Shaila Kibria

 (photo taken from my friend’s facebook page)

Maghrib prayer was right after the Olympics hockey game today. So as Canadians all over the world rushed to celebrate the gold, we sat with our hands up to maghrib prayer (the fourth prayer of the day, there are five).  As we prayed, my husband stated something that resonated in my soul, my heart and mind.  As a huge hockey fan, he was grateful that the Canadians won the gold, but as a human being with a conscience, he prayed that nations would come together - just like they did in the Olympics - to solve poverty. Not just through meetings at the G8 or G20, but through action.  I paused in my prayer to think about this.

So much money was spent on the Olmpics by each nation, it was so great to see the splendour, the glamour, the greatness of each nation, my family and I sat together as much as we could these past 17 days to celebrate the great athletes around the world, especially the Canadians, but in the end of the day, there is something that nags each of our consciences…will nations spend this much time and effort to solve poverty? To solve oppression? To bring about justice?

My husband mentioned how in the old times the Greeks and other nations would pause their wars to play the Olympics.  I hope through the hard won golds, silvers and bronzes, athletes can not only pause the wars in their countries, but use their hero-ism to end all wars….and as a result, end poverty.