January 1948 — Vol. 29, No. 1 —
The Meaning of
Citizenship
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Canadians have been described as the most
"self—critical people in the world" and again as "a nation
that has not grown up". Dr. James Roby Kidd, assistant director
of the Canadian Association for Adult Education, says in an
unpublished doctoral thesis that the Canadian attitude is
one which might be called "group inferiority complex". If
we were less self—critical and less self—conscious,
we should likely go ahead and do things we are now unable
to encompass because we do not trust our abilities.
The establishment a year ago of "Canadian Citizenship" is
counted upon by well—wishers to raise our morale. It
should bring us closer together under one roof, as it were;
it should broaden our horizons, and it should enable us to
look out upon the world with a feeling of confidence based
upon knowledge of family solidarity and national co—operativeness.
Everyone will admit that there are differences between people
of diverse origins. Persons brought up in France, Scotland,
Ireland, England, Scandinavia, Italy and other countries have
had distinctive environments and consequently their views
of happenings and situations are varied. It is our right to
be different, but strength lies in being united on the important
and basic things in national and economic life.
This lesson should have been well and truly taught by our
history. A glance through the rich lode hinted at in the indexes
of the Canadian Historical Review shows how often
important issues which should have been settled on business
grounds or according to laws of equity became the football
of sectional interests and prides.
Canada is a small United Nations in itself. There are 43
nationalities represented in the racial origin of our population.
Under the impulse of common citizenship the best attainments,
beliefs, customs and traditions of all these can be welded
into a grand culture.
Citizenship Requires Work
Citizenship is like every other great movement or state
in life in that it requires humble work as well as effervescent
expression. Great religions teach the virtues of lowly things;
great scientific discoveries arise from painstaking and unassuming
research; even the most elevated education rests upon a base
of the modest ABC's. So, too, citizenship involves work. The
physical welfare of the nation depends upon the product of
individual hands, just as its spiritual welfare rests upon
the contributions of individual minds.
Not so many years ago the producing world was made up of
lone inventors in attics and lone artisans in whatever space
could be had in overcrowded houses. Today, with a world population
which has increased from 1,009 million to 2,151 million in
100 years, that scale of production would not meet our needs.
Scientific work has become co—operative effort in great
laboratories, and production has been made efficient by centralization
in workshops and factories. This change has brought new social
problems which it is one of the aims of citizenship to solve.
It has not, however, altered the basic principle which requires
every worker to contribute his best in the field he chooses.
Citizens are Broadminded
Citizenship requires, besides patriotism and industry, something
people refer to as open—mindedness. Dr. Kidd, a graduate
of McGill and Columbia Universities, who made an intensive
study of Canadian ways in preparation for his treatise on
Canadian citizenship, declares, "... the Canadian people as
individuals are comparatively free from prejudice and bigotry".
That is a good starting point for the building of a sane and
healthy citizenry.
This matter of tolerance versus intolerance requires constant
vigilance, because it is very easy to drift from one to the
other. Only persons who are alert to these three maxims are
safe from this danger: what we believe is not necessarily
true; what we like is not necessarily good; all questions
are open to consideration.
Good citizens will listen, before making up their minds
on an issue, to all points of view reasonably expressed. John
Stuart Mill, grand fighter for liberty of expression as a
means to good government, laid down as a rule: "If all mankind,
minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of
the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in
silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would
be justified in silencing mankind."
Democracy Expresses Citizenship
Citizenship arises in democracy and doesn't exist otherwise.
Democratic government is nothing more than the top—layer
expression of something that must be deeply imbedded in people's
minds: voluntary association for the good of all.
From this thought to the conviction that the state exists
for the benefit of its citizens is but a step - a step not
taken in dictatorial countries where individual freedom was
wrested from the people; where people are only chattels to
be used for the exaltation of the state. In a citizen—state
the government exists to be the servant of citizens and to
protect them in their free individual development. The chief
end of government is the virtue and happiness of citizens.
These happy ideals are expressed in the basic principles
of government in Canada. We believe in government according
to law, the recognition and assurance of certain rights of
individuals, and when change is needed it must be brought
about by due process of law. This form of government establishes
the framework for harmonious development of personality.
