By Thea Trussler

What is the essence of Canada’s identity? We have proven time and again that our relatively small nation has a very, very big heart. Canadians are described as such a “nice” people but we are the also the land of the “strong and free.” We do not shy from our duties but our government seems to be shying away from its duties on the foreign aid front with the freeze announced this past week for foreign aid in the budget.

On March 1, I was honoured to participate in a fundraising dinner with Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire, retired, as the keynote speaker for the Canadian Landmines Foundation. Dallaire stated during his speech that our fundamental laws in Canada focus on human rights.

As a nation we have a history of extraordinary sacrifices by our military personnel and they have defended human rights in countries far from our shores. Canadians have sacrificed on many levels in the hopes of protecting others so one day they could be in a land “strong and free.” The ability for Canada to respond to international crisis with one hand tied behind its back is an unfortunate reality though.

The recent budget may have been quickly adjusted to support our athletes after their resounding successes at the Olympics but the budget froze all foreign aid increases. It is remarkable how little attention was given to this considering only a few weeks ago we were feverishly pouring energy and money into Haiti after the devastating earthquake.

Dallaire, now a senator, is living testimony to the disconnect between our national identity of “helpers” and the will of our government to adequately support military and aid organizations abroad. The horrendous story of Dallaire’s experience in Rwanda is well documented. The mass killing of nearly 800,000 in less than 100 days could have been prevented if the political will had been present. It was stated that there were no substantial interests in Rwanda for Canada or the other participating UN countries and the mainstream media did little to raise the alarm bell. Are we not a nation that identifies itself as protectors of human rights?

It appears the priority of the moment is reactionary, thanks to media attention, and not actual human need. The desire for Canada to continue on the tide of pride for our athletes superseded a mindful response to world concerns. We are so easily distracted from our duties and quickly become apathetic to issues that only the week previous were at the forefront of conversations and energy. In the media it is known as the seven-day rule. After seven days, unless new drama has occurred, the story becomes stale and of little interest to the average citizen.

Dallaire is the reminder that stories do not go stale, or go away. His experiences in Rwanda resulted in his dealing with post-traumatic stress syndrome. Dallaire and other UN personnel witnessed atrocities we could never imagine. The dedicated people of the military and aid groups go to foreign lands with hope and idealism and often return broken and in need of intense support.

It is fortunate, in terms of public education, that a high profile military man such as Dallaire has been so vocal about his experiences of continuing recovery from post-traumatic stress. His struggles were worthy of media attention and subsequently documentaries and books were made about his ordeal. He has made our government and the military take some degree of responsibility for supporting personnel when they return with post-traumatic stress disorder, drug and alcohol abuse issues and suicidal behaviour.

We need to balance celebration of Canadian achievements, such as the Olympics, and the need to stand in the light of our most sacred identity. Canada is the protector of human rights. It is up to the people to focus and attempt to not get distracted by the media’s attention to the story of the day. We live in a land of socially conscious people who risk much to defend and protect others. Tell your political leaders, on every level, what you believe Canada needs to focus energy on. Your activism reverberates around the world. You can choose to serve by word, action or deed, but we are here to serve and make this world a better place.

Thea Trussler is a fifth-generation Kitchener resident, a counsellor and a social justice activist.