Anglo Theater Director Enrages French Language Nationalists

A nasty story appeared in the news last week concerning Theatre St. Catherine in Montreal.
The theater sent out a mass email promoting several English language theater presentations and as you can guess, many people took exception that the email was in English only.

Usually the offending party would cave, falling over themselves to correct the language slight, but that's not what happened this time. Fed up with so many complaints, some very nasty, Eric Amber, the theater director told one complainant to bugger off - in no uncertain terms.
Here's the exchange, starting with the original email.

Just For Laughs / ZooFest wrote:

             Just For Laughs / ZooFest Presents:

             *_5 Shows for $25. @ Theatre Ste-Catherine!_*

             *The Improvised Shakespeare Company* - July 16 to 25 @ 8:30pm
             (No show July 23)

             Based on one audience suggestion, The Improvised Shakespeare
             Co. creates a fully improvised play in the Elizabethan style,
             language and themes of William Shakespeare.


             "Staggeringly Brilliant" - Time Out (Chicago)
             “Mind-blowing… one of the funniest, most amazing things I’ve
             ever seen.” -The Charleston
(The rest of this long post goes on to describe the presentations and is redacted)

             *TICKETS AND INFO available at: (514) 845 2322 or
             www.zoofest.ca 
         
On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 9:35 AM, Les Sages Fous
      
      >> wrote:
         Bonjour,
         Merci de nous envoyer vos messages en français ou de nous retirer
         de votre liste d'envois.

         Les Sages Fous

 Theatre Ste Catherine wrote:

The shows listed were in english and therefore so is the message.
You obviously can't read in english because you are an
uneducated bigot.

estce que vous comprenez l'expression anglophone: Go Fuck Yourself?


Hello,

  Your answer is is unacceptable.

  We asked to receive your messages in french or simply to take us off
  your mailing list.

  Your response is an incredibly inappropriate, ugly and aggressive
  message.
  We have filed a complaint. We have sent your message to all of the
  main newspapers and the artistic community of Quebec. Your boss will
  be informed as well before the day is out.

  It seems that it is you the bigot. We, at Les Sages Fous all speak
  at least three languages, have travelled the world and are obviously
  more educated and open minded than you. http://www.sagesfous.com/

  I myself am one of the few anglophones who proudly speaks french in
  a continent that insists on being monolingual. I heard your voice on
  the phone. Your french is not too good for someone that calls people
  uneducated bigots for not being able to read english.

  Are you having fun playing the persecuted anglophone? Or are you
  just a Speak White brute?

  Ever thought of moving to Georgia? Back woods Texas? They like
  people like you down there.

  Be careful. You are obviously to stupid to know the difference
  between right and wrong.

  South Miller

just delete the message and move on with your life.
ps
fuck you

After this exchange of emails, it was inevitable that the incident would escalate. It was reported in the press and the incident raised a firestorm of negative reaction amongst French language militants. Mr. Amber received some of hate mail which included personal threats. At first he declined to publish these messages claiming that he didn't want to add to the controversy, but relented and did pass on some very disturbing messages to the Journal de Montreal.
One included a death threat.

Aussi longtemps que nous aurons des individus de votre espèce chez nous, je vous haïrai, les anglophones de Montréal», poursuit-il. Franchement, je ne sais pas pourquoi nous attendons à vous botter le cul... et ne parlez surtout pas de racisme, vous qui n'êtes même pas capable de respecter la culture française, chez nous, au Québec.... Qu'attendez-vous donc pour aller brailler avec vos amis ontariens? Qu'on vous tire dessus?»

"As long as we have individuals like you here, I will hate you, the anglophones of Montreal. Frankly, I don't know why we are waiting to kick your ass... and don't talk about racism, you who are incapable of respecting French culture, here in Quebec. What are you waiting for to go cry with your friends in Ontario. That we shoot at you?"

The radical group RRQ has called for a protest demonstration in front of the theater doors.
My, my!

In disgust Mr. Amber decided he's had enough and announced his intention to close his theater later this year.

The slew of posts and articles in the French milieu all had the recurring theme of righteous indignation and were universally quick to make the point that Mr. Amber was a radical francophobe who needed to show respect to the francophone majority.

My question is "Why?" Why on Earth do anglophones 'owe' Francophones respect?

This 'respect' idea permeates throughout nationalist circles, the idea that the anglophone community owes the francophone majority respect if for no other reason than the fact that francophones represent the majority.

