Canada's immigration policy.

[Machjo]

The internet proves that we do have something to communicate.

Mais si shte parlerais en ma langue a moé, t'aurait du mal à'm comprendre la.

[Machjo]

He is a French PM although he did look part Indian, didn't he.

You want to play semantics you can go and play with yourself.

Don't you know English? French as a stand-alone attributive suggests from France. Not only are you not bilingual, but not even unilingual.

Hmmm... Maybe you mean French-speaking PM, or French-Canadian PM, or maybe francophone PM?

[Machjo]

François Fillon is a French PM. Not sure if he used to look different, whether part Indian or not, though.

Ah, but I'm only playing your game of semantics, Leafless; it's glaringly evident that you pick and choose your words in order to paint your desired picture: you chose to say the incorrect "French" instead of the accurate "Canadian", "Franco-Canadian", or "Quebecer" in order to give an intonation of foreignness to Pierre Trudeau. Perhaps you're just upset over being beaten at your own game.

_[copyedited]

I think it's pretty obvious that Leafless is outright prejudiced against French-speakers, non-caucasians, foreigners, First Nations, Inuit, foreigners, and probably many others too.

I'm not politically correct myself and don't belive in sacred cows when it comes to political debate. Tradition, religion, you name, in a democracy, it's all fair game for attack. On that front, I have no issues with one's opinions on immigration whatever they are, or likewise on Official Bilingualism, an unrelated topic to this thread that Leafless chose to bring up here. But at the very least, come up with legitimate arguments to defend your case, Leafless, rather than plain prejudice.

[CANADIEN]

These are self-reported numbers. Every Frenchman (...)

Who cares about them? This is Canada.

[CANADIEN]

But in saying this all Canadian citizens have an obligation to conform to the way the countries liberties have defined a polital/cultural direction.

To have a PM forcibly change the political/cultural direction (to his personal ideologies) without the approval of the countries citizens is directly changing the nature of the countries free and democratic status to that of a dictatorship.

This of course oppresses and discriminates against the citizens of Canada.

English please?

[CANADIEN]

Correct me if I am wrong, but did Trudeau, as a PM, have any REAL choice not to send the troops into Quebec?

And note, that Trudeau only SUSPENDED some civil liberties in Montreal and not REMOVE them permanently as he did changing the political/cultural direction of this country with a series of policies including parts of the Charter.

Indeed, a French-language sign at a post office is a HUGE attack on civil liberties. :lol:

[CANADIEN]

I think Canada should have an assimilation minister as it seems many Canadians, like you, prefer a dictatorial type country.

The speaking to the mirror syndrome again.

[CANADIEN]

The PM in question is not from France as this thread is under 'federal politics'.

Why would I be talking about a PM from France and Aboriginals in the same post?

Obviously I am talking about the Canadian French and Aboriginals as the 'politically correct' minorities.

Yet, you keep calling french-speaking Canadians "French". You do not get a clue about what you write.

[CANADIEN]

The quotes were from 'Trudeau's Legacy' with immigrants (refugees, Asians, Ethiopians, homosexuals etc.) associated from the Trudeau Utopian era and thanking him for the policies he implemented which DID In Leafless' mind greatly dilute the 'White, English speaking Canadian culture'.

More factual now.

This is absolute proof Trudeau's policies immigration policies, official languages policy, multiculturalism policy and parts of the Charter were successful in (...)

enhancing protection of the rights and freedoms of Canadians.

White, English speaking Canadian culture was defined.

Can you provide us with the English translation of your definition?

[CANADIEN]

François Fillon is a French PM. Not sure if he used to look different, whether part Indian or not, though.

Ah, but I'm only playing your game of semantics, Leafless; it's glaringly evident that you pick and choose your words in order to paint your desired picture: you chose to say the incorrect "French" instead of the accurate "Canadian", "Franco-Canadian", or "Quebecer" in order to give an intonation of foreignness to Pierre Trudeau. Perhaps you're just upset over being beaten at your own game.

_[copyedited]

Nah. I just think he does not understand the meeaning of what he reads and writes.

[CANADIEN]

From that same website of yours:

Growth

in Internet

( 2000 - 2008 )

English: 226.7 %

Chinese: 894.8 %

Spanish: 619.3 %

Japanese: 99.7 %

French: 503.4 %

Portuguese: 857.7 %

German: 135.5 %

Arabic: 1,545.2 %

Russian: 1,125.8 %

Korean: 93.3 %

Growth rate is more important than current figures sinse it shows future trends. The performance of English is proving pretty mediocre there. And then what about the quality? I've read sites in English that I had to try to decipher and still coudn't be sure that I'd understood them correctly. Add to that that English has penetrated no more than 37.2 %of the internet so far. It might seem impressive, but when we consider how English has been touted as the world language ever sinse the 1950's at least, we'd think it should have penetrated more of a market than that. And if we look at the language growth rates, it looks like the percentage of English-language websites is set not to grow, but shrink.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that most other languages are just catching up to english (to some extent).

[Machjo]

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that most other languages are just catching up to english (to some extent).

I agree, and did consider that. What I was emphasizing there was the trend. Clearly other languages are catching up, which doesn't bode well for English as a world language in the long term.

