. Today, I certainly would have file a report. I am glad that someone else was older and stronger!
I believe once the GM got over the hurt from his divorce, he may be different. I think his pain of the divorce tainted his view.
Thanks for your comment
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Read your article and being that I was in management for a large communication company,I can guarantee you that this guy handle the affair in a very crude fashion. 90 percent of the mangement usually dealt with situations as they were told to do so by their higher ups. It is the managment people who go out side of the box and have a good sense of their own to communicate what is the best game plan for both of you. I was very lucky to have a diverse amout of employees who taught me way more than I could have taught them. They wanted me to get in the trenches with them ( hang out basically) and for that I never demanded anything .I would just ask and they practically would step on each other to try and please me so it was a win win situation for us. I will say do to jealously ,many other managment did not care for me. Why would I care ? I didn’t .I do feel that you were derespected and I always found that to be a cost the company couldn’t afford . I was and still am honored to have seen you speak in front of a very large and dignified group of people .You speak very clear and effectively and I encourage everyone to hopefully get that wonderful opportunity! You help to motivate me which has helped me in my daily business ventures.Thank you and always best wishes to you Giovanna. Tom ( ATPTELECOMMUNICATIONSERVICES.COM )
Dear Tom
You are right about the derespect is something that no company can afford to over look in any working relationship.
I do remember meeting you after my speech in NY. It is great to connect with you here.
Thank You for your comment, I look forward to reading more from you.
Giovanna Garcia
Thank you for the thoughful post.
Dan and Deanna “Marketing Unscrambled”
[...] An elderly lady Mrs. O’Mara from Canada contacted me today. Mrs. O’Mara is a reader of my blog, and she said she was compelled to contact me after reading my blog post The Opposite of Equality is Discrimination [...]
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