Critical Thinking means thinking against criterion (it doesn’t mean being rude or condescending.) Critical Thinking often begins with good questions… questions that inquire. Teachers know it… so do their students.
For many reasons I’ve been pretty tuned into the story of the death of Robert Dziekanski. Uncharacteristically, I even watched the bystander video on CBC.
I cannot say how much I appreciated the critical questions from CBC’s As It Happens Crew. As usually, they’ve wowed me. Their questions are very broad… and are in fact questions we as citizens could and should be asking YET the answers aren’t being given.
I hope to keep this as a living entry and add answers as they’re found. These questions are from Last Night’s episode and are taken directly (aplologies for the lifting… I very much appreciate your hard work) Since this aired, Stockwell Day has announced there will be two deadlines related to inquiries into the matter.
In the words of AIH:
“She [the CBSA representative] asked us to send her our questions, and she committed to do her best to get us the answers. Most of our questions are about procedures and protocols, and many of them came from you. We sent them on Friday, and we have no replies. That would be zero. Nada.”
WHY NOT????!!!
Here’s the list:
-How many cameras are there in the luggage carousel area of Vancouver International Airport? -Do they encompass the entire area or are there hidden spots?
-How closely, and how often, are those closed-circuit TV monitors watched?
-How is it that no one noticed Mr. Dziekanski in that area during the many hours he was waiting?
We also have questions about language services at the airport:
-Is it possible for someone to clear Canada Customs without speaking?
-How do customs officials accommodate passengers who do not speak English?
-If requested by airport personnel, will customs officials who speak other languages help with interpretation?
-Did anyone at the Vancouver Airport’s customs area speak Polish with Mr. Dziekanski?
We also have questions about help for passengers at the airport, because Mr. Dziekanski’s mother was directed to the Border Service Agency’s “storefront operation” for further assistance:
-What is the purpose of the CBSA’s storefront operation?
-Is it staffed around the clock, every day?
-What kind of assitance can the public expect to receive at this desk?
-If there is a missing passenger, can staff confirm whether the person has cleared customs?
-How do they do this?
-How else might friends or family of missing travellers discover whether they have arrived in the country?
Finally, this question: the Border Services information desk told Mr. Dziekanski’s mother they didn’t have any record of him in the customs area.
-Why is that?
“Stockwell Day held a news conference today, and said he requested reports from Border Services and from the RCMP four days after Mr. Dziekanski’s death. And while he waits, he has nothing to say about any of the questions we’re asking. Generic or not.”
The real question…
why not??
I hope that from this terrible tragedy good questions, critical thinking questions, continue to get asked.
I guess it’s up to the government to somehow work on the answers. What a terrible image for Canada to send to the world… especially for a country that considers itself a natural extension of efforts towards peace.