Do those making this assertion accept that by logical extension, francophones 'owe' respect to the anglophone majority of Canada?
Ha! I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone among them that would agree.

Respect, they should be reminded, is something to be earned, not demanded.

There's an appropriate French saying- "Deux poids, deux measures" which aptly describes how different standards are applied, depending on who is being measured.

I salute Mr. Amber for his spunk, because he had the guts to challenge the basic tenet of the language issue, the one that says discrimination against English is not only fine, but honourable and that anglophones are required to show deference to the French majority.

Josée Legault makes an interesting point in an article 'Excuse my French'

Cette attitude où parler français à ses concitoyens, dans les commerces, en art, dans les affaires, lorsque le «produit» vendu ou présenté est de langue anglaise, redevient lentement superflu.

This attitude, where to speak French to co-citizens in stores, the arts, business, when the product is in English, is slowly becoming superfluous.

According to Ms. Legault, when English people communicate amonsgt themselves in public, they must include French, in order to show respect.

So for example, an English school which sends a messages home to parents should be required to include a French version. Bah!!!

Back to the email exchange.

Don't be fooled by the polite tenor of the complaint made by the "les Sages Fou'. As Mr. Amber pointed out, they could have just deleted the email and added the sender to the spam list.
But they chose to respond by sending a very political message, one that reminds anglophones of their place, one that Mr. Amber obviously disagreed with.

In a later interview, Mr Amber was reminded that his website was illegal because it was an English only affair. Mr Amber was unflappable and remarked that homosexuality was illegal once too.

Great fun!!

Weekly Anglo Quebec News July 11-17 '09

Want to Keep up with Quebec News in just 5 minutes?
Perfect for Ex-pats or those in a rush!
Every Saturday read a short, subjective weekly review of Quebec news with a Anglophone perspective.

A giant 'Madoff' type fraud has rocked the Anglo community in the West Island of Montreal. Earl Jones, an unlicensed investment advisor ripped off over $50 million before fleeing. Nobody, including his family has seen hide nor hair of him and police in Canada, USA and Europe are actively looking for him. The victims include elderly widows and pensioners as well as his own friends and family, who weren't spared. Some of the victims lost everything and will be obliged to sell their homes. In some cases people are so destitute that they have turned to Sun Youth to help them with food.

A woman was killed when a slab of concrete fell off a Montreal building and crashed through a glass atrium where a couple was celebrating her birthday in a Sushi restaurant on Peel St. in Montreal. The women's dining partner was her husband who sustained injuries to his hand and who is reported to have lost some fingers. The busy downtown street remains closed while engineers investigate.

Michael Jackson considered moving to Montreal because of a poll that indicated the majority of Quebeckers rejected the child abuse allegations against him. Link

Montreal Comedy Festival is under way. The premiere showcase of comedic talent traditionally takes the stage immediately after the end of the Jazz Festival, which this year was somewhat disappointing due to the the rainy weather, which ruined most of the outdoor shows.
Quebec's summer season is highlighted by countless annual of festivals held across the province. That being said, 84% of Quebeckers admit to attending none of these events.

Quebec City is named 3rd best North American travel destination by Travel & Leisure.

"Lola' loses court case. The wife of a Quebec billionaire has lost her attempt to have her common law marriage recognized and thus claim of $50 million from her husband. The court has placed a publication ban on the couple's identity, but they've been outed by a television reporter and their names are all over the Internet. The wife of Cirque de Soleil founder Guy Laliberte vowed to appeal the loss. The judge held in her judgement that Quebec law does not recognize common law marriages and that those in favour of the concept should take it up with politicians. It's hard to be sympathetic to the plaintiff, she's collecting 50K a month in support, plus, plus, plus....

CRIME & PUNISHEMENT

(Weekly review of interesting crime stories and court room antics)

The inquiry looking into the shooting of Fredy Villanueva will be held this fall after the family of the dead youth pressured the government into paying for a legal team. Meanwhile two of men involved in that incident were arrested again.
The unfortunate shooting set off a cascade of events including multiple riots in Montreal North. The city caved to pressure and called an inquiry. The thugs are enjoying their notoriety and will have their day before an inquiry to heep scorn on the police, while the public conveniently ignores their ongoing criminal gang activities.

