Flood allows region to shine

Twenty four hours is a long time when you're watching the minutes and a rising river. Saturday, June 20 will be etched vividly in the memory banks of Whanganui people for all time as the river that runs through us got the better of us.
Although, in the days since, the collective community spirit has risen higher, showing a might of its own.
There's nothing like adversity to give humanity a chance to shine. The stories of generosity, kindness, and even real risk continue to emerge from the muddy waters.
Not that this comes as a surprise to many of us, especially those of us who work in the community, or have successfully survived tough times.
There are of course stories of heartbreak too. For those families and whanau most affected by the flood, in this time of challenge, know that you are not alone.
The people of this nuggety community of ours will continue to walk alongside you. Huge congratulations to the many volunteers and ordinary folk who have put their best gumboot-clad feet forward to dig in and help out.
Running parallel to this sense of community spirit I received an email from a generous of heart gentleman the other day. A man I know to be a man of quiet grace and benevolence.
Contained within the body of the email he sent was a photograph of some graffiti. Very personal graffiti.
In the midst of a suburban street, within sight of folk strolling by, this message writ large, with all the clarity of a stop sign. It included a woman's name, and the most graphic content relating to what this person (very likely a man) wanted to do to her, to hurt her, and it encouraged other folk to do the same. To describe it as misogyny would be underestimating its intent. To recognise its malice would not go far enough. The man who forwarded it to me was gravely concerned for this woman's wellbeing, and at the scope of behaviour possible from the person who wrote it.
He expressed his concern at the continued examples of misogyny that exist within our popular culture, and how sad it is that women still face discrimination and objectification in so many subtle and severe ways.
Writing this column allows me to identify issues within our community and across cultures.
It means that sometimes I even run the risk of being seen as unpopular, or heaven forbid, a feminazi (a brutal term used to label women who promote equality and humanity, ie feminists, of which I am proud to be one - a feminist that is). Writing this column also means that people stop me on the street to have real life conversations about what matters to them. For that I am pleased. It isn't always easy to live outside the proverbial square, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks to my work in this community, I was able to forward this email on to the Police, and a positive outcome was achieved. Think about what could have happened if I had never received that email, if that gentleman strolling down his suburban street had chosen to look the other way. There is great power in stepping out. Thank you Whanganui for putting your best feet forward, and for offering your outstretched hands to a stranger, a neighbour, a loved one.
¦Email me: womnet.wang@callplus.net.nz or phone 345 6833.