People I’ve met give me hope for the world

Through my travels across the world, I have discovered that everywhere, people are basically the same. They strive for the same things: love, truth, a sense of belonging, purpose, and of course, the basic necessities of life – food, water and shelter. It’s certainly not a new observation. People who have travelled more than I will attest to this.

And despite all of the suffering across our planet today and the way some have responded to the COVID-19 global pandemic, many of the people I’ve met bolster my faith in humanity.

On a sunny Sunday afternoon along the Bosporus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey, I walked along for hours and watched families enjoying the day. Kids were running across grass throwing frisbees. People gathered around picnic lunches. Some folks were fishing, and old bearded men smoked strange-looking pipes while spiritedly playing card games. Not understanding a word spoken, but seeing these people enjoying a carefree day outdoors, was one of the finest days I have ever spent.

In the Latin American country of Colombia, a woman who commercially grew oranges and pineapples told me about how her husband was killed because he became too outspoken about the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia — People’s Army (FARC) rebels. Despite the fact she was still grief-stricken and having difficulties marketing her harvests, I got the impression that if I had been hungry or needed something, she would have shared whatever she had.

Farther south in Argentina, the photographer accompanying me on a writing assignment gave some children some pesos if they would allow him to take their picture. After the shoot was completed and we drove away, we looked back to see them bolting for a store – probably to buy candy before their parents knew they had the money. It’s exactly what we would have done as kids.

One morning during a walk through a small town near Gloucester, England, an elderly woman was briskly sweeping the walkway in front of the store and said, “Looks like we’ll have a bit of a frost tonight, eh?” I think she mistook me for a local, or at least a Brit who might have some inclination about the weather. I replied, “Not sure, but it already feels nippy this morning.” What struck me was how vigorous she seemed for her apparent age and how friendly she was with an absolute stranger.

In Naples, Italy, we randomly stopped a person on the street for directions to Pompeii. In about two minutes, we had four Italians exuberantly offering directions and other information, speaking English better than we ever expected. The same kind of thing happened in Rome.

In southern Louisiana, the proprietor of a popular restaurant is nicknamed “Mom.” She greeted us with a big hug as we entered and got us seated. Just like our own moms, she was known to tell diners to “clean your plate.” We received more than terrific gumbo at this restaurant. She made us feel like we were family.

A similar thing happened at an outdoor restaurant in Frankfurt, Germany, when a matronly waitress came by my table and said in a strict tone, “you finish!”

As a young man, I hitchhiked across Canada. I was nearly broke and trying to find a job to earn enough money to get back to Alaska. In a small town, I stopped at a small deli and explained my situation to the guy behind the counter. Without saying a word, he began filling a bag with sandwiches and an orange.

And as we know, Alaskans routinely go the extra mile to help one another – from pulling stricken motorists out of ditches in winter to volunteering at the Food Bank or Bean’s Café; making donations at Good Will and Salvation Army; and lending helping hands at a host of agencies and organizations.

When a red-light runner T-boned my wife’s car last winter and then swiftly fled the scene on foot, a witness chased him down and brought him back to deal with the police.

It goes without saying that the troubled world would be much less troubled if we looked for commonalities with each other instead of differences. Certainly, this is much easier said than done in countries with long histories of war, searing vendettas, injustices, oppression, ambivalence of corrupt governments, and the proliferation of weapons from dealers and others who profit from human conflict.

Even within the U.S., with its ever-deepening divisions, I am optimistic enough to believe some degree of unity and common ground can and will be found in the future.

I have to think most of the people of Afghanistan want what other human beings want. They want to go to their jobs, send their kids to school, enjoy peace and basic human rights. I have to believe there are more people in the world who want that kind of existence than the blight left behind by unhinged radicals and war mongers who perpetuate endless violence and destruction.

Youth offer hope: These days a lot of young people are speaking up about inequality of education, lack of economic opportunity, racism, human rights, protecting the environment and dealing with climate change. They give me hope. The doctors, nurses and other people on the front lines fighting the COVID-19 pandemic give me hope. People who tirelessly keep our utilities running and deliver our mail and barge food to Alaska from the west coast and teach our children in schools give me hope. The optimism of my friends and family give me hope.

The heroes who stepped up during and after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks certainly give us all hope.

These days, when medical science and vaccinations are critical in helping us end the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, we also need an inoculation of hope. It isn’t that hard to find if we look for it.

In Anchorage, a symbol of hope is displayed in a colorful, 40-foot-wide mural on the side of the Halfling Building at the corner of Seventh Avenue and E Street. Hundreds of citizens, both young and old, contributed to the Hope Wall Mural Project, which was funded this summer/fall by the Anchorage Downtown Partnership.

I’m reminded of a quote from the letter wrongfully-convicted character Andy Dufresne sent to his cell-block friend “Red” after he (Dufresne) broke out of prison in the 1994 movie, “The Shawshank Redemption”: “Remember, Red, hope is a good thing – maybe the best of things – and no good thing ever dies.”

A lifelong Alaskan, Frank E. Baker is a freelance writer who lives in Eagle River.

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