Caring for Each Other

This week I had to go back to Toronto for some dental surgery. It was literally a flying visit: in Tuesday, surgery Wednesday, checkup Thursday, dinner with the family Friday and back to Corner Brook Saturday.

As I was going through the security line in Deer Lake last Tuesday, there was a woman ahead of me who was blind. She was travelling with a companion - a sister - and they could not both go through the security scan at the same time. The security staff very clearly asked her name, and spoke to her directly. He asked her politely if she would mind moving three inches to the right, so that she would be positioned right in front. Then, again using her name, he asked her to walk directly forward and assured her that his hand was outstretched so that he could guide her through. When he guided her to the other side, he then asked her to move two feet to the left where there was a chair for her to sit on while she waited for her sister. It was a moment of unbelievable grace - pure simple kindness and politeness. I almost had tears in my eyes watching, and commented to him after how beautiful it was. He responded "We have to do what we can for people who go through here, and it isn't hard to do it."

How I wish that had been the only security staff I saw. Leaving Toronto was a different experience altogether. One staff made a point in the line - even before we got into the room with the scanners - of pulling out people of other nationalities, particularly people of colour - so that he could run the little paddle over their hands, check their belt buckles and their shoes. The young black man in front of me had actually *passed by*, when he was called back to be checked. He asked why. He was told it's a random thing, and they were checking for chemical residues on him. He asked why it was only people of colour being checked. He was told they had the right to pull out anyone they wanted. He responded that it still would only be random if people of *every* colour were checked.

He was right. If they are going to check some, then really all should be checked. As I watched, it was clearly a useless exercise and he was clearly targeted because he was black, and for no other reason.

I have to hold up with optimism that moment of extraordinary kindness and grace at the beginning - because that is the way people *should* be treated - even if checking is necessary. It can be done with politeness and kindness, and a simple explanation.