Image Credit: Teerayut Oanwong / Dreamstime.com

By Daniela Ginta

The Way I See It

GINTA: Standing together takes us where we need to go

Jun 24, 2019 | 7:07 AM

IT WAS LAST YEAR that I was camping with my family in a paradisiacal spot somewhere on the Shuswap. We were ready for the usual things we do on a camping trip, but because the weather was just right and the beaches were still empty, our youngest asked for a lot of beach time. I obliged, glad to have tucked a book in my backpack just in case.

I ended up reading more than I do on such an occasion and the book was a memorable one. One of the quotes that stood with me was, “The beauty and the tragedy of the modern world is that it eliminates many situations that require people to demonstrate a commitment to the collective good.” (Sebastian Junger, Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging.) There were so many valuable thoughts to share with the world in that book that I ended up right reading out loud to my family here and there while the beach activities were unfolding. The conversations that ensued were precious.

Back to my quote and related content in the book. I was reminded of the concept of ‘shared humanity’, which Junger discusses at length, over the last few days since the Trans Mountain pipeline construction was approved by the federal government and expectedly, that caused a social (and political) rift yet again. Some applauded the decision, others decried it given the threat of climate change and the many challenges it brings with it, many of which are visible right where we are. The future does not bode well, and there is no hiding from the truth of it either.

But it was not the different points of view that caught my attention; it was the aggressiveness that came with it — the personal attacks and mocking of people rather than discussing ideas. Those concerned by the continued use of fossil fuels given the state of our planet, were ridiculed and their concerns derided. And yet, we are in it together.

Then there was Mel Rothenburger’s column about kids and why making it too easy for them might be detrimental in the end. It was an opinion piece so, naturally, it had the author’s point of view displayed throughout.

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Some readers approved, some did not. Some went on to demolish the writer and used terms such as senile and worse. Never mind the debate that each opinion column can and should stir. That’s a healthy thing when it happens. The more we are challenging ourselves to really see another’s point of view and convey arguments to go with or against it, the more opportunities to open our minds and thus change the world for the better.

The above-mentioned cases are nowhere near black-and-white issues. Climate change is real and the greenhouse gas emissions higher than ever, having just surpassed 415 ppm. This concerns all of us, and so does the fact that we have approximately a decade to act to save the only home we have, parts of which are in shambles. Speaking for the environment should not make anyone a target, but it should call for a mature conversation that would spark ideas for counteracting the challenging phenomena brought by climate change that we so often are witnessing, whether around the world or here at home. Job concerns are also important but one should not go against the other because that’s a limited journey for both and for all of us eventually.

Same about the other issue. We all love our children and want to raise them in a way that reflects that. If someone brings forth concerns related to their well-being, it is not because they want to demolish our parenting but to shed light on some societal trends that might not take us in the right direction as we bring up the next generation.

These are not small matters. There are many others yet. We all want to know that the future will be good and so far there are reasons to doubt that, unless we look for ways to make it so and act accordingly (which inherently challenges the idea of burning more fossil fuel); those who have kids want to see them grow into resilient, able adults ready to tackle big problems if life calls for it and also considerate towards their fellow humans. (Healthy boundaries can do a lot to make that happen, and though it may seem counterintuitive, they make kids feel safe and happy.)

The last thing we ought to do is take each other down in social media or anywhere else over diverging opinions on issues that are everybody’s concern and in dire need of viable solutions. I believe we have a better chance at finding them if we look for what unites us rather than divides us. Humanity, to start with.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.