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Two approaches to
a shared problem
Canada and Ireland share
one common problem.
Drunk drivers. There
are just too many of
them. They cause road
accidents. Worse, they
cause injuries. Worse
still, many of those
they injure are disabled
or incapacitated for
life. Worst of all,
they kill people.
Sometimes they kill
themselves. Often they
kill other people.
The hurt they cause
to their own loved ones
and, even sadder, the
hurt they cause to the
loved ones of the people
they kill, cannot be
measured by mere statistics.
Hurt endures, in the
heart, in the memory.
Time may deaden it;
each anniversary recalls
it.
In Canada, MADD, Mothers
Against Drunk Driving, is
a volunteer organization
dedicated to eradicating
the problem. Its mission
is summed up in its Statement
of Beliefs:
That our primary
reason for existence
is to eliminate
the killing and
maiming caused by
impaired driving.
Equally vital to
MADD Canada's existence
is supporting victims
of this violent
crime.
That MADD Canada
is a grassroots
organization that
draws its strength,
energy, and leadership
from its volunteers.
That active participation
in MADD Canada chapter
activities is productive
for the community
and encourages healing
for many victims
of impaired driving.
An aggressive legislative
and public policy
advocacy program
is a must to achieve
MADD Canada's mission.
That a National
Victims' Bill of
Rights must be created
in order to ensure
fair and respectful
treatment of all
victims of crime.
That a balanced
program of public
awareness, education,
legislation, and
aggressive enforcement
by police, crown
attorneys, and the
courts is essential
to eliminating impaired
driving.
That while an individual's
decision to consume
alcohol is a private
matter, driving
after consuming
alcohol is a public
matter.
That impaired drivers
and others who directly
contribute to the
crime of impaired
driving must be
held accountable
for their behaviour.
That proactive rehabilitation
of impaired drivers
is essential.
That driving is
a privilege, not
a right.
That impaired driving
crashes are not
accidents.
Turning to the problem
in Ireland, there has
been the re-emergence
of a national campaign
against drunkenness
that was one of the
greatest social advances
made in any country
in the past 150 years,
this time targeting
drunk drivers.
The total abstinence
campaign launched by
Fr. Theobold Matthew
in the 19th century
is being revitalized
to meet the needs of
a twenty-first century
society.
At a time when alcohol
was the resort of multitudes
of the downtrodden,
and a vice of the landed
gentry, one Capuchin
priest set out on a
temperance mission that
eventually succeeded
in persuading almost
half the population
to take a pledge to
abstain totally from
consuming alcohol. His
campaign eventually
spread to the England,
Scotland, and the United
States. In Ireland three
to four million people
took the pledge.
There were no automobiles
then.
A new abstinence pledge
campaign has been launched
by Irish Capuchins directly
appealing to drivers.
It is simple.
It asks supporters to
try to persuade as many
people as possible to
sign up to a new pledge
which reads:
"Recognising
the suffering of
people whose lives
have been shattered
by road accidents,
I hereby make a
solemn commitment
to act responsibly
on the roads. I
will never drink
and drive, so help
me God!"
Signatories are asked
to return their forms
to Fr. Leonard Coughlan,
Capuchin Friary, Dublin
7.
Mothers against Drunk
Driving may be accessed
at http://www.madd.ca/.
A shared problem. Two
approaches. May they
both succeed.
--30--
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