A Hero Falls To Earth

Things seem so bleak in Ottawa these days that at times we're forced to look far afield for inspiration. Well, we got it yesterday - a gift to Canada from space. No, not some visitor from another solar system or even a meteorite, but a new hero from this country who has just finished accomplishing some remarkable feats recognized around the world.Canadian astronaut Bob Thirsk boldly went where no Canadian had gone before.  For six entire months he worked laboriously while in orbit in the space station - a record duration for a citizen of this country. In fact he was up there long enough to welcome three different space shuttles and their new crews. He helped unload supplies from numerous Russian cargo vessles. He greeted fellow Canadian astronaut Julie Payette and the first Canadian to pay for his way into space for the thrill of it - Guy Laliberte.  He stayed up long enough to grow over four inches in height, to perform countless experiments, to miss his family and admire his country from afar.But he did more than that. During his six months, Canada faced a crippling depression, a partisan kind of politics that has hollowed out our public space, half a million job losses, and a rapidly shrinking ice cap in the north.  Such developments turned us inward as a nation, consumed by our own shortcomings and challenges. We needed someone to help us look up, to remind us of our possibilities and of our capactities in the world. That "someone" just landed on board a Russian Soyuz spacecraft and he's helped us to avert our gaze from our problems and reminded us why we care about this country in the first place.Bob was typical of Canada during his six-month stay. He worked with people from other nations, exhibited an expertise few could match, was a true friend to his fellow sojourners, and ultimately had the stickability to ride out what must have been an exhausting experience.  "I thought living in an isolated environment would be psychologically difficult," he said a few days ago, "but I have special friends up here and it was not difficult at all." His capacity to befriend and to work in a team of international specialists reminds us about so much of what is great in this country ... and what we appear to be slowly losing.I stated in an earlier blog that Bob is a friend of mine, one who was considerate enough to send me pictures from space of the location in India he and I visited many years ago. Some of our friends from that era have occasionally emailed to say they are pleased that I'm now an MP.  "Good on 'ya," one of them stated not long ago. Sadly, I'm afraid I've done little to improve the toxic atmosphere of this, one of Canada's great insitutions. But Bob ... we'll there's another matter. He has now successfully taken Canadian technology and fervour for his country to new heights, in the process inspiring a new generation of youthful adventurers. Bob blew past me a long time ago in his dedication and accomplishments. Of the two of us, he has excelled and we have excelled along with him.He's now back to earth, from when he once came six months ago. He couldn't have arrived at a better time. This is a dark season in need of humble heroes. One of them in now among us again. Perhaps we can learn from his dedication and willingness to work with others.  We can only dream. Welcome back, my friend.