Within this framework, citizenship involves certain liberties,
qualities and duties.
What is Civil Liberty?
Liberty has many meanings. In ordinary usage, liberty means
the ability to think and act as one chooses without interference,
but in living with other people the limitation has to be added
"so long as one's actions do not interfere with the equal
liberty of others".
Civil liberties include freedom with respect to personal
action, the possession and use of property, religious beliefs
and worship, and the expression of opinion. The mere fact
of living in a democracy does not make certain the maintenance
of any group of liberties for the individual. A democratic
government must be constantly on the alert to avoid a danger
inherent in majority rule - the danger of imposing bondage
upon minorities.
There is an important protecting factor: one liberty preserved
under the democratic form of government is the right to complain
about violation of one's liberty. So long as citizens have
the right to make complaints, and the complaints are freely
heard and fully considered, and so long as indicated reforms
are speedily made, then citizens have the utmost of civil
liberty that wise men look for.
Qualities of Citizenship
As to the qualities of citizenship, there are so many that
merely to list them would use up all our space. They include
all the good and beautiful things in human nature, all the
virtues. Here are a few, drawn from the essay by President
Eliot of Harvard in which he discusses the good life from
the viewpoint of the individual: moderation, knowledge of
history and of the world today, weighing of evidence, consecutive
thinking, progressiveness, passion for truth, drawing of accurate
conclusions, self—reliance, open—mindedness, independence,
and the wise use of liberty.
These qualities, it will be noted, deal with practicalities.
In olden days the attention of thinking people was directed
to abstract philosophy, or pure science, or the art of government.
The emphasis today is upon things social. This is as it should
be for the well—ordered direction of society and the
promotion of welfare.
The citizen needs a cultural background which enables him
to explain the factors giving rise to social unrest, radicalism
and agitation. He needs straight thinking so that he may recognize
the true ideals and goals of human progress amid all the shoddy
counterfeits. And he needs moderation to tone down highflying
ideals to the point where they can be achieved through the
normal processes of work and growth.
Citizenship Repudiates Collectivism
A discussion of the meaning of citizenship would be incomplete
if it did not include the point of view of sceptics who disbelieve
in the principles for which Canadian citizenship stands. Some
of these persons desire a kind of collectivist society, devoted
to a sort of benevolence. They promise much. It is more than
1800 years since Plutarch wrote a maxim which has never been
disproved by any government: "the first destroyer of the liberties
of a people is he who first gave them bounties and largesses".
There are, and we suppose there always will be, utopians
of a sort: people who quarrel with the moral code of the rest
of the community or the social order of their country or the
economic state of the world.
Citizens find their greatest satisfaction in attending to
situations—which are under their control. They would
be robbed of this satisfaction by utopians, because Utopia,
by whomever thought up, always means dictatorship.
Collectivism ignores the individual; Canadian citizenship
admits that he is the mainspring of society. Collectivism
destroys freedom; Canadian citizenship guarantees it. Not,
as we have seen, that citizenship in a country like Canada
provides an open field for rugged exploitation by individuals
and license to do all things, but it is the best method yet
attained of relating individuals to society in a middle way
which avoids both the anarchy of savagery and the slavery
of dictatorship.
The Schools and Citizenship
It is not right to suppose that people are born with an
inherited understanding of citizenship. If patterns of behaviour
were inherited, says A. Scheinfeld in his useful book, You
and Heredity, we might expect that a fireman's child,
hearing a gong for the first time, would jump out of his crib,
pull on his clothes, and slide down the nearest pole or stair
rail. Citizenship is no more inherited than that; it has to
be learned. All that a child inherits is the better environment
built by his parents, including improved opportunities to
learn about citizenship.
Parents have the first responsibility, to show in their
homes the working out of democracy on its lowliest level,
but the finest and strongest cement for Canadian citizenship
is the training provided in school. All provincial departments
of education have given thought to this duty. They have courses
in civics which take the students from appraisal of good behaviour
in the school yard to discussion of world citizenship. Racial,
religious and cultural tolerance and sympathy are stressed.
