Dear readers, I’ve tried. I set myself up with a challenge last week, to invite a neighbour over for dinner or at least a cuppa tea, and I’ve failed miserably. I do, however, have some small successes at building community, if not by me than by others.
The most exciting neigbourhood development is a free pantry and little library that has been set up round the corner from me. It’s on a housing commission block, four small-ish houses built together on a single block. One of the houses has long intrigued me – they have covered every space with fruit and vegies and plant pots; the walls, fences and eaves are decorated primarily with Buddhist symbols; and they seem to be striving and succeeding in finding a balance between function and beauty. I love it. And now, they’ve put outside a small structure with food and books, to continue their journey. I’ve donated some books, and taken one, a book by Clive Hamilton. Other offerings there include books by Peter Singer – I was tempted to borrow those as well, but decided I should limit myself to one at a time!
Is this important at this time? Given current events it can seem that focusing on small kindnesses is an indulgence. But when I look at what Russian soldiers are doing, and the deep-seated distrust of Russians by Ukranians, with anecdotes of stupidity, cowardice and violence going back to the 1940s being shared on social media. How does this end? We need to stand up to aggression, to atrocities and to violence. But at some point we also need to begin the process of building anew, and I think it starts here.
First it starts with intolerance. Intolerance to greed, bullying and petty mean-ness that seems to characterise a lot of public and private life. Intolerance to looking people up when they flee war and torture. Intolerance to gender-based violence. Intolerance to the rude mudslinging of our politics – that dominates almost all electoral systems the world over.
But we also need to have things that we do want. And I want little libraries and food pantries that make it easier to share with our neighbours. I want systems built on those ethics of solidarity, mutual aid and sharing. And I don’t think it’s just me.
