Celebrating everyday heroes
When misfortune strikes, we respond in a variety of ways. We may become confused, terrified or despondent. Conversely, we may be empowered, hopeful or determined. We cannot control what happens to us; adversity hits, and sometimes it hits hard. But we can control how we let misfortune affect us. For inspiration, we can look to many of the stories that appeared in the Source Newspaper, as it continues to chronicle the experiences of a diverse population.
Every day, people stand up to face the challenges set against not only themselves, but others as well. In May, Sonja Grgar contemplated these individuals in her article written in the wake of the Boston Marathon Bombing. What makes a hero? A variety of perspectives were given. As Grgar reported, Psychology Today’s Frank Farley sees certain kinds of heroism as actions that involve risk and danger. But he also describes the simple act of “helping others, and doing good deeds.”
This year, the Source brought us many such stories of everyday heroism: people helping others and, while doing so, breaking down linguistic, social and cultural barriers.
We are often familiar with the linguistic barriers that strain communication between people from diverse backgrounds. But rarely considered are invisible minorities – for example, the deaf community. In April, Erna Van Balen reminded us that for the deaf and hard of hearing, technology provides opportunities. Vinu Abraham works as a communications technician at the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, helping to reduce the communicative barriers between the deaf and non-deaf. Deaf himself, Abraham uses a variety of techniques and devices to communicate with clients, building comfort and familiarity between both groups.
Many face social barriers in their lives. In October, Danielle MacCarthy brought us the story of H.A.V.E. Café. H.A.V.E. (Hope, Action, Values & Ethics), a social enterprise and not-for-profit registered charity, is a café and culinary school for those who face a variety of barriers to finding work. Whether they are dealing with physical disability, language barriers or addiction, H.A.V.E. provides training to help people get a start in the service industry. As MacCarthy described, Chefs Amber Anderson and Lloyd McPhee do not discriminate; they take in those other schools are reluctant to.
In its efforts to celebrate diversity and also promote awareness and understanding, the Source continued to feature artists whose work reminds us to be strong in the face of adversity.
Simon Shaheen is a Palestinian composer and musician whose music reflects the spirit of the Arab Spring, calling on audiences to consider their rights to live with dignity and respect. His music transcends cultural barriers, rejecting colonialism and reminding us to be vigilant of our freedom.
Renée Sarojini Saklikar’s collection of poems, Children of Air India, offers a prayer for those who perished, and also offers readers a better understanding of how we may try to comprehend the incomprehensible in public and personal tragedy.
Witnesses, an exhibition at the University of British Columbia’s Belkin Art Gallery, brought together a public collection of visuals expressing the stories of abuse and suffering experienced by victims of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools. As Anastasia Scherders wrote, raising awareness is a way to promote understanding, healing and, ultimately, reconciliation.
Those who champion the rights of animals also received recognition. In January, Mike Lee and Shalini Nayar brought us the story of Jason Khaira, founder of the Sikh Humane Society, who strives to improve the living conditions for animals at farms. Lee and Nayar described how various organizations work to ensure animals are treated well, regulations adhered to and the public educated on key issues surrounding farm animal welfare.
But any talk of heroes and helping people would be incomplete without mention of a hero that we lost this year: Vancouver’s Sister Elizabeth Kelliher, a champion of social justice. In September, Derrick O’Keefe’s testament to a great woman highlighted the work of a nun and social activist who fought for the rights of the downtrodden and the war-afflicted while always offering tender affection to those around her. O’Keefe recounted a personal anecdote of how Kelliher handed him a pair of gloves for his frozen hands during a downtown protest rally.
Heroes like these can easily be overlooked. They are right here in our community centres and libraries, in our cafés and art galleries and in our local businesses. They are a reminder that we don’t have to wait for tragedy to strike for a hero to emerge. We have learned about what it takes to be a hero, but must always remember that it is in each of us to take action in whatever way we can.
The many stories recorded in the Source Newspaper remind us that while we cannot always control what happens, we can control how we respond to hardship. In times of rampant corporate interest, war, discrimination and natural disaster, we must remember the spirit of Sister Elizabeth. We must remind ourselves to stand up and be heroes.
The Source will move forward into a new year, continuing to highlight these people’s stories, celebrate diversity, promote understanding and build awareness.