Arturo Gatti, Former Montreal boxing great, was murdered while on a second honeymoon in Brazil. His wife was arrested by police for the crime, who claim that she strangled the boxer after he passed out after a drinking binge. Gatti met his wife at a strip club in New York and his friends tried to talk him out of marrying her, claiming she was pyscho.

An 84 year old man living in a seniors residence, was arrested Tuesday after a care-giver was shot at Les Jardins de L'Aubade residence in Montreal's Saint-Léonard district. The shooter was wheel-chair bound will be given psychiatric evaluation. The victim remains in hospital in stable condition after being shot in the thorax.

A gang of hot looking thieves use their good good looks to distract people while cloning their debit cards. LINK

Basil Parasiris is out of jail. He's out on parole after serving 5 months of the 20-month sentence for storing firearms illegally in his home. He had plead guilty to weapons charges, including using an unlicensed gun, the revolver used in the killing of a Laval police officer during a botched police raid. Parasiris successfully argued that he thought the raid was a home invasion. He was found not guilty last June 2008.

Bilingualism- the New Dirty Word

There was a time when being able to master the other official language was an exalted and empowering accomplishment, one that society recognized as an important personal achievement.

Quebec Anglophone parents continue to enroll their kids in French immersion classes and a substantial number of Francophone parents, whose children are denied English lessons until late in grammar school, take it upon themselves to insure that their children are given the advantage of English by switching to private schools and by sending their kids to special English language summer camps.

It's sad to see that some nationalists are now attacking bilingualism, labeling it as a dangerous first step on the slippery slope to assimilation.

The debate came to a head last month when the English media attacked mayoral candidate Louise Harel for not being bilingual, which resulted in a fierce counter-attack by nationalists who argued that her lack of English in no way diminished her attractiveness as a candidate.

Alas, they could have saved their breath, the English media was just having a bit of sport with Madame Harel, in the same vein as do the picadors, who spear the bull with lances in an effort to weaken the beast, ahead of the main event with the matador.

To Quebec anglophones and the media that speaks for them, it doesn't matter if Louis Harel is bilingual or speaks six languages, for that matter, her sovereignist views and extreme politics make her an enemy regardless of her language skills.

The fierce defense put on by her defenders was completely unnecessary, but does highlight the dangerous and dysfunctional idea being put forward by some nationalists, that learning English is unnecessary and that being unilingual is no barrier to success for Quebec Francophones.

Pierre Dubuc, the editor of Lautre'journal is the champion of this concept.

"bilingualism, the Trojan Horse of anglicisation." Pierre Dubuc, L’aut’journal.

Already, in Canada there are people whose mother tongue is French who have come to consider that English and French make up equal parts of their identity. Their language behavior, in the confines of their home is a strong illustration that this type of bilingualism is nothing but a step towards anglicisation. Pierre Debuc, writing in Le Devoir

Let's hope this idea doesn't gain too much traction. It's hard to understand how anyone can be against speaking another language.

Unfortunately, some in the francophone community, believe that learning English, especially at an early age, is dangerous because it takes time away from mastering French properly. This doctrine still permeates the French education system and remains the reason why there is a prohibition to teach English until the latter years of primary school.

Now a study out of Italy puts paid to that myth. Children who take up two languages at an early age do just fine and don't get confused or mixed up.

The current mantra of choice within nationalist circles, is that French is being systematically eroded, especially in Montreal and that the bilingualism is a threat to the French language.

Hogwash.

It is dangerous nonsense that can only hurt those upon which this stupid doctrine is being foisted.

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Michelle Obama Needs First Lady Lessons

What do you call a unelected women who is elevated to the highest protocol position in the land, given a free castle and a country estate to live in, a large staff to attend to her needs and a motor pool to shuffle her around the country and the world, while she fulfills her role as the ultimate official, non-partisan representative of the state?

In Canada and Britain we call her the 'Queen'.
In the United States, they call her the 'First Lady'.

The only difference between the two, is that the First Lady reigns for up to eight years, while the Queen has the job for life and that puts the First Lady at a distinct disadvantage.

The Queen has an upbringing of privilege and position, one that prepares her for the onerous task of being the monarch. Unfortunately, this is not the case with most First Ladies (particularly Michelle Obama) who must get up to speed on the job rather quickly. It's not surprising that they make a few gaffes at the beginning.

