When did we start using the word 'communities? And why do we use such words?
Back in the 80s 'Community' became the word to use when talking about 'people.' We had 'Black communities,' 'Asian Communities,' and various other 'communities,' we never had 'people!'
These expressions forced individuals into pigeon holes making them one of a particular type of person, at least according to the listener. No longer were people individuals, good or bad, bright or dim, acceptable or not, they were limited into being what they were told they were.
Therefore very easy to accept or dismiss them as 'one of those.'
This morning I read a local paper talking about 'tributes across our communities.'
What can they mean?
Do they mean our 'towns and villages,' if so, why not use 'town and villages?'
Town, village, hamlet, area, district are words that cover a lot of ground, why not use them? Simplifying things might make it easier to create a misleading headline (and all headlines are misleading) but it does not reflect reality. We need to return to better expessions regarding people and the areas they inhabit. Facts not easy expressions are required.
In the Spanish second division a serious accident has occurred.
The Terenife forward Jesus de Miguel chased a long ball into the centre circle, a break away fron an attack by the Andorra opposition. The Andorra goalkeeper, playing a high defence line as his team attacked the opposition goalmouth, also attemopted to get the high ball.
This led to both players colliding at high speed, not an unknown situation for any goalkeeper, and the goalies knee, raised in the normal manner, connected with the Tenerife forward and saw him crash to the ground.
The TV evidence shows the referee arrive quickly, raise a red card high sending the goalkeeper from the field. All correct so far. However, the Andorra man turned back as he realised there was a serious injury to his opponent. And it was very serious.
Medical staff worked hard to support the forward Miguel and an ambulance was called. During the journey to hospital Miguel suffered a heart attack but was treated by the medical staff on board. Later that night he was said to be 'stable, in spite of the severity of his condition.'
However, his condition worsened during the night and by 8 am he was declared dead.
Now opinion is divided regarding the action of the goalkeeper. Was his conduct dangerous play? Some now call hima murderer. Most are convinced this was a football accident, the kind we see all to often yet in this case a sad outcomb has resulted.
Can Jesus Owono be blamed for the death? I say no. He risked injury himself attempting to collect the ball, all goalies would have done the same in my opinion. Now his real problem is how to handle this situation. Can he continue to play football? Certainly not, because if he does cries of 'Murderer,' or 'Killer,' will follow him wherever he goes. It is a step into quiet areas for him from now on. That is, if he can contnue himself. He is broken by the situation, his family surround him, while only family mourn the dead, the other will mourn the nearly dead also.
A terrible sad situation.
