February 20, 1959 - A Sad Day for Canada...
In 1997, a miniseries entitled "The Arrow" was produced in cooperation with the CBC, a drama-documentary about the famous Avro Arrow interceptor / fighter aircraft. It's only taken 17 years, but I finally sat down to watch the movie today. I actually taped it back in 1997, but never found time to watch it; somewhere in storage, I still have the never-viewed VHS copy. At three hours in length, watching the DVD version (thus no commercials) was probably a lot easier.
As someone who loves technology, and has a quiet national pride, it was a heartbreaking movie to watch. I've known about the Arrow for a long time, back since I was a student at DeVry, which is where I had first heard that Canada once had a aircraft which even today's aircraft are only beginning to equal. Nearly 60 years have passed since the Arrow project was shut down, and we're only now catching up with that lost technology. It's akin to the destruction of the Library of Alexandria, IMO. Of course, there's the "drama" side of the production, since much of what really happened is likely forever shrouded in secrecy, but it certainly paints the Conservative government of John Diefenbaker in a bad light. Frankly, when combined with the recent anti-science attacks of the current Conservative government under Harper, it makes one wonder if Conservative governments have any appreciation for science and technology at all.
I've only seen a few political scenes that I am old enough to appreciate thus far; The Mulroney Conservatives, who were utterly wiped out by the Liberals under Jean Chretien, The Chretien Liberals, and now Harper's Conservatives. Personally, I think Canada has suffered under Harper's government, at least as far as our environment and scientific communities are concerned. It's a shame that Jean Chretien's politics left a sinking ship to Paul Martin, his former Minister of Finance and eventual political rival. I think the Liberals under Paul Martin might have been a good thing, but I guess we will never know.
I don't recall enough about the Mulroney years to know if he did good things or bad things for Canada as far as our environment and scientic records go; all I really remember about his government was the bringing-in of the much-hated GST, the failed Meech-Lake accord, and a general alienation of the Western provinces which ironically was what had brought him to power in the first place, defeating the Liberal party of Pierre Trudeau (who at the time of the election had retired, to be replace by John Turner.) Giving a quick glance over the history of the two parties, it seems that (for the most part) it has always been the Liberals who have spear-headed the great advancements in research and technology, while it has been the Conservatives who are constantly pulling back and trying to slow things down. On one hand, the country cannot afford wild spending; but on the other hand, we cannot afford NOT to keep moving forward on these topics.
I'll give Harper's government credit for bringing in the legalization of gay marriange in Canada, and for refusing to re-open the abortion debate. At least of these two issues, Harper seems to have set his personal convictions on the subjects aside, and followed the will of the people, which is what he should have done. Did Diefenbaker do the same thing back in 1959 when he cancelled the Avro Arrow? He had promised the people that he was going to reign in the "rampent spending" of the Liberals under Louis St. Laurent, and he pretty much did that. Behind schedule and over-budget, the Avro Arrow was an easy target. Hindsight is always 20/20 they say, and while we can look back now and see that it was a disasterous move, it likely felt right at the time - at least to Diefenbaker.
What Canada needs, and I think all countries need, is a government that recognizes the only way for humanity to keep moving forward is TO move forward. Science and Technology are not things to be feared; Education is not a thing to be feared. But right now were are seeing an anti-science government in Canada, and an even more frightening spectre of ignorance and hatred growing in the USA, both coming from deeply conservative factions that would harken us back to the Dark Ages if given the opportunity. There was a reason that Church and State were so closely entwined in those days - for the same reason that they are so entwined in the extremist countries of the Mid-East: Keeping people stupid and fearful makes it easy to keep them under control. For the people holding the leashes, Education IS a thing to be feared, because when people become educated, they refuse to be trodden upon.
Wow... didn't really plan on this entry becoming such a rant. I just don't like seeing Canada being reduced to second-rate (or worse) status because the short-sightedness of our governments drives our best and brightest minds away.
As someone who loves technology, and has a quiet national pride, it was a heartbreaking movie to watch. I've known about the Arrow for a long time, back since I was a student at DeVry, which is where I had first heard that Canada once had a aircraft which even today's aircraft are only beginning to equal. Nearly 60 years have passed since the Arrow project was shut down, and we're only now catching up with that lost technology. It's akin to the destruction of the Library of Alexandria, IMO. Of course, there's the "drama" side of the production, since much of what really happened is likely forever shrouded in secrecy, but it certainly paints the Conservative government of John Diefenbaker in a bad light. Frankly, when combined with the recent anti-science attacks of the current Conservative government under Harper, it makes one wonder if Conservative governments have any appreciation for science and technology at all.
I've only seen a few political scenes that I am old enough to appreciate thus far; The Mulroney Conservatives, who were utterly wiped out by the Liberals under Jean Chretien, The Chretien Liberals, and now Harper's Conservatives. Personally, I think Canada has suffered under Harper's government, at least as far as our environment and scientific communities are concerned. It's a shame that Jean Chretien's politics left a sinking ship to Paul Martin, his former Minister of Finance and eventual political rival. I think the Liberals under Paul Martin might have been a good thing, but I guess we will never know.
I don't recall enough about the Mulroney years to know if he did good things or bad things for Canada as far as our environment and scientic records go; all I really remember about his government was the bringing-in of the much-hated GST, the failed Meech-Lake accord, and a general alienation of the Western provinces which ironically was what had brought him to power in the first place, defeating the Liberal party of Pierre Trudeau (who at the time of the election had retired, to be replace by John Turner.) Giving a quick glance over the history of the two parties, it seems that (for the most part) it has always been the Liberals who have spear-headed the great advancements in research and technology, while it has been the Conservatives who are constantly pulling back and trying to slow things down. On one hand, the country cannot afford wild spending; but on the other hand, we cannot afford NOT to keep moving forward on these topics.
I'll give Harper's government credit for bringing in the legalization of gay marriange in Canada, and for refusing to re-open the abortion debate. At least of these two issues, Harper seems to have set his personal convictions on the subjects aside, and followed the will of the people, which is what he should have done. Did Diefenbaker do the same thing back in 1959 when he cancelled the Avro Arrow? He had promised the people that he was going to reign in the "rampent spending" of the Liberals under Louis St. Laurent, and he pretty much did that. Behind schedule and over-budget, the Avro Arrow was an easy target. Hindsight is always 20/20 they say, and while we can look back now and see that it was a disasterous move, it likely felt right at the time - at least to Diefenbaker.
What Canada needs, and I think all countries need, is a government that recognizes the only way for humanity to keep moving forward is TO move forward. Science and Technology are not things to be feared; Education is not a thing to be feared. But right now were are seeing an anti-science government in Canada, and an even more frightening spectre of ignorance and hatred growing in the USA, both coming from deeply conservative factions that would harken us back to the Dark Ages if given the opportunity. There was a reason that Church and State were so closely entwined in those days - for the same reason that they are so entwined in the extremist countries of the Mid-East: Keeping people stupid and fearful makes it easy to keep them under control. For the people holding the leashes, Education IS a thing to be feared, because when people become educated, they refuse to be trodden upon.
Wow... didn't really plan on this entry becoming such a rant. I just don't like seeing Canada being reduced to second-rate (or worse) status because the short-sightedness of our governments drives our best and brightest minds away.