Buzz Lightyear -Parlez-vous Francais?

Désolé, je ne parle pas français

Yesterday, Mitch in the comments section noted that toys that have English components (voice) or that do not have French equivalents are not being sold in Quebec. I knew of this, but because I haven't had any kids of toy age for many years, wasn't aware that the interdiction also applied to online sales.

"Try ordering something, say, 'LeapFrog's Leapster' from Toy's R Us website. Apparently it's not just shipping that's banned, they won't carry them in stores either."

So I tried a variety of products including "Toy Story Doodler' over at amazon.com, who apparently also enforces the embargo.

"We're Sorry. Due to shipping restrictions, the following item(s) cannot be shipped to the shipping address you have selected. Toy Story - Kid Tough Doodler - English Edition"

While I can make some allowances for not allowing products to be sold in Quebec stores without a French equivalent, why online sales are also banned makes no sense at all. It is arbitrarily punitive and smacks of sour grapes.

Clever me, I decided to try to buy the product from amazon.com. in the USA.
alas....ALSO SUBJECT TO AN EMBARGO!!!!!


I tried a few other US retailers and was pleased to find that Fischer Price itself would ship the product to Quebec. It seems we Anglos can run the blockade if we are creative.

Perhaps we should dig a smuggling tunnel under the border like the Palestinians do. What do you think?

The whole idea of disallowing English products into the Province is based on jealousy.
"If we can't get it in French, you can't get it in English, even if you are English!"

The same embargo applies to films, videos and soon video games. For a people who want to promote their vaunted French culture, it seems that they can't get enough of English. I don't really understand how a French version of Hannah Montana promotes French culture, other than to reduce it to a pale imitation of what's cool in English.

Why doesn't this English prohibition apply to books as well?
Probably because banning books is a verboten and is the hallmark of an intolerable government. It would lead to international humiliation. Besides who really reads!!

As one of my employees once asked me.
"Have you seen this new French TV show called "LE BANQUIER?"
"Dunno" I answered, "What's it about?

"Well, there's a bunch of super hot models on a stage who hold briefcases that when opened, reveal a dollar amount the contestant can win..."

Arrrgggghhhh............

Thank you to Mitch for the inspiration for this post!