Martine St-Victor: Montreal area exhibit holds classes for humankind

I’m not likely into area. Regardless of their respective large box-office success and brochette of A-star actors, I’ve but to see the films Armageddon or these of the Apollo franchise, all launched a long time in the past. Nonetheless, I’ve at all times had a lot reverence for astronauts, impressed by their self-discipline, intelligence and braveness. I keep in mind when the area shuttle Challenger exploded within the Nineteen Eighties, proper in entrance of our eyes. The dangers had been by no means deterrents to its flight crew. I can solely admire that dedication and moxie.

After I heard concerning the return on the Previous Port of House Explorers: The Infinite — the digital actuality expertise impressed by NASA missions — I used to be stunned by my enthusiasm to go see it, having missed it the primary time in 2021. 

To totally get pleasure from digital actuality experiences, one should let go and belief the world the VR headset brings us in. Letting go? That’s not in my wheelhouse. However off I went, utterly immersed in area, with the Worldwide House Station crew members — together with Quebec’s David Saint-Jacques — as guides.

The 45-minute or so expertise left me tearful and in much more awe of astronauts. The expertise was a reminder of how immense the universe is and the way very small  we on Earth are. It is extremely simple to get caught up and make ourselves the centre of every thing. The Infinite reminds us that no, we’re not. 

In one among Saint-Jacques’ narrated vignettes, the astronaut speaks about working with fellow crew mates from completely different components of the world. He speaks about their commonality trumping their variations. And the way — and that’s one of many components that made me tear up — human beings are at their finest when they’re a part of a collective, coming collectively for a standard purpose.

In fact, everyone knows this — however clearly, we appear to have forgotten it. How else to clarify the polarization that’s at the moment plaguing most industrialized international locations?

Yearly, the Edelman Belief Barometer measures the belief and credibility residents have in 4 establishments: governments, companies, NGOs and media. This 12 months’s version revealed that solely 24 per cent of Quebecers would assist out somebody who disagrees with them. Solely 21 per cent would settle for dwelling in the identical neighbourhood and, clutch your pearls, solely 17 per cent would need to have them as a colleague. 

Make no mistake, polarization is steeped in concern — concern of something that’s completely different, concern of “the opposite.” Right here at house, we’ve seen this in latest days in response to the proposal to extend Canada’s inhabitants to 100 million by 2100, often known as the Century Initiative. It appears the marginalization of immigrants and immigration has reached Olympic proportions, with varied elected officers vying for the gold medal. This week, Premier François Legault mentioned Quebec won’t ever settle for the type of inflow of everlasting immigrants different provinces appear to need. On Tuesday night time, on Radio-Canada’s 24/60, a federal MP referred to immigrants  as “these folks.” How derisive.

It’s affordable to query whether or not Canada, because it seeks to spice up immigration numbers, will put ahead parallel plans to construct extra and higher infrastructure and repair current issues like the dearth of reasonably priced housing and accessible well being care providers for all. However such questions needn’t be to the detriment and dehumanization of future Canadians. As a result of “these folks” don’t solely typically include damaged hearts over having to depart their homelands for causes out of their management. They arrive with abilities and a want to contribute to what is going to grow to be their new house.

When did we lose monitor of that and of the ability of group and of collectivity?

A go to to House Explorers: The Infinite ought to be necessary, significantly for our elected leaders within the Nationwide Meeting and Parliament.

Martine St-Victor is basic supervisor of Edelman Montreal and a media commentator. Instagram and Twitter: martinemontreal