Sir John A. Takes a Hit

The Ontario Elementary Teachers' Federation have decided that the name of our first Prime Minister, Sir John A. MacDonald should be removed from all schools. He, along with most of the Fathers of Confederation agreed with the creation of residential schools for our native population.

This is getting ridiculous!  We cannot judge past history by today's standards.  We will all agree that residential schools were a terrible failure and caused suffering and death to many, but those who set up those schools thought they were doing the best for our indigenous population!  I don't believe they were being vindictive!  Removing their names from history won't change the past and I think it will give Canadians a better chance of forgetting these horrible indecencies!

I do concede that the statues of Cornwallis in Nova Scotia be removed from places of prominence and put in museum grounds.  Cornwallis actually put a bounty on heads of indigenous people living there, but that was hundreds of years ago.  That fact cannot be erased from history but his statue is causing quite a bit of consternation in Halifax.  I say decide on a new location for his statue along with a sign describing reason for its move.  We must not lose this history!

We need to examine each situation like this with cool heads!  If we don't, this whole process can get really silly!  When you read the writings of Winston Churchill, it's not hard to notice that he was a chauvinist and a bit of a bigot!  Is he next on the hit list?

How about William Van Horne and the rest of those who built Canada's national railway!  They promoted the importation and exploitation of workers from China!  Shall we zap them?

Why stop there?  You do know that the Roman Emperors Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus both promoted slavery and gladiator games fought to the death!  Will we soon be changing the names of the months of July and August?  That's how silly it could get!

The Cornwallis Debate

About two hundred and fifty years ago a British military man arrived in what is now Nova Scotia.  His job was to set up a British colony there as a counter to the French fortress of Louisbourg, and make sure it would be safe for colonists arriving from the U.K., mostly Scotland.

He founded the city of Halifax.  The new colony of Nova Scotia (New Scotland) thrived under his leadership. 

That man was Edward Cornwallis.  He's commemorated around that modern city of Halifax with parks, streets, buildings, and squares named for him - not to mention, a large statue.

But there was another side to Edward Cornwallis.  He came to Canada fresh from a campaign to bring Scotland more in line with the rest of the U.K.  His solution there was to exterminate his opponents!  Many Scots were killed in that campaign.  I think Ed figured that it worked so well in Scotland he would do the same thing in Nova Scotia. 

He proclaimed a bounty on the lives of the native Mi'kmaq people, including women and children!  It is unclear just how many native people were slaughtered as part of this program.  I think there might have been a large number!  

When you read history you'll find out that the British did much of this "pacification" everywhere they went.  The rule appears to have been; "If you can't make good British citizens out of the natives, then remove them or possibly enslave them".  It happened in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, India, Canada and what was to become the United States, plus many other places! 

This "pacification" program carried on for centuries.  Those countries and their native populations affected are still suffering the affects of this brutal, inhumane program. 

Many people in Halifax want Edward Cornwallis struck from history.  I think that would be a mistake.  Renaming many of his namesakes would be a good thing, but Nova Scotians (and all Canadians) must never be allowed to forget what Cornwallis did!  The actions of Cornwallis and his fellow British militarists are one reason why we are here now with the issues and problems we face today!