Wednesday, December 14, 2005

The Great Divide


UNLIMITED GROWTH INCREASES THE DIVIDE


I took this photo earlier this year. This little old hotel was right across the street from my college. A little brick building amidst the concrete, glass and steel skyscrapers. I saw this building as a little guy standing proudly waving a defiant fist at the bully's surrounding him on the playground. A modest four stories as compared to twenty or thirty stories. The buiding in behind is our provincial "Gas & Electricity" corporation. They are a hugely wealthy industry. This little hotel is a cute old building, with character, a monument to the history of Vancouver's early days. The Hydro building is also a fine structure, a testiment to modern architecture, a roofline that reflects the outline of our local mountains. But seeing them side by side.... exadurates each buildings features. The splendor of the mega-giant overshadows the former grace of this old hotel. Its newness making the senior appear more run down and neglected. If you magnified this photo you could read that the sign across the front of the old hotel says "UNLIMITED GROWTH INCREASES THE DIVIDE".
Is the same true of people? Are the rich so far removed from the poor. One lives in a mansion, the other in a cold ,dirty doorway. The streets where these buildngs sit are lined with homeless, dirty people begging for a hand out, lucky to have socks on their feet, let alone one hung out for Santa. Walking past them are the well dressed clean people enroute to the next high priced shop to make that next purchase of some overpriced trinket that will go so nicely into that stocking hung by the fire place of their mansion.
My charity of choice this Christmas is the Women in Need Charity here in my own town. My attempt at shrinking the great divide.

FAMILY BULLETIN:
IMPENDING DELIVERY OF MY YOUNGEST SISTER CATHERINS'S BABY. IT WAS DUE YESTERDAY. SHE'S READY TO POP ANYTIME. PLEASE KEEP HER IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

8 comments:

Karen said...

That is a great photo. I like the contrast between old and new.

I'll keep your sis in my thoughts and prayers. I hope all goes well. *HUGS*

Anonymous said...

We chose 'Union Gospel Mission' as this years charity. It always makes me feel good to support a local charity.

Take care.

Lois Lane said...

That's a great place to give. You are a kind person.
Good luck to sis and the new arrival!
Lois Lane

carol said...

I like this post, alot. I do like the little, old building the best. Unlike an unlived, inexperienced new building lacking character, the old one has seen alot of people come and go. The old hotel has feeling, and personality, and is far superior to the new structure standing behind it.

gal artist said...

Catherine is in my prayers. As well as her little one.

Anonymous said...

Nice pic Susan. I was in Vancouver several years ago, nice city! Would love to spend more time there.

Unlimited Growth is a bad thing in some ways, it's like all these little "pimplevilles" around here.

You know them, those new style housing subdivisions where each house looks almost identical, and was built in about three days flat!

I also call the "clonevilles" too. How about "Hound Of The Pimplevilles" instead of the Baskervilles? Ok, bad joke!

David said...

Hmmm very thought provoking post. ANd you are correct. Old buildings like that remind us that things and people do not need to beautiful on the outside, just on the inside where wonderful stories and hearts live.

Monica said...

Prayers for a safe and healthy delivery of the baby and for Catherine's health as well. :)