Photo supplied.
Callaghan and Delaney Cook of Millbrook took it upon themselves to trim the grass around the mailboxes in their neighbourhood at Nina Court. They were discouraged by the unkempt appearance of the area which they see every day as it faces their family home. Callaghan told his neighbour, Leigh Prentice, that he was going to go out and trim the area with scissors to make it look better. Leigh joined the youngsters and together they trimmed the area, making a great improvement to the appearance of the area. It’s great to see community pride in the neighbourhood, particularly when it starts with young people. Thanks, Callaghan, Delaney and Leigh for your efforts!
We all have an idea what “community” means. It’s intimate, local, familiar. In the second week of the 2020 Olympics, that definition may have broadened a bit, if only for a few weeks. We share the frustration of the disqualified athlete who jumps the gun, and the disappointment of the pole vaulter whose equipment failure contributed to her unfortunate performance. Many of us cheered when Pink paid the fine levied against the Norwegian beach volleyball team for wearing a uniform that was more discreet than the traditional bikini bottom.
Throughout the hours of broadcasts, we hear enthusiastic announcers describing the accomplishments of their athletes. With empty stadiums, we are all experiencing the games remotely. On this global stage, we are watching together. Through television and videos we see images of families and supporters cheering their competitors through their contests and realize we are all feeling the same waves of triumph and despair watching these games. It makes us feel part of a broader community.
When the modern Olympics began in 1896, one of the objectives was to stimulate this very feeling. The games were intended to replace the bitterness of international conflict in the modern world with friendly competition, if only for a few weeks.
It’s a noble objective and one of growing importance as recent events highlight the fact that we are all connected. Pandemics and global warning respect no political boundary, and are bringing home the fact that our actions affect others, many others. As relationships between superpowers sour, it’s easy to feel helpless as things deteriorate but as small pieces of this giant puzzle it is important to hold ourselves accountable for our actions that impact our own community, however we define it. Bringing patience, compassion and tolerance to our relationships, particularly to those with whom we disagree will help us move forward, which is in everyone’s interest. KG
