Is Canada’s at-times lamentable history the engine that propelled us to a more modern, enlightened future? Can the flaws of our historical figures be explained in the context of their times? Or should we continue to feel ashamed of the calamitous chapters of our past?
Jack Granatstein and Noah Richler staked out opposite sides on the motion “Canada’s history is nothing to be ashamed of” at the Great Canadian Debates, March 28, 2017.
Granatstein, a celebrated historian and author, argued in favour.
Granatstein says he’s ashamed, but only that we are doing such a poor job of remembering and teaching Canada’s history #GCD2017
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) March 28, 2017
Granatstein acknowledges that many people were discriminated against in Canada’s past, but says context is everything #GCD2017
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) March 28, 2017
“The long sweep of Canadian history has been defined by forward motion”, says Granatstein #GCD2017 — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) March 28, 2017
Richler, a former political candidate and writer, argued against.
“It’s very reasonable to expect of great figures to have behaved better”, says Richler #GCD2017
— Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) March 28, 2017
Shame is not only necessary, it’s vital to the whole idea of progress, to becoming a better nation: Richler #GCD2017 — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) March 28, 2017
“We need to address these matters of shame”: Richler — Macdonald-Laurier (@MLInstitute) March 29, 2017
Click here for photos and video from the event.
