May 15/2008
Most of us have taken some history in our education. History as you will recall is the study of past events. Although we study the past we live in the present. This is a bit of a distinction that is unfortunately lost on some people.
We live in the present and plan for the future. By definition it is impossible to live in the past and it is also impossible to change historical events that occurred in the past. We learn from them and move on.
But in Canada there is this very odd phenomenon occurring where our governments have begun to formally apologize and in some cases pay compensation for events which occurred in the past. And the opposition parties desperate for votes are taking up the cause and a huge amount of time and money is being expended on this silly activity.
This is
Two expectations are set up in the population -one being that those that live in the present are responsible for the actions of those who have lived in the past and another being that those with perceived wrongs against them in the past can reverse these wrongs and gain compensation for them from taxpayers of the present.
There are many problems with this sort of activity. In most cases the standards have changed over the years so we attempt to apply modern day standards to events which have occurred many decades or even over a hundred years ago in the past. There was a time where women did not have the vote. There was a time when certain racial groups were discriminated against as a matter of course. The rules and expectations were different and everyone living at the time realized this.
Native Canadians are absolutely convinced that the modern day "white man" should pay them compensation for events which occurred a two hundred or more years ago. Billions of dollars have been spent on lawyers most of it from the taxpayer to obtain even more money from the taxpayer and a feeling of deep rooted bitterness and entitlement exists in the native populations today. Basically they think they have been screwed for generations. The fact that taxpayers have been paying to help support them for generations is totally lost on them.
Each racial group has its own axe to grind against our society and each wants an apology and hopefully compensation.
I suggest that a federal act be passed called the Historical Event Act that specifically prevents the government of the day from apologizing for any event that occurred prior to its term in office and specifically prevents the payment of compensation to any group for events which occurred over 25 years previously. It would save Canadians billions and help heal a lot of bad feelings.
Will something like this ever get done? No.
Because in Canada we much prefer to adapt to problems rather than simply solve them.
So what do you do when you live in a shoe?
UpDate June 16/2008
I stand corrected. There was ONE historical event in Canada's history which WAS particularly unfair and which existed over generations and that was the residential school problem with native children Essentially the Government in its's collective wisdom based on thoughts within the general population of the day decided that the best way to educate Native children would be to take them away from their homes and put them into a residential school where they could expunge any Indian culture in them so they would be more like us.
Now what they didn't count on was the fact that the church operated the schools and they sexually and physically abused the kids. They also didn't count on the the result which was a monumental failure that extended over generations and ruined lives and broke hearts and destroyed the very kids they were trying to help. This IS an example of where a National apology is entirely appropriate and so is the two billion dollars in restitution paid. If it had been an isolated historical fact then I would still support the first views presented here. But it went on and on for nearly a hundred years and was probably the biggest injustice ever done in Canada.
Life is complicated and one rule doesn't fit all situations as this case clearly shows.
In the longer term natives need to feel a part of the Canadian society too and need to know that if they work hard and produce things that they too will share in the same rewards everyone who works hard and produces things enjoys. In the longer term a monthly government cheque for nothing more than being a native is not something that is good for the taxpayer, the native person or the country. In the past natives have been excluded from participating in society by racism, poor education, isolation and a lack of opportunity. On some reserves there are serious alcohol and drug problems and a simmering resentment of the white man and government. The public apology is long overdue and I hope it paves the way to make changes in the other areas as well. Some reserves are operating very well and people are happy - more should be like them!
take me back to the home page please