Feature Article March 11, 2004
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The past versus the present
Can we afford to have a past? Man is inclined to reminiscence despite the fact we seldom seem to learn from past experiences and mistakes. But we do like to look back in history for the pleasure of saying, Weren't those interesting days? or Look how far we have advanced! It is pleasant to gaze behind us but the process should also be part of the guidance that steers us ahead, a base mark for the curves and bumps that present and future paths hold.
A couple of news items lately have set me musing about being able to afford the past when the present is demanding so many of our resources.
The famous Canoe Museum in Peterborough has temporarily closed because of funding problems. I have toured this museum, a beautiful surrounding for the rescued artifacts from the exploration days in Canada. It has Pierre Trudeau's famous canoe and jacket, stunning samples of various canoes and boats along with hundreds of historical decaying Canadian artifacts lying in an unheated warehouse. Unfortunately the self-guided tour through the building among the canoe transportation exhibits is silent and darkened. The lights are dimmed, not to help us imagine Canadians living centuries ago, but by lack of money.
Can we afford to enjoy the past because of present needs?
In Kingston there is the situation now of the Ontario government spending almost a million dollars a year to keep lighting, heating and repairing abandoned buildings. They are of no further use to our cash- strapped government but some of them are of 'historical significance', reflecting the glories of a previous century's architecture. These buildings have been empty for years, but not available for public touring for health and safety reasons - to quote a recent article in The Kingston Whig Standard. How many band-aids would that money buy for area hospitals? How many teachers and/or books could be added to our educational system? How many more citizens would have access to a family doctor? How much less pollution of our air and water? How many potholes could be filled to reduce damage to our vehicles? Can we afford the past because of present shortages?
The same government hoarding these old buildings is pressuring us to heave out old inefficient refrigerators, stoves and freezers; the utensils that stored our babies' formulas, cooked our children's meals and preserved the strawberries left after a family day in the berry patch. We are told we can't afford to retain these physical reminders of our pleasant past; their inefficiencies can't be tolerated any longer. Yet an old abandoned limestone building deserves preserving, consuming more of our dwindling resources than thousands of our refrigerators!
I am as attached to the memories associated with our refrigerator as the government is to abandoned buildings. I will tear off the grandchildren's notes, drawings and valentines and heave the old refrigerator as soon as Grampa Dalt sets an example and heaves some of the expensive and useless baggage he is hoarding.
Do we abandon the past, reduce the present or shave the future? As individuals we have difficulties making these decisions in our own families; it certainly isn't going to be easy decision making for our Great Grampa Paullie, Grampa Dalt or Papa Ronnie during the coming budget year.