Most Americans blanch at the idea of having a hereditary monarch as head of state and are quick to remind we colonials that the archaic practice of venerating and honouring a person of no particular achievement, someone who accedes to the position because of circumstance, not accomplishment, is against everything they stand for.

That being said, ever since Jackie Kennedy captured the hearts of the American public (whether they voted for her husband or not) and elevated the position of the First Lady to an exalted status, America has been smitten with the Queen bug, in practice, if not in name.

The First Lady has assumed the very same role as the Queen of England and both assume similar duties. Among other things, they....

• Represent the country internationally by hosting or attending official state functions including conferences, balls and state visits.
  
• Award various civilian medals and honours.
• Act as the guest of honor at various entertainment events and national celebrations.
  
• Serve as a morale booster by visiting areas of the country struck by natural disaster and visit and encourage non-profit organizations and their volunteers.
  
• Host receptions to honour various charities or public service organizations.
• Visit military installations, christen navy ships, award medals and service ribbons, attend military commencement ceremonies and visit with injured military personnel.
• Give speeches and interviews discussing and supporting family, charity and other non-controversial subjects.
• Uphold Christian family tradition by example, (attending church, hosting an Easter Egg roll or lighting a Christmas tree) while paying lip service to other religions by attending mosques, synagogues and assorted temples on occasion.
  

There's little doubt that Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and the Commonwealth represents the gold standard in Queenly behavior. She has fulfilled her role gracefully and tirelessly for over half a century and Michelle Obama would do well to emulate her.

Here's some Queenly advice ;

1. Check your brain at the door. Nobody wants a controversial First Lady. Hillary proved the point with her failed health care reform initiative that alienated herself from half of the American public. Remember nobody voted for you, so keep your opinions to yourself.
2. Stop being so familiar in public. Kissing is generally as no-no, it should be reserved for heads of state. Learn to extend a gloved hand in that particular style on monarchs.
   
3. Address people by their full title. Forget first names even in private unless you are very familiar.
   
4. Don't buy clothing off the rack. Whether it's a $6,000 dollar purse, a pair of $500 running shoes or a $10 T-shirt, have your clothes made. Even if it's a $10,000 Hermes bag, it's beneath your station if someone else can buy the very same thing. By making up you own wardrobe you can avoid all controversy, as the press and the public can't comment positively or negatively on the price you paid.
5. Get real fashion advice. The person who suggested that awful inauguration day dress should be fired. Such a disaster should not be repeated. While the mainstream press fawns about your fashion sense, America's fashion experts are grimacing in private, while publicly keeping their mouths shut. By all means use America's best fashion designers, but if you use an up and coming designer, understand that they'll blab about the experience to the press. Develop a style and if it works, stick to it. Experimenting is fun but not always successful. A First lady needs to look perfect all of the time. Try a hat. Nothing says Queen like a snazzy topper.
   
6. Don't try to look or act 'normal', people want their first Lady to lead the lives that the average Joelle only dreams of. No fast food a la Bill Clinton. Don't pose for fashion mags any more, it isn't becoming. If you do, you'll be judged on your looks, not your position and that's something you don't want to do (you're no Halle Berry). By the way, tell your husband that appearing on Jay Leno isn't conducive to the image of the presidency.
7. Treat your daughters as the princess' that they are. Dress them with the same care as you do yourself. Show them off at official functions only. Never let them be filmed doing the things ordinary kids do.
8. Treat the press distantly, it adds to the mystique. Never hold press conferences. Accord interviews rarely and make them formal. On an occasional basis host a televised tour of the White House or Camp David. Who can forget Jackie Kennedy's famous White House tour in 1962, where 3 out 4 Americans watched? Have yourself filmed at least once depicting a typical day. (Stage the whole thing).
   
9. Keep up a hectic schedule of public appearances and travel extensively around the country. It costs a lot to keep up your lifestyle and Americans have a right to expect a quid pro quo.
   
10. Uphold the image of a calm, elegant and in control person, regardless of the circumstances.
    

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Quebec's Investor Nightmare

Quebec must be the most over-regulated jurisdiction in North America. There are inspectors and watchdog agencies for just about any activity you can imagine.
I once witnessed an inspector from the government of Quebec, come into the clothing store where I was working and demand to verify those little white labels which describe the materials used in the lining (Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Law!) that were attached to some ski jackets we were selling.
Should the corner bicycle shop decide to raffle off a $1000 mountain bike, it has to get a permit from the government to insure that contest entrants don't get stiffed.

