This sign is so incredibly Canadian and has been featured on the protest signs of many recent marches. Leave it to Canadians to apologize to everyone for having the gumption to take direct peaceful action against a system that is taking their bright future and filling it with debt, polluted water and dirty air.
This past year, I became close with two people who have had a profound impact on how I debate, discuss and discourse on important subjects. I have never considered myself to be very well informed on any subject in particular, often saying: "I know some stuff about things..." But in the past year, these two friends of mine have had a positive effect on how I learn about events and how I then talk about them. One friend learns by asking questions, reading everything he can find about one side of a subject and then debating the subject with people around him who come at it from the other perspective. The other friend, absorbs every aspect of the subject from both sides, forms his own opinion and seldom changes his mind afterwards.
I love playing devils advocate to both of these friends. This has forced me to read up on a variety of topics over the past year and discuss them with these two well-informed, stubborn and intelligent men. We generally agree on a topic, but I really enjoy trying to get under their skin (no easy feat). While doing this, I have come to certain conclusions about current news-worthy debates.
One of the first discussions I had with my question-asker friend was about Climate Change. He wasn't convinced. My first reaction was to scoff and laugh. Then I stopped myself and realized that if I simply TOLD him why it is not a theory, but a matter of fact like evolution, then I would be no better than a religious person foisting my beliefs on someone. Instead, I encouraged him to read up on the subject and form his own opinion, which he would have done anyway. Throughout these ongoing discussions with him, I realized that the entire debate around Climate Change takes away from the real problem. In my opinion, whether Climate Change exists or not (it does), isn't as relevant a point as the fact that we can't continue to treat our planet as an unlimited resource and as a bottomless garbage can. The very debate over this contentious issue takes time and energy away from solving the root problem; how we use our resources.I feel the same about the question of tuition hikes in Quebec. First of all, whether you are for it or against it, you are allowed to voice your opinion and certainly allowed to protest. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, no matter how ridiculous, stupid or ignorant...
The government is elected to represent the people, not the corporations who keep them in power and money. Can the demands of 200 000 people be so easily ignored? Apparently so. Derisive comments against spoiled students are to be expected by those who have already gone through the system in easier times. What needs to be noted however, is that many of the protesters won't be so strongly affected by the tuition hikes as the students in years to come. These protests are intended as a social movement for those too young to understand. This reminds me of the four types of children at passover...
The derisive comments should be included in the discussion, but with more information provided to those who aren't as well informed about the economics of the situation, as money seems to be the only way to reason with the majority of the population. I would suggest turning to alternative media to get a different view of the tuition-hike question. I think a healthy debate over the question of tuition is important, but I feel that it detracts from what I consider to be the main point.
Why are we charging for education in the first place?
I won't get into the economics of it, because I think that money is an invalid excuse or justification for anything. As a good friend of mine says, "money is a representation of the freedom from want." But, for argument's sake, several countries have proven that it is a viable option to provide free higher education to all of its citizens. Out of curiosity, I cross-checked the countries that provide free education against levels of economic inequality. Predictably, the countries that provide free education are those that boast the highest economic equality. I wonder which is the chicken and which is the egg? Does one lead to the other or do they manifest simultaneously? With Canada featuring ever-increasing economic inequality and expanding social divides, why not take steps to bridge the gaps? Quebec has always been the black sheep of the Canadian family... why wouldn't we be different in education prices than the rest of Canada?
The debate over tuition hikes is detracting from the question of how we use our resources in this country and in this province. Take the word "resources" to mean anything from people, money, water or minerals. The government obviously feels that it is not worth using its resources to invest in people. Does this represent what the majority of Canadians and Quebecers feel?
Interesting report on Quebec tuition
In a debate on a popular Quebec tv show, a student activist explained how easily we could get money in the budget while having 87% of people pay less taxes, giving the province $1.2bn. This is more than enough to provide cheap or free education. Look into it.
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