Editorial - A Canadian Shame
Canada has a problem. It is one that is both distressing and shameful. This problem is the treatment, or should I say lack of treatment, of members of the Canadian armed forces who have disabilities as a result of their service. I had noted the occasional newspaper article about soldiers suffering from strange ailments after returning from active duty on peacekeeping missions. It came close to home in the fall term of 2000 when one of my students began to have repeated absences. He is a Canadian army veteran. When I asked him what was the matter, he informed me of a series of strange ailments that that he had never had before his active duty. He also informed me that there were a number of other soldiers across the nation who had also served in the same area and who also are subject to this disability. The Canadian government has refused to acknowledge that these men are suffering from a service caused disability. The men have banded together to form a lobbying group about this matter.
The April 4, 2001 Edmonton Journal had a feature article on page B1 about an incident involving a local soldier on sick leave who drove a sport utility vehicle into the Edmonton Garrison headquarters with very destructive results. He has been charged by the military police with impaired driving and assaulting a police officer. However the soldier, Christian McEachern, is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and also appear not to have been given the necessary support and assistance he needs. On April 3, I heard his mother discuss this matter on Edmonton CBC radio. She was furious and near tears because she found that there was a large number of other soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder who also were not being helped by the military.
She discussed in detail some of the actions of her son, among which were checking the lawn for land mines, suicidal behavior, and other distressing behaviors. She noted that the assault on the police officer was to try to seize his gun in order to commit suicide, and when he was thwarted in this behavior began to bang his head against the wall.
I have to ask, why isn't the federal government trying to do something to properly assist Canadian military personnel who have physical and mental problems due to their service? They have placed their lives and health at risk for Canada's policy of peace keeping and they deserve all the help this nation can provide. Something must be done without further delay.
Canadian Pride
Canadians have every right to be proud of Dave Kilgour. It is not often that you see a politician with a conscience. When he spoke out regarding the ethical concerns of holding stock in Talisman Energy Inc. because the company is providing profits for the government of Sudan to continue a bloody and horrific civil war, he was attacked by two members of the Liberal party who called for his resignation for deviating from party policy. Really? He is to be commended for speaking up on the matter.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if the Prime Minister supported Dave's views, or at least commended him as being sensitive to other peoples' suffering? But to do so would be to acknowledge his government's failure to address this matter of human suffering in the Sudan. Dave, we are all proud of you, and I'm especially glad that you are member of this journal's editorial team.
In This Issue
We have a very interesting set of articles relating to integrating subject areas for citizenship education. Terry Carson leads off with an introduction to the other articles. Georgia Richardson and Dave Blades discuss aspects of the integration of science and social studies for world citizenship. Ingrid Johnston examines the way language arts helps one to understand their role as a members of the civic community and citizens. Elaine Simmt deals with mathematics education. She claims that "mathematics education is crucial in the development of informed, active and critical citizens in a society whose structures are largely mathematical." Finally, the use of drama is explored by Joe Norris to provide a more lived experience of democracy and he provides three examples of this.
These articles will be of value for implementing citizenship education - a topic that is the cornerstone of modern social studies curriculums. Reader response to theses articles would be greatly appreciated, especially those describing an attempt to implement the ideas noted in them.