Project Hero: Scholorships for children of Deceased soldiers.

[jordan123]

I am not sure if any of you have heard of this, but it is the drama of my home town currently, and I am interested in what you think of it.

Essentially the University of Regina (one I attend) as well as many other Canadian Universities gives scholarships to children of Deceased Canadian Soldiers. Just recently 16 professors at the UofR spoke out against the scholarship. Here is their letter:

"Dear President Timmons:

We write to you as concerned faculty members of the University of Regina, to urge you to withdraw our university immediately from participation in the “Project Hero” scholarship program. This program, which waives tuition and course fees, and provides $1,000 per year to “dependents of Canadian Forces personnel deceased while serving with an active mission”, is a glorification of Canadian imperialism in Afghanistan and elsewhere. We do not want our university associated with the political impulse to unquestioning glorification of military action.

“Project Hero” is the brainchild of Kevin Reed, a 42-year-old honorary lieutenant-colonel of an army reserve unit in southwestern Ontario, who has said publicly he was inspired by the work of retired Canadian General Rick Hillier. General Hillier, one of the most controversial figures in the recent military history of this country, was the first to introduce “Project Hero” at a Canadian post-secondary institution, just after he took up the post as Chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland. Since then, a number of other public Canadian universities have come on board.

In our view, support for “Project Hero” represents a dangerous cultural turn. It associates “heroism” with the act of military intervention. It erases the space for critical discussion of military policy and practices. In signing on to “Project Hero”, the university is implicated in the disturbing construction of the war in Afghanistan by Western military- and state-elites as the “good war” of our epoch. We insist that our university not be connected with the increasing militarization of Canadian society and politics.

The majority of young adults in Canada find it increasingly difficult to pay for their education. If they do make it to university, they rack up massive student debts which burden them for years. Instead of privileging the children of deceased Canadian soldiers, we suggest that our administration demand all levels of government provide funding sufficient for universal qualified access to post-secondary education.

The University of Regina has always been closely tied to our Saskatchewan community, and the strategic plan, mâmawohkamâtowin, means "co-operation; working together towards common goals". We do not think that “Project Hero” is a common goal chosen by those of us who work in the University; it is not drawn from the values of this institution. We think it is incompatible with our understanding of the role of public education, or with decisions made by a process of collegial governance.

In addition to withdrawing from “Project Hero”, we think the issues we raise should be publicly debated. We are calling on the U of R administration to hold a public forum on the war in Afghanistan, and Canadian imperialism more generally, at which the issues we raise can be debated. This forum should be open to all; it should take place this semester, before exams, as “Project Hero” is set to start at U of R in September 2010.

To summarize, we are calling for:

(1) The immediate withdrawal of our university from “Project Hero”.
(2) An institutional deployment of public pressure on both orders of government to provide immediate funding sufficient for universal access to post-secondary education.
(3) A public forum on the war in Afghanistan and Canadian imperialism more generally to be held this semester before exams begin.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2010/03/25/sk-wall-scholarship-1003.html#socialcomments" [Broken]

So yeah, the 16 professors are facing lots of criticism for their opinions.

I guess I find it odd how a public and educational institution (where students are encouraged to form opinions about world issues) can I guess pick a side and say they support the war or show they value the war (even though that may not be their intention) especially since there can be kids from all over the world including Afghanistan because although the soldiers can be seen as heroes to Canadians, to others they can be seen as murderers. How would the students from Afghanistan feel if the public school they were attending gave this scholarship if maybe their father was killed by a Canadian soldier. Would it not make sense for an institution affiliated with the military to give out such a award? I believe that the children should receive help in some way for school I just do not know if the support should come from a public University.

What do you think PF, lately I have just been hearing arguments filled with name calling and the such.. nothing of substance.

 

[Evo]

I think "project Hero" is a wonderful thing from what I've read. A scholorship for the children of soldiers killed in the line of duty. What kind of person would oppose that?

I think the people that have their knickers in a knot over a scholorship that has nothing to do with them need to pull that corn cob out of their place where the sun doesn't shine.

What the frap is wrong with people? So a few young people get a scholorship because their parent died in service. The University isn't footing the bill. Get a life, get over it, move along!

 

[mgb_phys]

Just to play devil's advocate here.

Does this mean only combat deaths or training accidents, then what about accidents in war zone?
(Generally in modern armies, even in wartime, accidents out-number enemy action deaths)
What about friendly fire - if you are killed by Americans does that count.

Does the same thing apply to the navy? What about the coastguard?
Should it also then apply to police and fire service staff?

 

[Evo]

Scholorships can be set up by just about anyone for just about any reason. If I want to set up a scholorship
for any reason, I can, so I don't get your point.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2075661_set-up-scholarship-fund-name.html

 

[rootX]

I think "project Hero" is a wonderful thing from what I've read. A scholorship for the children of soldiers killed in the line of duty. What kind of person would oppose that?