[Machjo]

Yet, you keep calling french-speaking Canadians "French". You do not get a clue about what you write.

Give him a break; he's still working on becoming unilingual.

[g_bambino]

I just think he does not understand the meeaning of what he reads and writes.

That's a possibility. But, given that his biases are so well formed and his twisting of language to suit them is so consistent, I doubt it's a misunderstanding of English that has led to his bigotry, but rather it's his bigotry that needs manipulated English in order to survive.

[benny]

And some people are quite happy living in their caves, and so have barely a use for their mother tongue, let alone a second language.

All to the contrary, if some Canadians are happy with no communication skills, it is mostly due, I would guess, because they earn too easily too much money by overexploiting nature.

[Machjo]

That's a possibility. But, given that his biases are so well formed and his twisting of language to suit them is so consistent, I doubt it's a misunderstanding of English that has led to his bigotry, but rather it's his bigotry that needs manipulated English in order to survive.

I was just trying to give him the benefit of any doubt. Yeah, I know, there is no doubt, so I guess we were just trying to be kind.

[g_bambino]

The quotes were from 'Trudeau's Legacy' with immigrants (refugees, Asians, Ethiopians, homosexuals etc.) associated from the Trudeau Utopian era and thanking him for the policies he implemented which DID IN FACT greatly dilute the 'White, English speaking Canadian culture'. This is absolute proof Trudeau's policies immigration policies, official languages policy, multiculturalism policy and parts of the Charter were successful in destroying Canada's 'white, English speaking culture'.

I read the quotes, Leafless, and no, they're not proof of your theory. They do relate to immigration and to multiculturalism, but the key thing missing is any talk of how the two policies of immigration and those relating to Franco-Canadians were purposely used in tandem to destroy "white Canadian culture" (which has not been previously defined; you attempted to define it, but that too was pulled apart with ease due to its lack of supporting factual evidence). Did immigration and official multiculturalism change Canada? Certainly, it did. But what you say DID IN FACT happen - this consipratory anti-Anglo-Canadian plot hatched by an evil prime minister - is still simply a figment of your imagination.

_[copyedited]

Edited May 28, 2009 by g_bambino

[g_bambino]

I was just trying to give him the benefit of any doubt. Yeah, I know, there is no doubt, so I guess we were just trying to be kind.

I'm sure he'll appreciate that.

[Machjo]

All to the contrary, if some Canadians are happy with no communication skills, it is mostly due, I would guess, because they earn too easily too much money by overexploiting nature.

Interesting. I'd never really thought of it that way. But you do have a point. Countries with larger population densities need to use their resources more wisely, and so education and international communication, not natural resource exploitation, becomes the main sources of national, not only personal, wealth. And it's in those same countries that we see a greater concern for poor levels of bilingualism (not that they're any more bilingual than in Canada, but simply that they tend to be more aware of this deficiency and its consequences and the need to change it) more sepcifically, and education more generally too. Interesting perspective, thanks. It's the first time I'd made a link between language education and resources as a matter of language policy.

Edited May 28, 2009 by Machjo

[Machjo]

I'm sure he'll appreciate that.

I'm happy to see you're practising random acts of kindness by giving him the benefit of the doubt too. It is theCanadian way after all.

Edited May 28, 2009 by Machjo

[benny]

Interesting. I'd never really thought of it that way. But you do have a point. Countries with larger population densities need to use their resources more wisely, and so education and international communication, not natural resource exploitation, becomes the main sources of national, not only personal, wealth. And it's in those same countries that we see a greater concern for poor levels of bilingualism (not that the're any ess bilingual than in Canada, but simply that they tend to be more aware of this deficiency and its consequences and the need to change it) more sepcifically, and education more generally too. Interesting perspective, thanks. It's the first time I'd made a link between language education and resources as a matter of language policy.

I will even attempt to go farther since you give me some moral credit to spend: those English Canadians who want to block outside influences on their mother tongue and culture may be doing it because they want to be able to easily go back in and reintegrate England, once Canada will be fully exploited and spoiled.

[Machjo]

I will even attempt to go farther since you give me some moral credit to spend: those English Canadians who want to block outside influences on their mother tongue and culture may be doing it because they want to be able to easily go back in and reintegrate England, once Canada will be fully exploited and spoiled.

Hmmm... I'm not sure about that. But I do believe many do believe in their civilizing mission, to spread their language around the world to civilize the ignorant savages who can be saved through a knowledge of the English language. Imperialism is alive and well through language hegemony. I think you'd be impressed with Robert Phillipson's 'Linguistic Imperialism'.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Hmmm... I'm not sure about that. But I do believe many do believe in their civilizing mission, to spread their language around the world to civilize the ignorant savages who can be saved through a knowledge of the English language. Imperialism is alive and well through language hegemony. I think you'd be impressed with Robert Phillipson's 'Linguistic Imperialism'.

Sounds as logical as the entire Christian crusade of the new world. How very beneficial for the savages...............

[Machjo]

Sounds as logical as the entire Christian crusade of the new world. How very beneficial for the savages...............

Exactly. Gandhi said it best when he said: I like your Christ... but your Christians are so unlike your Christ.

[Machjo]

Just another reinterpretation of the Inquisition.