Canadian Civics

As supporters of the ideals espoused by David Orchard we are probably united by a great love of and concern for our Canada and by a desire for it's citizens to better understand our history and the great perils we envision if we follow our present course without learning from the past. Thus the popularity and value of David's book the Fight for Canada.

After those values there is a great concern for the way we view ourselves as individuals within our society, within our system of governance even within our friend and family circles. Where are the values of courtesy, respect, dignity, active listening, participation and responsibility, even duty? They don't seem to be even close to what I grew up with. I think that the lack of a sense of a collective responsibility as a way of balancing individual desires is at an all time low. We appear to be interested only in liberty rather than freedom, the exact value that gave us separation from the USA in the first place.

How many of us have railed about the fact that they don't teach Civics in school any more. How can one expect to build a house that will last if it has no foundation?

From the family library I offer the final chapter in a high school textbook written in 1918 entitled "Canadian Civics". The book is a gem for the basics in understanding our society and governance, details of which I dare say most of which are somewhat unaware in 2004. Incidentally, my mother was born in 1918 so I dare say my grandfather was filled with the values expressed in this chapter "Duties of the Citizen". Grandpa hammered these into me and I know that they form my core values which perhaps offers evidence of why I might appear out of step with some of you on occasion. It becomes especially pertinent if we use it to gauge where we are post high school and in our wider group dynamics as well.

Our world has become so complex of recent years that, like Don Quixote we seem to charge off in all directions, without basic structure. It is my thought today that the essential tenets of Toryism and the values outlined below might serve as a framework upon which to hang and build ideas and even a party or nation together.

It is quite short but subtly fulsome in my opinion. I hope you will find this small offering valuable to print off, sit down and reflect on the 'advances' we have made since the end of the War to end All Wars.

Enjoy,

Bruce
Email:bgfrederick@shaw.ca
Yahoo! Profile

Duties of The Citizen

You have in this book been studying chiefly the powers and duties of those that govern. But it must always be remembered that the ordinary citizen has powers and duties as well. He must not sit down quietly, and allow the affairs of state to go on, without feeling that he has some responsibility. Therefore you may be the only person in the vast total of the population, yet you have your duties to perform.

The first one is to try to understand as well as you can our system of government, and to keep yourself informed as to all the important acts of those who are in authority. In your study of public affairs you will be led beyond the bounds of the Canadian Dominion, for we have the advantage of living in a country which is part of a great empire. As you come to know better the outside world of nations, the more confident you will be in the value of our position.

Since Canada has now assumed in a definite way the duties of empire, there is a certain imperial feeling we should strive to develop. The British Empire is so vast that it contains within itself nations of all languages and all religions. As a citizen of the Empire you should, therefore, have respect and toleration for the opinions of others. Our Empire cannot long continue to exist, unless it is something for which our brother nations may all have an ardent loyalty, whatever may be their creed, race or tongue. This imperial feeling will also help us in our national affairs, for it will enable us to be sympathetic with our fellow citizens throughout the Dominion.

In Canada we have what has been said by enthusiastic observers to be the most perfect constitution yet devised by man. It seems to possess all the advantages of the noble constitution of the American Republic, yet with few of the latter's defects. But constitutions are not worth the paper they are written on, and precedents not worth the time spent in remembering and recording them, if the citizens do not take an interest in the affairs of state. And the same is true all the way down from national government to the management of public business of the municipality and the school division. Therefore your second duty as a citizen is to put your knowledge of the nation and it's government to practical use by taking an active part in politics.

The most effective way to make your influence felt in politics is to become a member of a party and to attend its meetings. Then you will be able to do something to secure the nomination of good, honest men for parliament and the legislature, and to check the tendency to employ improper means in the contest of a election campaign. There is often so much at stake in an election, that many men are willing to spend a large amount of money and to make use of all kinds of dishonourable methods rather than run the risk of losing. Moreover, various great business enterprises are ready to contribute money lavishly to election funds, if they have hopes thereby securing favours from parliament, legislatures or council. So every citizen who loves his country should try to discover and oppose all tendencies to evil doing in the party to which he belongs.

A third duty incumbent on you as a citizen is to be ready to assist, so far as you are able, all good causes. You ought never to speak ill of them or by making them objects of ridicule. One of these causes is the thorough education of all citizens. It is the common, everyday people who make the government, good or bad. Every person should have in his early life an opportunity to receive all the educational training that is possible for him, and within the power of the state to give. It will be found that the remedies for the evils of government and of society do not lie in the under-education of the masses of the people. On the other hand, there is no need to fear over-education, if the instruction given is of the right kind.

Another good cause of which you should speak no ill, is the effort which is being constantly made to lessen the evil of intemperance in our country. Our race from ancient times has suffered injury from the habit of drinking intoxicants to excess (or anything else to excess - my emphasis). It has become obvious that it is at last possible for us to rid our people of this age-long curse. But the most important of all causes which we should support is that of religion. A nation that scoffs at religion is in grave peril. Nothing can be found to takes its place in the life of our people. It seems to be the only force strong enough to resist those tendencies which if left unchecked, will bring on rapid decay and ruin.

The last duty of the citizen which we have the occasion to mention, is that of endeavouring to lessening the cruelty of our civilization. When we read the history of early times, we are over-powered at the amount of suffering that seems to have been caused needlessly. In the ordinary pursuit of business and pleasure horrible and unnatural things were done. Probably some time in the future a similar charge will be brought against our age. It would be well, if each day every one of us would think of the cruel things that we have seen done or that we ourselves have done, and then try to discover how much of the suffering thus caused might have been prevented. There is hardly any doubt that, if such a course were consistently followed, we should soon have a bright and happy world.

Note: Email:bgfrederick@shaw.ca Yahoo! Profile