1. Lesson McNamara’s Example Historical Example Contemporary Example
Empathize with your enemy
Missile Crisis – US had to consider the perspective of the Soviet Union
After WWI, Germany turned to Hitler to save them, due to the “Big Five’s” lack of investment and consideration of their country’s struggles.
Cuba and the US with the existing trade embargo are still refusing to see each other's perspective.
Rationality will not save us
In nuclear war, it was luck that saved them, not rationality.
Cold War- 2 superpowers irrationally decided to compete with an arms race.
There are terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda that refuse to be rational about their pursuits and take innocent lives
There’s something beyond one’s self
Young Canadian men dedicating themselves to war and having to be motivated to defend their country in order to eliminate aborted missions.
The genocide in Rwanda made the world come to realize the value of a human life and how easily it can be taken away.
The devastating Earthquake in Haiti diverted Canada as well as many other countries’ attention to helping Haiti instead of being self-interested.
Maximize efficiency
Improvement made to the B29 aircraft.
The introduction of the assembly line in vehicles, for example, increased the efficiency of production.
More efficient technologies such as the SMARTcar and high efficiency laundry machines and detergents.
Proportionality should be a guideline in war
Consider the percentage of cities destroyed and damage done to the target.
Canada didn’t participate with all allies in WW2, simply because of the consequences of eliminating so many more people and cities as a % value.
Canada considered the number of soldiers and lives it would be sacrificing if we participated in the Iraq war, and therefore we didn’t.
Get the data
The murder and investigation of JFK’s murder.
During the time of the telegraph, messages sent were never guaranteed or completely accurate. Real data and numbers through face to face or written form was the best way to communicate and receive date.
George Bush made the assumption that there were WMD’s in Iraq and invaded. These “weapons” have yet to be found
Belief and seeing are both often wrong
Confusion during torpedo attacks during the war.
German people turned to Hitler because they wanted a savior, so that’s how they saw and believed him.
Israel and Palestine are still in severe conflict, both with the belief that one is more “holy” and correct about God.
Be prepared to reexamine your reasoning
Intense chemicals used during the war which wiped out trees and severely wounded people
The Nuclear bomb on Hiroshima– afterwards the thought became “was this really necessary?”
Now that Canada has completely ditched the Kyoto Protocol and decided it wasn’t worth continuing, we now don’t have an environmental program.
In order to do good you may have to engage in evil
Protesters mob of free will. In order to have peace must there first be war?
When the War Measures Act was enabled after the first and second world wars and the Japanese were deported, this was evil, but at the time was good for Canadian security.
Brian Mulroney introduced GST, which was evil. But with those taxes we are provided with GOOD things like health care, infrastructure, and education
Never say never
Responsibility of participation in Vietnam war, even without the presence of the president
No one thought humans would ever be able to fly, when flight became a common form of transportation of people and goods.
Who’da thought we would ever have seen a black president.
You can’t change human nature
We all make mistakes, and should never cease to explore.
People will live their lives based on the pursuit of their happiness.
Jean Chretien and the Liberal Sponsorship Scandal – People aren’t accountable 100% of the time.