ANOTHER DIMENSION

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 3, 21 June 1983, Page 12

ANOTHER DIMENSION

by

Kerry

Enright

He looked out of place. His dirty torn trousers, hob nailed boots, and black leather jacket, with 'Headhunter' emblazoned in faded red on back and front, contrasted with the brown carpet squares and wood panelled surroundings of the Court foyer. He was about 17 years old. The other gang members standing afound egged him on as he argued furiously with his young lawyer. "I want this taken to the High Court!" he demanded. He was being rude and offensive and the language was,

well, choice^.Then the scene changed. His mother came through the foyer door. Quietly and respectfully he moved towards her. I saw him in a different dimension. He was no longer a 'Headhunter'. He was a son with a very concerned mother. Erich Maria Remarque relates in 'All Quiet on the Western Front' a scene from World War One. A British soldier had dived in-

to a bomb-hole to avoid being shot. He found himself sharing it with a German soldier. Readying his bayonet to kill this 'German' he noticed that the German was badly wounded. Out of his pocket fell some photographs which he held up to the Britisher. They were photos of his wife and children. No longer was he just a 'German soldier'. He - was a father with a wife and

children he obviously loved. Often people who I have disliked have been praised by others who have seen them in a different situation. Others who I respect have been criticised for their arrogance or pettiness. We speak of 'street kids', 'gang members', and 'homosexuals'. We may relegate people to these roles and only relate to them as such. Yet every person has a dimension of their life which is good, in which negative categorising is in-

appropriate. Recognising that fact helps me to love them. If we are not able to See people in these redeeming situations, at least let us recognise that they exist. The tragedy of war is the all-consuming title , of 'enemy'. Telethon 1983 is for families, a dimension of life we all share in one way or other. It provides us with an opportunity to inject some love into our society. Giving money is only part of it. Behind it all is God's love.