Ethnocentrism Alive and Well in Quebec

Just as we said good riddance good-bye to Pierre Falardeau, a nasty and cruel racist, a new breed of immigrant and anglo bashers is rising to take up the mantle of ethnocentrism.

A good example of these type 'intellectual' haters is blogger Louis Prefontaine, who's pseudo intellectual bashing of all things not francophone is gathering quite an audience.

His latest rant concerns the bone fides of Anglophones and ethnics and their right to be considered "Quebecois" Les anglophones sont-ils Québécois?

According to Mr. Prefontaine, Anglos can never be considered part of the Quebec 'tribe' because their first language is English and that they share a point of view that is different from the francophone majority.

It is this type of ethnocentrism that has been a hallmark of the ultra-nationalist Quebec movement, from Lionel Groulx, to Pierre Faladeau to the latest crop of French, white Catholics, who demand that Anglos and ethnics mimic their views and behaviour.

As a statuesque Black African immigrant woman told the Bouchard-Taylor Inquiry (in perfect French;)
"I guess I have to eat poutine!" I guess I have to eat maple syrup!"

That's what being a Quebecker is to these racists. Everyone can be a Quebecker, as long as they act like a francophone, speak like a francophone, think like a francophone and vote like a Francophone.

This recurring theme is so racist that it demands denunciation.

The discussion of who is a Quebecker is uncomfortably reminiscent of the Nazis discussion of who is a Jew and begs the question -to what end?

What exactly is Mr. Prefontaine's point.

If Anglos and immigrants are not Quebeckers, what is the inference. Should they be denied civil rights? Should they wear a scarlet letter? Should they be asked to leave or be shown the door? Should their votes be counted or discounted? WHAT EXACTLY IS THE POINT?

Every day ethnocentrics rain down scorn and invective on Anglos and ethnics. They use the word 'meprise' (contempt) to describe our behaviour, all the while using the foulest of references and terms to describe Anglophones, Ethnics and our language.

They tell us that our existence threatens their Quebec culture, French language and Christian heritage. The hate is real.

One of the more twisted aspect to this ethnocentrism is the idea that Anglos and Ethnics owe Francophones 'respect'.

It is a recurring theme. RESPECT RESPECT RESPECT.

If you are born to an English or Ethnic family in Quebec, you are automatically assumed to "owe respect" to Francophones by virtue of their majority status, while Francophones, of course, owe no such respect to minorities.
According to these militants, everyone is born as an equal, but some more equal than others, the concept of 'Original Sin' perversely re-defined.

The idea is as ludicrous as right-handers demanding that minority left-handers give them 'respect', yet the concept is a hallmark of the collective mindset of nationalists and goes largely unchallenged.

Here's a typical comment that I pulled from an article denouncing the perfectly legal English only election signs erected by an Aylmer candidate. It is sadly typical.

"Every time that they can 'legally' post a sign in total disrespect for the French language, they will."
("Chaque fois qu'ils peuvent « légalement » s'afficher en total manque de respect pour la langue de la majorité, il vont le faire.")

And so it seems that availing oneself of legal rights is contemptible, if you are English, that is.

When René Levesque first imposed Bill 101 on Quebeckers, he did so with a profound sense of sadness, understanding full well that while he believed the law to be necessary, it represented a setback in terms of personal freedom.

Bill 101 was the thin edge of the wedge that led us to the present situation where militants view the limitation of rights not only as no big deal, but righteous.

It reminds of a policy enacted by the town where I live in and the consequences of giving people power over others.

The city was disturbed by the large houses that were being erected in place of small homes that were being razed. Because some citizens felt that their smaller homes were being overshadowed, a consultation process was initiated to allow neighbours to have input on proposed projects.
It wasn't long before neighbours were no longer commenting on the outside dimensions of the planned homes.
At one meeting a woman demanded to know what colour carpeting was being contemplated. Aargh!!

Quebec versus Canada - Some Statistics

Here is a collection of statistics taken from various sources comparing Quebec to the Rest of Canada (ROC).

