Quebec Sovereignty - On Ice

[August1991]

La défiance de la population envers la classe politique constitue un obstacle majeur à la mise en oeuvre du projet souverainiste, estime le député péquiste François Legault.

« Les gens ne sont pas prêts à se faire proposer des projets collectifs parce qu'ils ont perdu confiance dans les politiciens », a expliqué mercredi matin le député de Rousseau, pendant le caucus du PQ, qui se tient actuellement à Bécancour.

Mais ça ne veut pas dire que, parce qu'il y a du cynisme, le projet n'est pas pertinent. Le projet est aussi pertinent qu'il l'a toujours été », a-t-il ajouté.

Pour François Legault, le PQ doit remiser son projet et s'efforcer de restaurer la confiance perdue. Le parti doit notamment répondre aux attentes des Québécois en matière de santé ou d'économie.

La Presse

This matters because it will have an effect in federal politics in two ways. One, sovereignty and the federal state. Two, this absurd reference to the classe politique.

I would agree however that there is a political vacuum in Quebec and, as Alexander Pope said (I believe), nature abhors a vacuum.

[AngusThermopyle]

You do realize that by posting in French you limit discussion to a small segment of forum members don't you?

[Smallc]

You do realize that by posting in French you limit discussion to a small segment of forum members don't you?

http://translate.google.com/translate_t

[August1991]

You do realize that by posting in French you limit discussion to a small segment of forum members don't you?

As Harper likes to say, Canada is an officially bilingual country with unilingual people.

I see no harm in posting French quotes. To understand well this country, you should be able to read if not speak both French and English. (Country? Where did the names St-Louis, Cree and Portage la Prairie come from?)

In learning another language, you might learn something of life too. There's more than one way to skin a cat - et il n'y a pas qu'une façon de faire l'amour.

Edited August 23, 2008 by August1991

[Wild Bill]

As Harper likes to say, Canada is an officially bilingual country with unilingual people.

I see no harm in posting French quotes. To understand well this country, you should be able to read if not speak both French and English. (Country? Where did the names St-Louis, Cree and Portage la Prairie come from?)

In learning another language, you might learn something of life too. There's more than one way to skin a cat - et il n'y a pas qu'une façon de faire l'amour.

There is an old, old joke that might lighten things up:

An American comes to Montreal for a business trip and books a room at a local hotel. In the morning he marches straight up to the front desk, mad as hell!

"What kind of hotel is this? I turned on the tap clearly marked "C" and nearly scalded myself!"

"I'm so sorry, sir, but you must understand, this is Montreal, Quebec! We are in the main a french-speaking part of Canada. In french 'C' stands for chaud, which means 'hot' ".

The American is immediately mollified. He apologizes for his error and leaves to greet his business day.

The next morning he's back at the front desk, angrier than ever!

"For Pete's sake!" he cries. "Yesterday you told me that 'C' means chaud, that being french for 'hot'. I inadvertently turned the other tap. it was also marked 'C' and I damn near froze to death!"

"Well, certainly, sir!" the desk clerk calmly replied. "In English 'C' stands for 'cold'. Montreal is a bilingual city in a bilingual nation!"

Sorry. I haven't had my coffee yet!

Edited August 23, 2008 by Wild Bill

[AngusThermopyle]

In learning another language, you might learn something of life too. There's more than one way to skin a cat - et il n'y a pas qu'une façon de faire l'amour.

You really are a sanctimonious prat aren't you.

Learn something of life. I'll wager that outside of a vacation you haven't been anywhere. I guess being involved in different countries for the majority of my life doesn't count as "learning something". Being in the business of life and death must be a real impediment to leaning something of life too.

I choose not to waste my time learning a dying language that is of zero use to me, just because you think I should does not mean jack sh*t.

Pull your head out of your ass long enough to realize that what you think amounts to a great big hill of beans as far as I'm concerned. If you learn to curb your arrogance long enough you just might learn something of life.

[Wild Bill]

As Harper likes to say, Canada is an officially bilingual country with unilingual people.

