Of Fear and Shame

When she was only 6 years old, Mary Manko Haskett was incarcerated in Spirit Lake Internment Camp in northern Quebec. She was sent there with her family because they were Ukrainian and, in the First World War, deemed a threat to national security. There were never any charges, trials or convictions; just being Ukrainian was enough. The men were to receive $1.25/day for their labour but, for the most part, never did. All this and much more was set out this morning in, “Flowers for Nellie”, a CBC radio documentary by John Shipman.

As the account of this regrettable incident began I wondered why we seem compelled to go back and dig up things like this. Do we feel a perverse need to shame our ancestors and ourselves? Do we so crave attention that we seek our share of even this spotlight?

As I listened, however, I realized some things:

1. Beyond the Japanese internment of WWII, I have not known our history of internment.

2. I thought internment was a mere aberration of Canadian history.

3. I’ve been under the impression that internment was mainly something the Fascists and Communists did.

4. We need to know our whole story, not just the parts we like.

Mary Haskett’s story indicates that no people or movement has a corner on this kind of systemic injustice. It’s a general human failing, and more about fear than anything else. This is why these things are done to “others”, the strangers and aliens among us. And it’s why they’re done in times of war and social upheaval. Few human beings have a great capacity for hatred or cruelty, but most have an amazing capacity for fear. And it’s fear that makes these terrible things possible.

John tells us (1 John 4:18) that love and fear don’t work together. Fear makes love impossible and love drives fear away. Surely this is why Jesus so often tells his followers not to be afraid. And it’s why we must be careful not to incite fear in people, and very cautious of those who do.

So much of what we hear today, in the post 9/11 world, is fear mongering, pure and simple. And, when those in authority preach fear, whether they be national or international leaders, religious leaders, labour leaders, politicians, scientists, economists, whatever, we must listen with discernment, speak out against fear, and steadfastly refuse to be afraid.

Our enemies do fearful things,

and so we are afraid;

And, fearing, we do shameful things,

and so we are ashamed.