That being said, when it comes to protecting the nest egg of ordinary investors, it's seems that it's every man and women for themself, as any scam artist and fraudster can open up shop and take in investment money from the public, with virtually no regulation.
The fact that there aren't more frauds is remarkable considering the lack of oversight.

How easy is it to do?
Very.

Just open up a company and rent offices in a swanky and prestigious building, furnish the office attractively and make it look professional.
Hire a couple of employees who don't even have to know that you're a crook.
Advertise in local papers and hire salesmen to push investment products that pay a much higher interest rate than is currently available in legitimate institutions.
Pay the first investors off handsomely by giving them back some of the very same money that they gave you to invest.
The wonderful return serves as bait and as their trust in you grows, so too do their investments. Before long they are boasting to their friends and relatives about the great money manager they employ and the incredible returns they are making. These first investors are you best sales people.
New investors come in based on the recommendation of these trusted friends or family members and the con expands exponentially. Eventually the investor pool dries up or the government comes snooping. It's then time to fly the coop and abscond with all the money that's left, leaving behind a group of financially ruined and humiliated suckers.

Sound too moronic to work? This scam has been successful for as long as there have been investment advisers.
Imagine what a fraudster can do if he's even more sophisticated.

From big frauds to small frauds, Quebec is fertile grounds for scammers.

With the disappearance of Earl Jones last week with anywhere from $30 million to $50 million of the money entrusted to him, Quebec is once again rocked by a big investor fraud.

In 2005 Vincent Lacroix's Norbourg company disappeared $115 million from mostly elderly francophone investors. Lacroix was convicted of security fraud but served only 550 days before being released into a halfway house. By the way, the money has never been located.

In 2007 Triglobal's president Themis Papadopoulos, invested over $86 million of his client's money in an offshore company in the Cayman Island that he had an interest in. The money disappeared and so did Themis.

If you think that the investors who lose money in these scams are all naive rubes, you'd be mistaken. The Zunenshine family of Belcourt real estate fame lost a total of $14 million dollars in the Triglobal scam.

Not all scams are so impressive, but they hurt those who are bilked of their savings just the same.
In 2006 Kevin McKenzie and Brian Thicke of Lachine bilked about twenty neighbours of close to $600,000 in a fraudulent real estate scheme. They were both convicted and Thicke, the mastermind, received two years in jail.
Another recent fraud of note is the one perpetrated by André Charbonneau, who ran a scam that between January 1995 and September 1999, defrauded 440 people of a total of $14 million by convincing them to invest in a phony insurance firm called l'Alternative Compagnie, which Charbonneau, as a broker, set up. He got seven years in prison.

The other important type of investment fraud is the one where worthless stocks are touted and pumped up in value, only to collapse after insiders sell off at a huge profit. Bre-X and Livent are two examples of Canadian companies that perpetrated this scam.

Investors should understand the Quebec and Canada have the most poorly regulated financial markets of any of the important western economies. It's so bad that some international investment firms will not buy a Canadian publicly traded stock unless it is traded in the United States, where stringent rules apply and enforcement is real.

The fact that Ottawa is trying to counter the problem by creating a national regulatory agency is proof of the magnitude of the problem. Unfortunately, it's implementation is being hampered by Quebec's steadfast refusal to give up regulatory power, even in the face of the recent humiliating frauds and the failure of it own regulatory agency, the AMF, who's motto "Information, Regulation, Protection" seems sadly inappropriate.

Will change come? Don't count on it.

What can you do?
It reminds me of the time when I went to Florida to visit my parents. I accompanied my dad on a number of errands, one of which one was a trip to SEAR'S to buy insurance.

"Dad" I asked. "Why are you buying insurance at SEARS, I'm sure you can get a better deal at an independent broker?"
"Son, you may not get the very best price at Sear's, but you sure as hell don't get cheated!"

If you're with a small independent brokerage house, think about changing your account to one of the big banks or large national brokerage firms. Brokers who work for them never get to handle your money or issue statements. You'll never be cheated and you'll sleep better at night.

Remember one other thing above all else;
If someone offers you a significantly higher interest rate then that which is commercially available, it's because it's a risky investment or a fraud.

Although it sounds simple enough, I've seen countless friends and neighbors, both rich and sophisticated get caught by ignoring that old tenet and remember, just because someone is recommended by a friend or member of your family, they too may be in the process of being scammed.