Extremely harsh.
We grouchy locals, we unwanted crusty bits, can grouse and grumble about almost everything. Almost everything except para surfing. Those brave men and women who are missing a limb, two, three or four and yet still find joy out on the waves, still toss on a singlet and compete, are pure distilled inspiration.
As anti-depressive as it gets.
You may know that, right now, the International Surfing Association’s World Para Surfing Championship is underway in Pismo Beach, California.
A truly miraculous show and, hopefully, a step into the Paralympic Games.
While Pismo is not an ideal competitive location, it is much better than Canada where the government has come under recent fire for offering to euthanize a para athlete who complained about delays surrounding a wheel chair lift being installed in her home.
According to reports, Christine Gauthier, who is a retired Army Corporal and Paralympian, testified before Canada’s Parliament saying that after she brought up the stall in her lift, a caseworker with the veterans affair department responded, “I have a letter saying that if you’re so desperate, madam, we can offer you MAID, medical assistance in dying.”
Extremely harsh.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was, at least, disturbed declaring, “We are following up with investigations, and we are changing protocols to ensure what should seem obvious to all of us: that it is not the place of Veterans Affairs Canada, who are supposed to be there to support those people who stepped up to serve their country, to offer them medical assistance in dying.
Maybe Canada can host the next World Para Surfing Championships in Tofino, there on the beautiful west coast, flying athletes in etc. to make amends.
The least that could be done.