Lessons to be learned from a recent national moral panic
A "Story of the Year" that turned out to be false
This post explores a recent instance of what some characterize as mass hysteria surrounding unverified claims. It sheds light on various aspects of human psychology.
Reports of mass graves of Indian children
Canada once operated Residential Schools for Indians (indigenous or native Canadians), a joint initiative of the Canadian government and Christian churches. These institutions forcibly separated young Indians from their families, aiming to educate and assimilate them into white Canadian culture. The schools were notorious for their abusive and traumatizing conditions—a fact undisputed by everyone in this story.
In the spring of 2021, a series of ground-penetrating radar surveys conducted near the locations of former Indian Residential Schools revealed underground anomalies. The source of these anomalies was undetermined. However, the press and many in the Canadian government swiftly jumped to the conclusion that they were mass graves of Indian children.
Major media outlets such as the Toronto Star, New York Times, the Guardian, CNN, and BBC enthusiastically reported the alleged mass graves of Indian children as established facts. According to these articles, the first grave surveyed contained over 200 bodies, "including children as young as three.” Some speculations even suggested that the final body count might reach 10,000 to 15,000.
Nationwide protests erupted, leading to the vandalism or destruction of over 60 Catholic churches and the toppling of statues. Premier Justin Trudeau ordered the nation's flags to be flown at half-mast for an unprecedented five months. Additionally, he committed $40 billion to resolve issues related to those connected with the victims. The Canadian Press Association designated the claims of mass graves as "The 2021 Story of the Year."
Those who expressed skepticism were attacked
Despite the absence of proof supporting the notion of mass burial grounds, the press and government treated the claims as irrefutable. Any attempt to question or seek additional evidence became a taboo.
Numerous academics, experts, and journalists who questioned the conclusions and asked for more proof faced severe backlash. They were labeled as racists and genocide deniers, with comparisons drawn to Holocaust deniers.
University of Montreal history professor Jacques Rouillard, who published a lengthy scientific analysis showing the lack of proof of bodies, was equated to a Holocaust denier. Professor Frances Widdowson from Royal Mount University in Calgary lost her professorship for questioning the narrative. Canadian newspaper journalist Terry Glavin was branded a genocide denier and racist for covering the issues. James McCrae, a former attorney general for Manitoba, resigned under pressure from a government panel following his expression of skepticism about certain claims.
A Member of Parliament proposed criminalizing the questioning of the claims, characterizing it as "hate speech" and "violence."
The entire story fell apart
The crux of the matter? The entire narrative unraveled. Today, over two years later, not a single body has been discovered. One ground-penetrating radar survey took place at a former apple orchard, and an archaeologist said that the anomalies could be attributed to tree roots. Another site turned out to be an old septic tank. Some alleged "mass graves" were identified as pre-existing cemeteries, a fact well-known to the Indian community.
Journalist Bari Weiss labeled the original mass graves claim a "hoax," and another reporter deemed it "the biggest fake news in Canada."
Tom Flanagan, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Calgary, characterized the original claims and reactions as a "moral panic" and “mass hysteria.” He said, “People believe things that are not true or improbable and they continue to believe it even when no evidence turns up.”
Numerous Indian leaders had pushed for caution from the start
It was predominantly the white press and government that fueled the sensation, reporting unverified assertions as if they were established facts.
Many Indian leaders exercised caution from the start, emphasizing the need for further study and evidence. Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Rosanne Casimir early on emphasized, "This is not a mass grave," while Cowessess elder Lloyd Lerat remarked, "(T)he story essentially created itself from there, as is often the case."
Lessons to be learned
The episode isn’t about how exceptional but how typical is this story. Large amounts of the press and public jumping to conclusions with limited information is common and will happen again and again. It’s a matter of human psychology.
Be conscious that initial reporting can contain errors or even be false. As more evidence comes in, stories change.
False or dubious stories, even if initially aligned with a cause, can ultimately undermine the credibility of that cause. These episodes also chip away at public trust in the press and government.
The episode is a reminder of the pervasive nature of confirmation bias. Always be skeptical of stories and claims that confirm your biases and beliefs.
Critical inquiry is essential for seeking the truth. Questioning of claims and asking for more information should be welcomed not attacked.
A too common tactic of ideologues is to paint skeptics merely as wrong but as morally contemptible and corrupt (“racists,” “genocide deniers,” etc). People are publicly shamed not merely to punish the individual but to instill fear and keep quiet those watching.
If your belief requires the active suppression of facts and the punishment of fact-finders, there is something fundamentally wrong with your belief. You are acting no better than a religious dogmatist.
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References
No human remains found 2 years after claims of 'mass graves' in Canada (NY Post)
Terry Glavin's critics are shredding their own credibility | National Post
Residential schools tragedy lost in the 'mass grave' false narrative | Vancouver Sun
This situation is very similar to the "Satanic kindergarten" panic of the 1990s. Supposedly there were tunnels under pre-schools, where 3 YO children were held and tortured.
The owners of the McMartin Preschool did not go to jail, but lost their livelihoods and the money spent on defense. The testimony of small children, coached by psychologists, was used to convict them. Years later, many of the children revealed that they had lied in testimony.