I see no harm in posting French quotes. To understand well this country, you should be able to read if not speak both French and English. (Country? Where did the names St-Louis, Cree and Portage la Prairie come from?)

In learning another language, you might learn something of life too. There's more than one way to skin a cat - et il n'y a pas qu'une façon de faire l'amour.

Angus has a point. This is essentially an anglo forum, after all. Posting in french of course will mean that very few will understand it. So why bother?

Most anglos have absolutely no reason to bother to learn french. Rubbing their noses in it is hardly a way to garner respect or to encourage any change. All they know is that if they have to drive through Quebec the signs on the major highways are all a PITA for being unilingual francais, whereas in the rest of Canada they are bilingual. This simple difference in approach by the Pequistes has done more to foster resentment against Quebec than perhaps any other political action.

As my former boss in Pointe Claire used to tell me at sales meetings: "You get less flies with vinegar!"

Edited August 23, 2008 by Wild Bill

[Ontario Loyalist]

I choose not to waste my time learning a dying language that is of zero use to me, just because you think I should does not mean jack sh*t.

I stopped taking French in grade 9, and have had little to do with it ever since, but I could still understand what was contained in that excerpt.

French his hardly a "dying language". Moreover, French and English are related, and English has borrowed much from the French language.

We should really not be concerning ourselves with these sorts of petty differences when Canadian culture is facing more significant threats.

[CANADIEN]

The separatist movement really have only four tools they can use to convince the 20-25% swing voters:

- "the Anglo hate us and want to destroy and assimilate us": not as popular as it used to be

- coming with a question uncleear enough it means many things to many people: came close once with that once, will be more difficult next time

- a chraismatic leader: Pauline Marois and Gilles Duceppte are NOT René Lévesque and Lucien Bouchard

- making people believe that things will be better after separation: people don't buy separation as the solution to unemployment, global warming, problems in the health system, etc. etc. etc.

These are bad days for people who want Quebec out of Canada

[Smallc]

The separatist movement really have only four tools they can use to convince the 20-25% swing voters:

- "the Anglo hate us and want to destroy and assimilate us": not as popular as it used to be

- coming with a question uncleear enough it means many things to many people: came close once with that once, will be more difficult next time

- a chraismatic leader: Pauline Marois and Gilles Duceppte are NOT René Lévesque and Lucien Bouchard

- making people believe that things will be better after separation: people don't buy separation as the solution to unemployment, global warming, problems in the health system, etc. etc. etc.

These are bad days for people who want Quebec out of Canada

What is your personal experience? Are many Quebecois proud to be Canadian?

I personally think they are, I'm just wondering what you see on the ground.

[August1991]

I choose not to waste my time learning a dying language that is of zero use to me, just because you think I should does not mean jack sh*t.

Pull your head out of your ass long enough to realize that what you think amounts to a great big hill of beans as far as I'm concerned. If you learn to curb your arrogance long enough you just might learn something of life.

Angus, I merely wanted to argue that there are different ways to view this same thing we all call life. If you can understand another language, it's like wearing someone else's shoes. You look at the same thing but see it in a different way. Angus, surely you remember the feeling in your head when you learned something new about something old?

If Canada has any claim to civilization, it is because we manage this dramatic difference peacefully.

[Leafless]

Angus, I merely wanted to argue that there are different ways to view this same thing we all call life. If you can understand another language, it's like wearing someone else's shoes. You look at the same thing but see it in a different way. Angus, surely you remember the feeling in your head when you learned something new about something old?

If Canada has any claim to civilization, it is because we manage this dramatic difference peacefully.

Intimidation does not rule a real country.

But in saying this does not say much for the country of Canada.

BTW-Canada is not a bilingual country as countries cannot speak.

Canada is an official multicultural country with two official languages being English and French.

[cybercoma]

August, help me understand this better. People are losing trust in the PQ in regards to sovereignty, so they've decided to put that issue aside to focus on healthcare and the economy?