I Have A Confession To Make...

And I do so at the real risk of having you think less of me .... if that's possible.



As you know, I am not a fan of Jogging - from my perspective it just wrecks one's knees and flattens your feet.



Perhaps it's my Scottish Background but I see most exercise, just the sake of exercise, to be a waste of precious time in the sense that if you have time to run around like a gerbil - why not do something useful like split a few cords of wood?



I know many of you will take great exception to this and I accept that.



But that's the lead-in to my Apology.



So here goes...


Rick Hansen has been in the news over the course of the last couple of days in regard to the 25th Anniversary of his World Sojourn in a Wheelchair. Quite a feat of strength by any standard.


So here is my Confession - I was not all that excited about his Achievement in the first place and continue to feel that way today. It was a waste of time and energy.



So there - think what you will, but I wanted to come clean with you.




And this applies to similar masochistic endeavours such as Terry Fox's run across Canada.




Do it for yourself if you will, but don't expect everyone to hoist you on a pedestal for the doing. It is a useless activity made all the more so by drawing it out.



I cannot deny that much good came of their struggles - millions of dollars were raised in the fight against cancer and spinal injury but did that warrant the glory and idolization that flowed from their running and wheel chairing?



Does it warrant the statutes placed across Canada?



What about real heroes such as Sir Frederick Banting and Dr. Charles Best who, in the 1920s, rather than raising millions of dollars, saved millions of lives through their important discovery of insulin in combating diabetes?


I think that we as a civilization have lost our way in determining who the Real Heroes of Society Are.


And speaking of Real Hereos - what about our young 20 year old soldier killed in Afghistan earlier this week. He never even got to meet his new baby girl saving our sorry butts back here in Canada.


For my money - I will go with Him and the Bantings and Bests of this world and leave the masochists to fellow joggers to cheer on.


I know, I know, ... I am hateful.


But as the younger generation would say - "Bite Me".


As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

























It is quite an accomplishment to roll yourself such a distance, but where I take exception is for the Roller to think he or she is entitled to other peoples' caring - just for the rolling. If Hansen or others had come to me first I would say to them 'if you really want to help others in your situation - go and help them directly or join their associations and do volunteer work'.













If he or she persisted in wanting to roll or walk or run or swim or whatever I'd say "fine" but do it for yourself - as a test for yourself - and not expect others to idolize you just for the doing.













People every day do specular things mostly because it is needed (i.e. useful). They do not expect glory for their actions - although it would not be out of place to give some to them.













But for those who set out to do what I find to be bordering on useless and then expect me to say Wow - that is another thing entirely.