Opinions

Matthew Steinbach

opinions @theotherpress.ca

 

 

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Redem pti Oo n By Matthew Steinbach, Opinions Editor

Reiser I assisted a friend through a rather
difficult spot in their life. This was something they had
wanted to accomplish for a while, but still... While
I was there they discussed the best moment of this
particular experience with another friend of theirs. I
was in a similar situation previously myself. It was
reminiscent of what the challenge I had to push myself
through was like. Perhaps my best moment during this
troubling time in my life would actually come from an
experience with this particular person.

We had been the best of friends at one time. This
was before I had left Douglas for a couple of semesters
and I returned different—no one really every returns
the same; our experiences decide what we become

 

from moment to moment. I came back calm, patient,
and quiet, a miracle some might suppose. However,
that meant I also began to distance myself from my
past. But my past would creep up upon me.
During this time, I had actually been in, well,
a feud with this friend. One night I decided to end
this with them, so I went over to their home, as we
both wanted to close this petty disagreement. As we
attempted to work this out at length, all we were left
with was frustration. Frustration because neither of us
had any concrete solution that would guarantee us that
we would be friends for any significant length of time.
Finally it ‘clicked’ there were no guarantees ever;
life, friendship... each is something you have to work
at. But with respect and dialogue anyone can become

something better than themselves, even with those that
we do not always agree with. The truth of the matter
is that change is what we make of it. Nothing else
matters if people are not willing to become something
better; then their relationships will continue to weaken
with others.

All that time I wasted in petty fight, I can never
go back to correct the mistakes I made. I was only
able to accomplish this at a later date. However, I can
suggest that if there is something holding you back
from correcting your past errors, don’t be hesitant; I
could have resolved this much sooner. Enjoy what you
have now and cherish it, for one day everything will
be different. There may not be a better time than now
to correct such things.

 

The selling out of the OlyMPICS? 5, sisiew sicinsach

I was in The Bay recently and I wandered into the
Olympics section. My experience with this section
previously was merely with Roots where there was
only a small display with limited items to choose
from. Most of the merchandise available was often the
outfits the Olympians themselves would wear during
the two-week period. The Bay was, however, the
first to truly market the Canadian Olympics gear in a
meaningful way, and before them, the following was
not really possible.

The Hudson’s Bay Company has taken this
merchandising to a whole new level. Their section
is on par with any section in any other big box store,
and the sheer quantity of items available for purchase
surely cannot be rivaled. What was once opening
and closing uniforms now includes a whole line of
sweatshirts, photo albums, knapsacks, glasses, etc.
The Bay has outclassed anything Roots could have
considered attempting as the HBC has far more
resources and abilities that they simply did not have
available.

However, since the beginning this has been
somewhat of a drab experience. While this has been a

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nicety for the fans, the uniforms were one of the few
tangible items the athletes received for competing.
Most do not obtain medals, others compete for the
glory, and all receive a medallion to display they had
in fact been there. There is no real money involved
for these athletes. Basically anything we can give our
national team is an added bonus for them.

One of the few bonuses of this initiative is that
the athletes do receive additional funding through
a program with the Canadian Olympic Committee,
which is something they would not otherwise have
access to—something our competitors sorely need if
they are to one day compete with rivals like China, the
US, and others. While they sacrifice this one bonus,
many receive more opportunities to compete for the
gold, silver, or bronze.