Dear Editor:
I’m writing in response to the followup story written by contributing writer Paul Sullivan of the North Shore News on May 24 in regards to the young New Zealand couple who had all their travel and personal possessions stolen including their vehicle.
I first heard of Sullivan’s comments from a friend who lives on the North Shore who told me about it. I live on Vancouver Island and don’t get that paper. Yes, I am one half of the “helpful couple on Vancouver Island” who was touched by their story and reached out, like so many others did ... “Good Samaritan?”... no, just a couple of parents seeing two visiting kids close in age to ours a long way from family and in trouble. At first I felt pretty angry at Sullivan’s sarcasm, judgement and lecturing, so I had to read it a few more times before I fully understood the underlying passion and message behind it.
But now, proudly being called their Canadian Mum, I feel compelled to respond. Brad and Molly embarked on an adventure leaving behind the security of family, familiarity and safety of home. Like many young adults do, they wanted to travel to far off places to work, explore, learn and fall in love with diversity in all its forms. Innocence is not a detriment, it is a gift that enables us to be adventurous. These two had planned and saved to successfully fulfill that adventurous drive, unfortunately an opportunistic predator taught them another side of life. It was a life lesson and as devastating as it was to learn, they will take something positive from it. To naively imply they come from a sheltered, privileged, glass bubble is really only naïve on the part of Sullivan. When your heart is pure and good, it’s difficult to imagine or foresee the behaviours of those who come from places of ugliness and despair even with signage. For the record, precise planning had their insurance expiring on the day before they were due to travel home. To experience the emotional loss of theft would leave anyone feeling shell-shocked regardless of age, such a blow to the end of a fabulous journey. Both Brad and Molly found the response to their story overwhelmingly touching. I have no doubt that those generous gestures, most they turned down, will have a life changing impact on them for the better. They have a more worldly view on life now since they experienced first hand loss, uncertainty, empathy, compassion, generosity and humanity.
As Sullivan reminds us, there are greater atrocities and there is a great need in our world even as close as our own backyard. What “triggers empathy?” What motivates any of us to help is as personal as is choosing when and where we do it. For us it was our family connection to New Zealand and helping was within reach. I try to make a difference in my own backyard. When I donate to the bigger picture, I always wonder is my contribution getting to the intended people or is it all spent up in administration? I feel I’m more successful physically seeing my help actually getting to those in need. There are so many ways anyone of us can help: donating used clothing to homeless shelters, you can take that collection of hotel toiletries there too. Donating to your food bank or soup kitchen. Donating reusable household goods to charities like the Salvation Army, Big Brother’s, Big Sisters, Canadian Diabetes, the larger organizations can support the larger needs ... there are plenty out there. It’s really just that easy and the benefit is purely selfish – you get to fill up your heart.
Chris Stephen
North Saanich
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