Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 09:15 PM 01/10/99 -0700, you wrote: >Although I have always enjoyed traveling in Canada, and like Canadians, I >realize that they love to hate the US. It is odd that I meet so many of >them who live in my country. Why can't the comedians, actors, engineers,... >make a living in the Mother Country? Why move to a country that one hates? >I don't get this. The market in Canada is too small. Not enough people. Simple economics. ... and don't forget greed. That is the MAJOR influence in all economic theory. > >Also, Canada seems less likely to take an active roll in world conflicts. Canada supplies UN peace keeping troops (usually before anyone else) to every major (and minor) conflict in the world.... East Timor Kosovo Rwanda Central African Republic Bosnia Croatia Cambodia Macedonia Somalia Cyprus..... that is just the current one's... ...and Haiti. If fact, the Canadian military, single handedly financed and supported the UN mission in Haiti, at one point, when NO ONE else would. Canadian government aid agencies and NGO's have missions all over the world, not just conflict zones. Canada is very much involved in international affairs, they just do it in less overt manner and usually through contributing the United Nations and other international agencies. There is more to foreign affairs then supplying guns and money and their is more to understanding foreign affairs then seeing it in political or "donation" terms. The objective of a proper and successful aid program is to establish programs and educate people so that they can help themselves. Help them build infrastructure and teach them how to use it. Many countries and aid agencies have discovered that by doing this they can work directly with people in their communities and bypass much of the "government" corruption and interference. Aid workers are the new "troops" in international affairs. Western governments have learned that it is both politically and economically advantageous to "pay" NGO's to do this work then directly contribute manpower and funds to foreign countries and conflicts. It's much better to give the money to the ICRC, CARE, UN, MSF .... whatever, to do the work then do it themselves. Sorry Kevin, you happened to have hit on my area of expertise as a journalist and anthropologist. > Also, why should so many of my relatives and friends have risked or given >their lives to protect so many thankless people of the world. I promise that >the next time Europe, Africa, Central America, Asia, or the Middle East >decides to self destruct, and they routinely do, I will voice my opinion >that they can kill anyone but my people. Screw em'. I do not want anyone >else in my family having to fight some other region's worthless conflicts. The USA has traditionally been an "isolationist" state (until WWII) and your feelings are the norm in the USA... and that is fine. The USA is capable of doing just fine on its own. But, in Europe, Africa, Asia, etc countries live in very close proximity and what is going on with their neighbours is very important because it is so close to home. Canada is unique because socially and culturally were are split between modern US culture and our historical European ties. Western Canada and Toronto have a lot in common with American social counterparts. Eastern Canada, Newfoundland and Quebec have a 500 year old history with social structures and cultural ties closer to our European history. This means we care about our neighbours (local or international) because we believe that what goes on "there" does effect us and how we react to it, is a judgement of our civilization and humanity. It's the concept of, "we are our brothers keeper", and "...do unto others.." The measure of human advancement and civilization is how we treat the less advantaged and dispossessed among us. This applies to the food bank in your neighbourhood, the state prison or refugees in some far off country we couldn't find on a map. How you treat a fellow human being is the indicator of how much of a human being you are. I'm not sure what this has to do with Leica other then many photojournalists have risked their lives to document the "human condition" because they understood that it was important to point this out to those among us who choose to bury their heads in the sand and ignore our responsibilities and humans. cheers all, Greg Locke <locke@straylight.ca> St. John's, Newfoundland. http://www.straylight.ca/locke - ---------------------------------- TOUCHED BY FIRE: doctors without borders in a third world crisis. McClelland & Stewart Canada. ISBN#0-7710-5305-3 http://www.straylight.ca/touchedbyfire.htm