issue 05 // volume 41

Cutting the umbilical cord for national independence

» Why Scotland shouldn't try standing on its baby feet

Margaret Matthews Senior Columnist

oming from a British

Commonwealth country in

South Asia, where the adjacent countries obtained their independence one after the

other several decades ago, I was :

anxious to know the results of the referendum in Scotland, and I’m glad of the outcome.

“United we stand, divided we fall.” Unless Scotland has avery strong economy of its own, it’s best to remain as part of Britain, where strength in military power and financial resources is strong enough to cover all their needs.

Judging from what I had personally seen when I lived in South Asia, it would appear that Britain had done a lot to develop those countries when they were part of the British Commonwealth in building bridges, roads, cities, schools, hospitals, houses and residences; recruiting, educating, and training the locals to live productive lives.

My grandparents were alive at the time, and they spoke very highly of how the British had built the British Military Hospital, which was the largest and most-used hospital in Rangoon (Yangon), the capital city of Burma. My grandfather worked as a doctor at this hospital, where staff cared for the wounded soldiers during the war, as well as the locals who had all sorts of tropical diseases. The British-

: trained doctors and staff

: were able to obtain medical

: information, equipment like

: X-rays and other technologies, : and medication from their

: colleagues and counterparts in : Britain that were not available : in Burma.

However, Burma got

: “itchy feet” and, like teenagers : without jobs and money,

: opted to leave home. Burma

: requested and obtained its

: independence from British

: rule. All the British personnel : left and went back to their

: homeland, while the locals

: subsequently suffered without : medical, financial, and military : : aid. The country has suffered

: social and political unrest with : strikes, protests, and even

: bloodshed on the streets with

: its ongoing problems ever

opinions // 15

: since. The country’s politics : changed from democratic to : socialist, with an overthrow : of the president who was incarcerated, which was the : beginning of the country’s

: many problems.

Although some of these

developing countries may have : rich natural resources like

: oil, teak, and precious stones

: like rubies, sapphires, and

: jade, it takes a lot of financial

: resources to develop and

: operate mines and refineries,

: so that the products can

: be polished and ready for

: consumerism,

India, Pakistan, Ceylon

(Sri Lanka), Singapore,

: Malaysia, and recently Hong

: Kong have also obtained

: their independence, but have

: they fared any better than

: when they were under British : rule? I should say not. These

: countries still suffer from

: overpopulation, poverty, lack : of sanitary conditions such

: as clean water, lack of proper

: nutrition. In the case of India, : the caste system has always

: been the great divide between : its citizens.

For this reason, many

: immigrants come to North

: America in search of a better

: life, and more opportunities

: for themselves and their future : generations. While Britain and : North America have had a head : start for centuries to develop

: and build themselves, it’s

: definitely wiser to stay within

: the governance of a strong and : financially stable country.

Canada’s youngest serial killer

» Is a life of crime the result of poor paren

Margaret Matthews Senior Columnist

s I watched a news telecast nnounce that Cody

Legebokoff is the convicted serial killer who murdered three women and a teenager before he was 20—and has been sentenced to lifetime imprisonment—I pondered the

thought of how and when does a

life of crime begin?

Young children are keen observers, who copy mannerisms and language from their parents at home. This brings up the question of good parenting and the tremendous

on parents to teach children

by example, to check out their

EE

: friends and the company they : keep; to be aware of what they : read or watch on the Internet, : television, and in movies; to

: monitor their whereabouts; to

: encourage them to develop and responsibility that society places : 5 P

: reach their full potential; and to

. : : live productive and worthwhile right from wrong; to guide them ; lives. Involving children in into right paths of living; to lead : a part-time job, sports, or

ting? W® : volunteer work can negate such : unwanted criminal behaviour.

Oftentimes the criminal

: activity starts with petty : thievery, breaking and entering, : and motor vehicle driving : offences, which, if not corrected H : at the onset, will undoubtedly

: lead to more serious crimes.

Several years ago in Britain,

’ : two 10-year-olds kidnapped and : killed a two-year-old who had

: strayed from his mother’s side at : a mall in Liverpool. What made : the 10-year-olds commit such a

: grievous crime? Where and how : did such thoughts enter such

: young minds? Furthermore,

: where were their parents?

Many attempted to explain

: the 1993 crime by linking the : boys’ actions to their having : watched violent and scary

: movies, like Child’s Play 3;

: perhaps watching violent

: criminal behaviour had

: prompted the boys to emulate : what they saw. What enters

: the mind plays a vital part in

: one’s thinking, which leads to

: their behaviour and conduct,

: especially when they’re of a

: young and impressionable stage : in life. Because the two were so : young, they could neither be

: tried in an adult court, nor ina : juvenile court.

I’m reminded of the three

: Bacon brothers, the notorious

: gangsters who lived with their

: parents in Abbotsford when

: they were younger. The brothers : grew up and got involved with

: gangs, drugs, possession of

: weapons, and murders. One

: shooting spree in Surrey left

: six people dead, including two

: innocent bystanders. They were :

: a terror to everyone who lived

: near them, and people stayed

: away from them because of their : violence and crime. One brother : was shot and killed by rival gang : members, and the other two are : incarcerated.

While some parents may

: subscribe to a religious faith,

: it’s not religion alone that

: makes people live with honesty : and integrity; the upbringing,

: nurturing, and discipline

: that they receive from their

: parents at home, as well as their : educators and counsellors is

: what makes it so. The nurturing : received at home should be

: a balance between love and

: discipline in order to produce

: citizens who can contribute

: positively towards society,

: making it a better place to live.