Posts tagged with children.
Anti-Project Hero profs were right to speak out
Sixteen obscure professors at one of Canada's smaller universities have publicly stated their belief that Project Hero, an initiative in which post-secondary institutions grant tuition-free education to children of deceased soldiers, is "a glorification of Canadian imperialism in Afghanistan and elsewhere" and that the University of Regina should immediately withdraw from the program.
The howls of outrage to their open letter have been heard across the country.
I celebrate the publication of the letter at the same time as I reject its call to action.
Member of Parliament Andrew Scheer (Regina-Qu'Appelle) stated "Attacking a scholarship for the children of our fallen service men and women is disgusting."
Mr. Scheer is wrong. The letter "attacking" the scholarship is not disgusting, nor is the expression of the ideas wrong. The letter is disagreeable but should be celebrated for its value to the democratic ideals of Canada.
These professors are engaging in the activity that justifies the existence of the liberal arts faculty in a modern democracy; they are challenging the political status quo by inciting debate about Canada's foreign policy, which they refer to as "imperialism."
They are - granted from the comfort of well-paying positions within the ivory tower as members of the intellectual elite - taking an unpopular stand and I commend them for doing so. As someone who served in the reserves for three years, I'm heartened by these professors exercising their democratic right to opine against Project Hero. I personally support Project Hero as an important gesture of appreciation toward of the families of soldiers who died serving the Canadian people in the service of their country as ordered by Parliament.
The University of Regina has correctly rejected their demand to cancel Project Hero, but should partially grant their request to hold a public forum on the war in Afghanistan and Canadian imperialism more generally to be held this semester before exams begin.
The University of Regina should hold an academic debate - streamed on the Internet - about Canada's foreign policy in Afghanistan this summer and invite assistant professor Jeffery Webber, the de facto spokesperson for the sixteen, to argue his viewpoints against another academics on the other side of the debate.
May the best ideas win.
Cast your vote: Do you think children of fallen soldiers should get free tuition at universities?
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JOEY COLEMAN