To what extent should contemporary society respond to the legacies of historical globalization? Part B
To what extent should contemporary society respond to the legacies of historical globalization?
Moral and Legal Responsibilities
What are the moral and legal responsibilities?
Often you will become aware of issues related to the legacies of historical globalization from one perspective—that of the individual or group that has endured the consequences over the generations. Active global citizenship for individuals and groups means to respond to injustices. This leads to the debate over whose responsibility it is to redress the issues of the past. Are people morally responsible? Is there a legal responsibility held by citizens and countries to right the mistakes of the past?
Compensation and acknowledgements of injustices that took place during the internment of Japanese people in Canada, the Head Tax, and discriminatory immigration laws placed on Chinese people are examples of the Canadian federal government taking responsibility for past actions. Other groups have now taken steps to have current governments correct the legacies imposed on them. This has raised the debate over the extent that contemporary societies should pay for the actions of past governments and the form that restitution and redress should take.
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In a 2006 Environics poll, a growing number of Canadians expressed that change is desired to address Aboriginal issues. A March 2006 Environics poll indicates that 62% of Canadians want to see the poor social conditions of First Nations improve (a 12-point jump from 2003) and also indicates that 52% of Canadians do not blame First Nations for these conditions but instead identify federal government policies and Canadians’ attitudes as the main problems (an eight-point jump since 1997).
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Terms to know redress: to set right or make up for a wrongful act morally: according to a set of principles on what is believed to be the right thing to do legally: according to what is permitted by a set of laws restitution: an action to correct a wrongful act reconciliation: an act that will correct an injustice in hopes of restoring peace and stability |
Reflect:
Who Is Responsible?
Where do the majority of your friends/family position themselves on the question of who is responsible? Assess the type of response a moral responsibility would demand in comparison to a legal responsibility. In your view, what would a moral and a legal response look like?
Not for marks but very important to ponder!