I don’t think people naturally seek to help others everyday. We’re just too busy. Five days ago you would’ve seen me studying for exams, not giving care for much else. You would’ve seen a businessman, going to his office to sign his daily papers and you would’ve seen a college student, going for her day out with friends. But a day later, when we turn on the T.V, and see the latest news on the Alberta floods, I had immediately put down my pencil. The businessman puts down his papers, and the college student puts down her phone. We stare at the TV and watch as our own city floods to horrendous heights. We are amazed at the destruction that this flood causes and we are shocked when we realize how much impact this flood must have on the people effected. Eventually everyone looks at their T.V, newspaper, phone, or radio and we all in cohesive unison, have the notion that there must be some way we can help.
With the emphasized news on the Alberta flooding this week, this post is an obvious consequence. However throughout the entire time of planning, I considered what aspect I should write about the flooding. Do people need to know more information? Not really, with all the media focusing on this story, it’s not that hard to find info on it. Do people need to know more ways on how to help? Sure, maybe some advice would be good. Don’t take long showers, help out the victims any way you can, and when the opportunity comes, volunteer for clean-up since there will be eventually be a large need for it.
However what I really wanted to share this week, is the way that people are consistently attracted to these kinds of events. As we ignore the controversies with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, or we turn away momentarily from the political jabber on Syria; the world from North America, to Europe, to even the Middle East, look at the Alberta Flooding in international attention. What kind of event would I call the Alberta Flooding? Well I would call it similar to the event Operation Breakthrough in 1988.
Operation Breakthrough was an international effort, to free three Grey Whales in Alaska which were stuck in packed ice. This event generated so much media attention, that the whales were eventually helped by international organizations and governments. There was even a cooperation between the U.S and the Soviet Union to free the whales. Take note that this event was during the Cold War, and a cooperation between these two nations is a mere example of the events significance. Operation Breakthrough was a media phenomenon, that attracted people because of it’s humanity, and human cooperation. Finally the world momentarily ignored it’s conflicts, and truly came together to support a truly humane act.
Although I don’t think the Alberta Floods are so big of a media phenomenon as Operation Breakthrough, nor as international. The general feeling of humanity is significant. Why most people are so absorbed in the Alberta Floods, other than it’s environmental awe. We see people on Facebook writing about how we can help, and friends who express their concerns on the victims in the flood. We see public service-men going out of their way to help the affected, and mayor Naheed Nenshi expressing his congratulations on humanity during these harsh times:
“It is unbelievable at the dedication of people to keep their neighbors safe whether their police officers, fire fighters, guys who pump out water, or citizens who take in friends of family, it is a blessing for us to have so many engaged in community and public service.” by Naheed Nenshi
Let us not forget that when Alberta returns to ‘normality’, and the world returns to the attention of conspiracy, war, and controversy, we remember that people at least had some highlights in history like Operation Breakthrough, and the Alberta floods, that showed that people can come together in times of trouble. At least we can nag at our long time notion that humanity has no hope for moral good, when we remind ourselves that we in fact, have the capability to be humane.
References of Pictures in Order;
Thumbnail:Â http://www.citynews.ca/files/2013/06/High-River-alberta-flood-rescue-473×315.jpg
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2013/06/21/li-620-flood-cp-04621569.jpg
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/sports/photos/2013/06/21/cgy-stampede-saddledome.jpg
http://wamuanimalhouse.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/950×600/NOAA_6_0.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7030/6778050657_99bf845800_z.jpg
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/canada/archives/2013/06/20130620-204326.html
http://www.theprovince.com/news/cms/binary/8557839.jpg?size=620x400s
