To my less-than-gentlemanly neighbour on Slayter Street

I clearly took too much of your time while trying to sell concert tickets in support of the relocation of a vulnerable Syrian refugee family of six. I need to apologize. Not for taking too long to “get to the point,” but for whomever and whatever has occurred in your life that has led to the generation of such impatience, of such a lack of compassion and courtesy. Had you taken the time to listen to my words, you would have been able to answer your own question. “What is the point?” The short answer was to sell tickets to a concert being put on by Downtown Dartmouth For Refugees on January 22 featuring Bob Lambert and Georges Hebert. The long answer, and the point that gets overlooked by those too impatient to listen for more than 60 seconds, is the fact that to live in a world without hatred and war we must come together with compassion and love for life. These musicians and organizers are attempting just that by offering their skills and performances to raise money and awareness for the injustices in this world that  have resulted in pain and suffering for far too many. For those of us fortunate enough to reside in two-storey homes, with spacious yards and cars to drive in safe Canadian neighbourhoods, it is often hard to conceive of a life where adequate food, sanitation or even walls and a roof to call home are mere memories. Many of us who can see this have come together, under many different names, working towards a common goal of consideration to all living beings. I wish for you such kindness that your eyes are opened to the power that lies beneath such acts. Sadly, from your treatment of me, I do not expect that will be the case. For this, I am sorry. —We are The Hunger Games

This article appears in Jan 14-20, 2016.