Scholorships can be set up by just about anyone for just about any reason. If I want to set up a scholorship
for any reason, I can, so I don't get your point.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2075661_set-up-scholarship-fund-name.html

Scholarships can be set up for wonderful things and for no reasons.

 

[jordan123]

I think "project Hero" is a wonderful thing from what I've read. A scholorship for the children of soldiers killed in the line of duty. What kind of person would oppose that?

I think the people that have their knickers in a knot over a scholorship that has nothing to do with them need to pull that corn cob out of their place where the sun doesn't shine.

The University of Regina has always been closely tied to our Saskatchewan community, and the strategic plan, mâmawohkamâtowin, means "co-operation; working together towards common goals". We do not think that “Project Hero” is a common goal chosen by those of us who work in the University; it is not drawn from the values of this institution. We think it is incompatible with our understanding of the role of public education, or with decisions made by a process of collegial governance.

But is this not how it has to do with them. Since they are associated with the university by being professors there, they do not think the university should support something that is not a "common goal" amongst the people that represent the university.

 

[mgb_phys]

Scholorships can be set up by just about anyone for just about any reason. If I want to set up a scholorship
for any reason, I can, so I don't get your point.

I thought these were government sponsorships - presumably as a way to increase support for a not particularly popular war?

If the government wished to claim it was simply to reward bravery - they might have some explaining to do to the children of dead firemen.

 

[Evo]

But is this not how it has to do with them. Since they are associated with the university by being professors there, they do not think the university should support something that is not a "common goal" amongst the people that represent the university.

It's ridiculous, the scholorship for the student has nothing to do with the University. They are proposing discrimination for assinine reasons. What type of scholorship a student gets has nothing to do with the university or it's policies.

Are they also going to refuse students whose parents are in the military? There is no difference.

 

[MotoH]

Isn't the irony wonderful? "Let me bad mouth the people who protect my rights."

Have you seen the one professors credentials? He is in such a specialized area, that it seems like he has forgotten what the real world is like (which I have seen with a lot of professors.)

 

[jordan123]

Isn't the irony wonderful? "Let me bad mouth the people who protect my rights."

Have you seen the one professors credentials? He is in such a specialized area, that it seems like he has forgotten what the real world is like (which I have seen with a lot of professors.)

They are not bad mouthing anyone...

 

[MotoH]

They are not bad mouthing anyone...

By saying that children of soldiers who gave their life for their country don't deserve scholarships, yes they are bad mouthing somebody.

 

[jordan123]

By saying that children of soldiers who gave their life for their country don't deserve scholarships, yes they are bad mouthing somebody.

Really? Can you find me a quote where any of them say "children of soldiers who gave their life for their country don't deserve scholarships"? That is not what they are arguing at all. All they are expressing is that the University should not be handing them out. They suggest that every child should get free education, those whose family died in the war included. But not where do they say the children of deceased soldiers do not deserve scholarships.

 

[MotoH]

We do not want our university associated with the political impulse to unquestioning glorification of military action.

hmm.

 

[lisab]

These profs know of heroism the same way theoretical physicists know of dairy cows ("Consider a spherical cow of uniform density in a vacuum...")

 

[jordan123]

hmm.

Yes, university associated.

 

[Evo]

These profs know of heroism the same way theoretical physicists know of dairy cows ("Consider a spherical cow of uniform density in a vacuum...")

Buwahahah

 

[Evo]

Seriously, leave the kids alone. I can't imagine there are many, and are these kids going around the campus campaining for anything?

 

[MotoH]

In addition to withdrawing from “Project Hero”, we think the issues we raise should be publicly debated. We are calling on the U of R administration to hold a public forum on the war in Afghanistan, and Canadian imperialism more generally, at which the issues we raise can be debated.

You Canadians and your massive empire!:tongue: In order for one to properly be an empire, must they not be under the control of another empire. . .?

 

[rootX]

Isn't the irony wonderful? "Let me bad mouth the people who protect my rights."

Have you seen the one professors credentials? He is in such a specialized area, that it seems like he has forgotten what the real world is like (which I have seen with a lot of professors.)

These profs know of heroism the same way theoretical physicists know of dairy cows ("Consider a spherical cow of uniform density in a vacuum...")

who is hero anyway and who deserves more respect?

Shouldn't we make heroes people who

• collect our garbage every week
• make sure that we stay healthy for work and life
• make sure that financial system is healthy
• provide high quality 24/7 electrical/communication services
• ... so on

Point I am making is that scholarships can be for everything but I strongly disagree that this is a good cause or one that I should be proud of.

 

[jordan123]

Seriously, leave the kids alone. I can't imagine there are many, and are these kids going around the campus campaining for anything?

Yeah I have no idea how many there are. And nothing too much at school, basically just making the news. Nothing will come of the complaints.

 

[mgb_phys]

Shouldn't we make heroes people who

• collect our garbage every week
• make sure that we stay healthy for work and life
• make sure that financial system is healthy
• provide high quality 24/7 electrical/communication services
• ... so on

Or serve donuts http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Hortons+staff+eligible+Afghan+medals/2739470/story.html [Broken]