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Susan Martinuk, Christian Week, April 1, 2005
Last month, four RCMP officers entered a Quonset in rural Alberta to
repossess a stolen truck, and in doing so also discovered a marijuana grow op.
The owner of the property was widely-known as the "local nutcase," but
thought to be off site at the time of the investigation. However, since they
were four-strong, it can be inferred that the officers expected some degree of
confrontation.
I can't imagine any of the officers actively considered what they were doing
to be heroic or that they would one day be memorialized for what was about to
transpire. Yet this mundane task took the lives of all four officers and
suddenly Canadians are going out of their way to honour and offer gratitude to
these men.
This is a paradigm shift for Canadians -- to suddenly accept the notion that
heroes aren't always those who 'save the world' from disaster or have a great
vision to accomplish great things. Instead, there has been a stark realization
that heroism is most often found in the ordinary, everyday acts that fill our
lives.
Until now, the multiple killings of police officers would be high on the list
of "Things that Never Happen in Canada." But a national memorial
service that featured a sea of red-coated Mounties proudly marching to
demonstrate their brotherhood, stirred our emotions and initiated an elevated
understanding of heroism that is rooted in reality.
Dangerous duty We now know that - even in Canada -- protecting the public
good can be a dangerous job. Yet these men did so each day because, in the words
of Prime Minister Martin, they shared "a solemn dedication to duty ...
[even though] it would ultimately call for the greatest sacrifice."
In today's culture, "duty" isn't a word that is typically
associated with heroism. Instead, we have become content to make faux heroes out
of celebrities or hockey players -- groups that are hardly known for their
dedication to duty. The title of "Canadian Idol," however pagan it may
be, is handed to those whose only struggle is to "out-sing" each other
week after week. The past paradigm is clear - heroes are found in movies and
celebrity, not in duty.
This apparent confusion isn't surprising, given that we live in a culture
dedicated to fulfillment of "the self," to "me" and to
"doing whatever I want to make me happy." Yet none of these inspire
the development of selflessness, virtue or dedication to the public good that
are necessary precursors to heroism.
But history shows that such naiveté can be changed by circumstances.
September 11, 2001, proved to be a unique moment in the history of heroism; it
was a time when society became more realistic and it recognized that carrying
out one's basic duties can be the most heroic act of all. The heroism that was
previously held in reserve for "great men" was suddenly ascribed to
ordinary, everyday people who demonstrated bravery in the most dire
circumstances. Firemen and police officers became the quintessential American
heroes because of their dedication to duty.
Paradigm shift The shooting deaths of our Mounties has forced a similar
paradigm shift in Canada. The only question that remains is whether it will be a
sustained or temporary shift to the belief that heroism often stems from
"duty.". It is significant that media reports focused on the officers'
common belief that it was their duty to protect the public. They weren't driven
by a vision to accomplish great things, but it's clear from the testimonies to
their lives that they took great satisfaction and pride in their roles as
keepers of the peace. This tragedy may indeed have unleashed a public desire to
once again see greatness in our culture; if not, it has certainly demonstrated
that we've spent a generation searching for greatness in all the wrong places.
That's not news to Canadians who have survived World War II or the Great
Depression. They must look upon younger generations and think about how little
has been asked of us. We know nothing of duty or sacrifice in an all-out war.
Even worse, we express little understanding that thousands have given their
lives so that we can now live in the freedom that we take for granted.
Perhaps the deaths of these young men will prod us to be mindful of the cost
of all that we now have and of the gratitude we owe to those who gave their
lives in the name of duty. In a society that gives little regard to the concept
of duty, it becomes all the more important that we celebrate and memorialize the
people who do.
Susan Martinuk is a Vancouver columnist; susanmartinuk@hotmail.com
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