Rights without duties in Canada

Hi Paul,

it's starting to sound like Italian politics.  With most public institutions in disrepute anything can happen. Credibility has been shifted to the noise makers. Whatever happened to enlightened despotism like in the 18th C?

I suspect that our countries and global structures are simply too big to regulate and even more difficult for most people to understand. The alternative is to think local and act locally, not think global and act locally as the idealists suggest. The word revolution keeps cropping up in many contexts. Let's keep our eye on where revolution is happening and see if we could face that set of circumstances. I'm trying my best to stay sane. I think I may revive the Rhinocerous Party which had one item in it's platform: if elected an MP would resign. In my riding back in the 70s we generated some buzz and garnered 5% of the vote.

I sometimes reflect back on a discussion I started with my students a decade or so ago about citizenship in the broad context of values and ethics. My question to them was, "do you think you owe anything to your society/". They were silent. It became apparent that the vast majority had no sense of obligation towards their country if what was meant by that was service to our society, as in voluntary work for minimal pay for months or even years. They saw the benefits of society as their right with no apparent obligations beyond waving a flag and cheerleading. I'm proud to be Canadian but don't ask me to actually do anything for my country!

I have not been able to sort this out satisfactorily because kids still are idealistic and want to make things better. The analogy that I find useful is that of the 'fabric' of society. Fabric is made from many strands, often in many colours and patterns. The quality of the strands and the quality of the weaving are paramount if the fabric is going to function well. If the weave is too loose it weakens even if the strands are strong. If the weave is too strong for the strands, it tears. So we can have colourful fabric in our society but when we actually have to use it, it needs to be well-made.

There are many torn strands in society throughout the world and the winds of change are blowing through the holes. We are desperately  trying to patch a worn out fabric.

 

Ventura and Stern I suspect, know how to tear things apart but probably not how to weave things together,

Walter

PS. My daughter-in-law commented yesterday how quickly I can go from the practical to the theoretical on any topic. I've done it again, it seems.