Making History (Page 3)

Rather than surrendering to the temptation of airing American series because there is more money to be made through importation than production, Canadians ought to be telling stories about themselves to each other, he adds. And it behooves us to bridge the gaps of race, geography and language. Otherwise, he fears we end up falling into the trap of watching other people's reflections and confusing their experience with ours. American crime dramas might be entertaining, but their particular take on urban violence is not representative of Canadian cities.

At the Tomlinson Fieldhouse convocation, Starowicz concluded his address by imploring the graduates to "remember who we are. Honour the sacrifices that brought you to this day."

He believes that as long as the memory of seeking refuge and the dream of betterment that has motivated all arrivals remains vivid, the country will be tolerant toward newcomers. So long as we remember what we fled - the dispossession, the pogroms, the persecution - we will remain generous. If it's forgotten, we could end up in the quagmire that has claimed so many other countries. A strong sense of our history - the people's history - is the surest protection of Canada's future.