Practice is given in the elements of parliamentary procedure.
Student councils and student governments put into use the
principles brought to light in the civics and social studies
courses.
Education for Grownups
Education of adults for citizenship should not be directed
only at the immigrant, but should be extended to all Canadians.
The primary purposes of adult education should include understanding
of our social environment, improvement of the relationships
in which each person finds himself, or which it is desirable
for him to establish, and knowledge of what he may do as a
citizen for the advancement of the nation.
Special efforts must be made, of course, in the case of
newcomers. At a meeting of educational authorities to discuss
the standards of education to be set for naturalization, a
general plan was agreed upon. This includes instructional
facilities to be set up by departments of education, with
correspondence courses to serve remote areas, and distribution
of a manual, How to Become a Canadian Citizen, at
the time an immigrant files his Declaration of Intention to
become a Canadian Citizen. Both this booklet and The Canadian
Citizenship Act, Regulations and Forms are available
from the Department of the Secretary of State, Ottawa.
One of the most effective organizations in the field of
citizenship training is the Canadian Citizenship Council,
formed in 1940 "to stimulate in the minds of all Canadians
a greater appreciation of the meaning and implications of
democracy as a way of life". It is a federation of the nine
provincial departments of education and twelve national organizations,
working to provide basic factual material, study plans, and
suitable literature to all who are interested in education
for citizenship.
Under leadership of the Canadian Association for Adult Education,
many organizations with citizenship training as part of their
programmes meet to co—ordinate their work, pool resources,
and fill in the blank places. Out of these meetings has grown
the Joint Planning Commission, on which are represented some
50 organizations which publish literature and make films dealing
with citizenship topics.
Religion is Basic
One of the Citizenship Council's publications is entitled
Freedom of Conscience. It tells how the great tradition
of political freedom which is Canada's heritage has been shaped
in the brave struggles of men inspired by religion and conscience.
The churches furnish in the conduct of their own organizations
experience and schooling in democratic government. These church—democracies,
all across Canada, accustom office—bearers and members
to democratic procedure, and train young people's groups in
democratic action.
In addition, one of the functions of religion is to bring
to political and social thinking the background, depth and
range that come from the attempt to grasp the ultimate ends
of human existence. Says the unnamed author of Freedom
of Conscience: "Enlightened religious faith constitutes
effective insurance against the ravages of the demagogue who
exploits democracy in order to destroy it. Good Christians
are bad subjects for dictators."
Many Organizations Active
Besides the churches and the educational institutions, there
are many other organizations working toward good citizenship.
Only a few can be mentioned as typical of the social, fraternal,
cultural, service and sports associations which spread knowledge,
encourage neighbourliness, and provide meeting places for
people and ideas.
The Canadian Institute of International Affairs has as its
objectives to promote and encourage research in international
affairs, and to advance understanding by its members and the
public of international questions bearing upon Canada. Through
discussion, lectures, broadcasts, and information services,
it draws attention to Canada's position both as a member of
the international community of nations and as a member of
the British Commonwealth.
The importance of "cultural factors" in promotion of good
citizenship is the chief concern of The Canada Foundation,
a national organization with offices in Ottawa. It endeavours
to promote wider understanding and appreciation of Canadian
literature, music and art, by serving as a national clearing
house for cultural activities, and by promoting exhibitions,
scholarships and competitions. The Canada Foundation believes
that good citizenship must be based on love of country, and
that pride in the nation's cultural achievements is indispensable
to that end.
The Community Planning Association, whose first objective
is to foster understanding of, and participation in, community
planning, works also toward citizenship education. Common
values and responsibilities in citizenship can be demonstrated
clearly, it believes, by greater attention to the community's
stake in the creation of its physical environment.
A particularly worthwhile effort is being made by the Imperial
Order Daughters of the Empire, through official ceremonies
of welcome to newly—naturalized citizens originated many
years ago. This gesture brings a new meaning to naturalization
by adding friendly interest to what was formerly a cold legal
proceeding.
The Young Women's Christian Association covers a wide field.