Family Income
Quebec = $53K
ROC = $65K

Cell Phone Penetration
Homes with at least one wireless phone-
Quebec = 65%
ROC = 77%

Babies born out of wedlock
Quebec - 62%
ROC - 30%

Quebec has the second highest rate in the world (Iceland=66%). The rest of Canada is at the low end of the scale with Germany, Italy and Ireland. Japan is in a class of it's own with just 2% of babies born out of wedlock. Link

Household net worth
Quebec families are worth aproximately 45% of British Columbians.


Suicide Rate (per 100,000 people)
Quebec = 27
ROC = 17

Number of Christians attending weekly church services
Quebec = 6%
ROC = 20%

Murders rate per 1,000,000 people
Quebec =12
ROC = 20

People who smoke (over the age of 15)
Quebec =25%
ROC = 20%

Average price of a home
Quebec =$232,00
ROC =$360,000

Workers who take no vacation days
Quebec =4%
ROC =11%

Workers who admit to falsely calling in sick
Quebec =47%
ROC =23%

Video Friday- INFOMAN Checks out the State of French in Downtown Montreal

Awhile back INFOMAN, a Quebec humorist who has a TV show on radio Canada set out to humiliate LE JOURNAL DE MONTREAL for a sensationalist story that claimed that downtown Montreal was on the verge of becoming Anglicized.
I added subtitles, so enjoy.
Have a good weekend.

What Makes Quebec Ultra-Extremists Tick?

It was quite unsettling to see a swastika superimposed on the Canadian flag at the demonstration against the Supreme Court's ruling on Bill 104. It happened when a small group of Quebec language ultra-extremists vented their rage in front of the Old Montreal office of Brent Tyler, who successfully challenged the law on behalf of clients.

While there is nothing wrong with exercising one's democratic right to protest, I am amazed at the mindset of these extremists who harbour so much hate.

For the vast majority of Quebeckers, both for and against sovereignty, hate doesn't really enter into the equation. Anglos who remain in Quebec have made peace with the fact that almost half of Francophones would prefer independence. That being said, Anglos don't hate Francophones who share that opinion and by and large the vast majority of Francophones don't hate Anglos at all.
In fact most of us count numerous friends on the other side of the equation, it's the way it is in Quebec.
Most of those who voted for sovereignty don't hate Canada, they just feel that culturally Quebec should become independent to protect it's heritage and future as a Francophone society.
Fair enough.
They recognize, however that they enjoy personal and political rights that are the envy of the world, coupled with one of the highest standards of living.

However, there is a small coterie of language extremists who can best be described as unbalanced.

They equate the struggle of Quebec independence as a heroic battle of oppressor and victim. Breathlessly they re-live the Battle of the Plains of Abraham on a daily basis and view their perseverance of 250 years of Anglo domination as a heroic struggle of epic proportion.

They view themselves as embattled Palestinians, victims of a powerful and overwhelming enemy. In fact, at most demonstrations, they fly the Palestinian flag (sometimes even the Hezbollah flag.)

Here's a collection of hate, culled from various web sites.

These people live in a dangerous fantasy world. Not only do they hate Anglos, but also those Francophones  who don't agree with them.

They rant and rave, using words that confound the imagination;

COLONIZATION
HUMILIATION
CULTURAL GENOCIDE
OPPRESSION
RESISTANCE
FREEDOM

Perhaps Louis Prefontaine, a next generation Anglo-basher sums up their attitude;

"Anglophones and Francophones do not share historical equality. The French carry the weight of 250 years of domination and decline, while Anglophones in Quebec, behave like a small Rhodesian minority, imposing their values and language."

Second Class Citizenship For Quebec Francophones

This last month language militants have kicked into high gear their efforts to coerce citizens, by hook or by crook, into adopting the French language.
The Bill 104 decision by the Supreme Court has sparked a new outbreak of language militancy with extremists demanding that CEGEP (junior college) be subject to Bill 101, the law that forces Quebec residents to attend French only schools, (unless one of their parents were educated in English in Canada.)
As it stands now, the law applies to public primary and public secondary education only. Militants are furious that some citizens are using the Bill 104 loophole to gain English school access for their children. As well, the fact that some high school graduates on the French side of the educational system, in an effort to expand their personal horizons, are opting for an English college experience, has militants seeing red. TRAITORS!!!