Its objectives include the provision of means for health,
fun, development of initiative, self—expression, friendliness,
and the ability to participate in group activities. Interest
in the welfare of people is fostered on three community levels:
one's own neighbourhood, the country, and the world. Members
are encouraged to develop their initiative in working out
their own plans through group thinking and action.
The Young Men's Christian Association has developed a So—Ed
(Social Education) programme which has spread across Canada
in the past two years and now has 10,000 youths over 18 in
its study groups. An exceedingly practical way was taken by
the YMCA to acquaint leaders at first hand with the activities
of the Federal Government. A three—day "institute" was
held at Ottawa, when staff members from all over Canada observed
Parliament in session, met members of the cabinet, visited
government departments, and learned about the resources of
information upon which they could draw to help in building
citizenship.
At a younger level, the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides Associations
are doing splendid work. There are, according to the announcement
of Boy Scout Girl Guide Week, 165,000 Scouts and Guides training
to serve Canada, learning to help others, and learning to
give and take. These organizations stress learning by doing;
the boys and girls are encouraged to take part in the planning
and carrying out of various forms of community and national
public service.
Special duties and opportunities for making newcomers feel
at home devolve upon the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada,
which are active in rural districts. The Radio Farm Forum
and the Citizens Forum provide opportunities for study groups
to consider important citizenship problems. In the large cities,
University Settlements and Community Centres provide valuable
contacts for new Canadians who would otherwise be apt to get
lost in the great populations.
These are only a few of the associations of people working
toward better citizenship. To all such organizations we owe
a debt of gratitude, and we also owe our moral and practical
support.
Citizenship Means Participation
After education and preparation comes participation. It
is one thing to talk about citizenship in your living room,
or hear it talked about from the public platform, and quite
another thing to get out and wrestle with problems in your
community. In the first case you are dealing in words which
have nice sounds: democracy, brotherhood, citizenship. In
the second you are dealing with actualities which are sometimes
sordid, usually worrisome, and always entail work. The participation
of people in doing something about things, added to knowledge
of what might or should be done, holds society together.
It is the common, everyday people who make the country good
or bad. Individually, they may think they count for little,
but they become effective as members of groups. In European
countries the tendency is to let officialdom take the initiative
rather than to have it assumed by groups of private citizens,
but this is a vicious trend characterized by the late President
Roosevelt as one which withdraws government from practical
contact with citizens as human individuals and makes men and
women mere units in statistics.
Fortunately, we in Canada can benefit by the object lessons
in other countries. Prizing Canadian citizenship, we can make
it the backbone of government. We can avoid the procrastination
which ends in spasmodic activity, flaring up for a while and
then dying out; we can refrain from detached criticism, which
complains from afar about what officials do, but refuses to
get together for co—operation to make things better;
we can shun dependence upon busybodies who go to meetings,
listen to talks, but never work long enough to see one constructive
thing through.
Good citizens will participate in local government, at least
to the extent of selecting to the best of their ability the
men who are to govern the community, administer its schools,
organize recreation, operate health services, and beautify
the district.
World Citizenship
From local government to world citizenship may seem a long
jump. It was Cicero who said that endowment of human beings
with the ability to reason makes every man a member of the
great human community. Starting with care for his family,
expanding through service in his community, province and nation,
every Canadian citizen finds himself embraced in the wider
fellowship of world citizenship. Whether we think it a good
thing or not, the future of Canada is wrapped up with the
future of all countries. We can make great, and perhaps decisive,
contributions to the preservation of human freedom and evolution.
Our citizenship contribution might well start, indeed it
must start, on the home front, in communities where good citizenship
can make itself felt quickly and decisively. Dickens set down
for us in a dramatic way the picture of failure arising from
our natural inclination to take in too much territory. In
his novel Bleak House Mrs. Jellyby was a very earnest
woman who began with the natives of Borrioboola—Gha instead
of beginning with her own children. Nobody denies that we
have duties to the natives of Borrioboola—Gha. But to
begin with them is, for the most of us, to begin at the wrong
end, and to make a sad mess of our citizenship in consequence.
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