A second demand, one being tossed around at a Parti Quebecois policy forum, is that preschoolers be subject to the same law, in relation to daycare.
Yup.... two, three and four year olds would not be allowed to attend an "English" daycare, if their parents didn't qualify. This Kafkaesque idea would be hilarious, if not so sad.

So it seems that language militants want to limit free choice from birth right up until college graduation.

What is the effect of all this?

It transforms Quebec Francophones into second class citizens.

Think about it. The only people with free choice are the Anglophones, who can go to any school that they please. It's a bit perverse!

At any rate, restricting access to English CEGEPS won't change anything. By the time students reach college, they are adults and if they are determined to get an English education, they will either get one by going out of the province or by going to a private school. Quebec already registers the highest percentage of students in private schools in all of North America.

Before I continue, let me re-iterate that the idea that French is in trouble in Quebec is ludicrous. It's the classic 'Big Lie" told by nationalist sovereignists to scare up political support for independence.
They trot out all sorts of selective and twisted statistics (many of which are just plain racist) to 'prove' that the language is losing ground, but almost all don't stand up to scrutiny.
In raw numbers, Quebec has never had as many French speakers as exists today. The Anglophone population has plummeted to about 8.5% from a historical high of 25%. Francophones have taken over all the reigns of power, both in business and government. The only French language crisis that exists is in the creatively tortured minds of extremists.

Even if all the proposed restrictive measures are put into place, it won't be enough to stamp out English, a language which is as attractive and addictive as crack cocaine. There will always be a demand, despite the best efforts of enforcers.

So what will the militants do then? What will they do when restrictive measures in CEGEP and daycares fails to eliminate English in Quebec?

No doubt they'll propose even more restrictive measures, it's a logical next step. Demands will be made for even more restrictive language laws which will have the effect to rob citizens freedom of choice from cradle to grave.

What would these restrictions look like? Here's glimpse into the future;

• Francophones would be banned from using English hospitals.
• Francophones would be fined for speaking to Anglophone sales clerks in English.
• Francophones would be banned from buying English books, software or video games. Purchase of these items would be restricted to Anglophones only.
  
• Non-French Internet sites will be blocked to Francophone Quebeckers. A 'poutine' firewall will be maintained by the OQLF
• English words that have become part of popular French lexicon will be purged from the dictionary. Yessir!!
  
• The Montreal Canadiens and Allouettes will be forced to cease bi-lingual public address announcements.
  
• Cable and satellite providers would be forced to monitor household viewing habits. Francophone homes would be restricted to a certain amount of viewing time of English programming.
• Car manufacturers would be forced to eliminate English only dashboards.
• Special theaters for Anglophone audiences would be set up. Everyone else would be forced to watch the dubbed French versions.
  
• Francophones would be barred from subscribing to English magazines.
• Restaurants would be required to furnish optional English menus on demand only and then only to Anglophones.
  
• Intermarriage between Francophones and non-Francophones would be allowed only if the couple agreed to speak French in the home and to educate the kids in French as well.
• A 'Naming Commission' would be created to find new appellations for English street names, which would be eliminated all together. As a side line, the commission would find alternatives to politically incorrectly named consumer items including 'English muffins', 'English breakfast tea' and English saddles. Billiard players would be advised that henceforth they'd have to apply 'Francais' to their pool shots.
• Priests in Francophone churches would be barred from offering confessions in English.
• Street beggars would be required to communicate with clients in French only.
• Hawkers at sporting events would no longer have the right to announce their wares bilingually. The 'BIERE FROID/ COLD BEER' chant would be relegated to the scrap heap of history.
• All baby names for Francophone children would have to reflect Francophone roots. No more "Tiffanie Poulins" This rule would apply to nicknames and pets, as well. Toy manufacturers would have to provide Quebecois names for their dolls and toys.

You may ask how would all these regulations be enforced. How would Francophones be distinguished from Anglophones in public?
Simple!
Anglophones could wear a scarlet letter on their clothes, setting them apart as a specially privileged class!

For Francophones, it'll be the back of the bus in terms of personal freedom and individual rights. Anglos to the front!

All this in a province where Francophones are the majority and where they make the rules.

Amazing!