I read Infinite Jest a few years ago but thought that Les Assassins des Fauteuils Rollents was just an absurdity...
Quebec Sovereignty Movement
41–50 of 106 posts
Re: Quebec Sovereignty Movement
#42The only reason I see this relevant to HN is because lots of tech companies have been opening Montreal offices over the past 20 years. We have 4 universities and most educated people are bilingual in spite of the officialdom. However the drumbeats of separatism are banging again [1], so might be relevant considering what happened to the Montreal economy the last times these idiots were allowed to lead by their inferi…
I don’t see anything about “racism” in 3 and 4. The first is about excluding religious symbols from public, which is what France does, and is an extremely left-wing notion. Certainly not what folks in “Georgia” would do. And the second is about mandatory French education. Explain to me where the “racism” is.
Because:
[3] exclusively targets non-Christian symbols and came after a campaign of primarily non-city folk freaking out because immigrants are different - most infamously Herouxville where the town published a manifesto warning immigrants against "stoning and burning women. It included, too, an explanation of the importance of Christmas trees." [1]. The Catholic symbology remains in the officialdom - see the giant cross that sits atop Montreal, and the crosses that were never removed from the public schools, or many provincial offices. Not to mention it's OK to wear a crucifix.
[4] goes way beyond education. Montreal is a functionally bilingual city and those of us from here speak "franglais", a mix of the two and have no issue switching. This new law massively restricts access to: education, medicare, legal services, to name a few in the official language of your choice. It even gives powers to the language police to, for example, raid a law or medical office, get access to confidential documents to ensure you are only being served in French [2]. I live in a nation with 2 official languages in a city where the majority of people are bilingual and happy to serve in either language- and Quebec just effectively made one of those languages illegal. How is this is not discrimination?
Georgia-Atlanta is an analogy. The rural areas are 99% white, unilingual francophone - a group who genuinely believe bilingualism and multiculturalism is a problem - Montreal's two key, unique strengths and defining characteristics. If we had representation by population, these would be non-issues but because the rural areas are heavily weighted, the ruling CAQ has a supermajority after winning only 37% of the vote.[3]
[1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/herouxville-quebec-r...
[2] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/bill-96-explained-1....
[3] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Quebec_general_election
Re: Quebec Sovereignty Movement
#43Earlier quoted context omitted.
But Catholic religious symbols are not excluded -- they're everywhere, but it's called 'history' and 'culture'. The lengths CSDM builders go to to leave a giant crucifix on a school building undisturbed even when demolishing the rest are truly noteworthy.
The crucifix was removed from Quebec National Assembly a few years ago https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/crucifix-removed-nat...
They literally didn't mention anything about the National Assembly.
Re: Quebec Sovereignty Movement
#44The only reason I see this relevant to HN is because lots of tech companies have been opening Montreal offices over the past 20 years. We have 4 universities and most educated people are bilingual in spite of the officialdom. However the drumbeats of separatism are banging again [1], so might be relevant considering what happened to the Montreal economy the last times these idiots were allowed to lead by their inferi…
You seem like you think about these issues and are not pro nationalism ideals but you type this:
> proud Canadian-Italian
Why are you proud of your nationalities? Seems weird in the face of the rest of your comment.
Re: Quebec Sovereignty Movement
#45Full disclosure, I am a Quebecker who is against separation. A lot of the debate is around the protection of the French language, which gets stretched out in every political issue.
One thing which wasn't mentioned is how unique Quebec's position is geographically. There are few regions which are as surrounded by another dominant language. I think just this phenomenon puts pressure on conserving the French language.
I also believe that this makes us stick out like a sore thumb in North America. I will regularly see comment sections riddled with ill informed negative comments about Quebec.
Another thing to keep in mind is that in our history, English colonial forces tried to assimilate French people on a few occasions (search for "Durham Report" as an example). I do believe that a lot of trauma has been passed on through generations.
Finally, I believe the Federal government doesn't do enough for French speakers inside and outside Quebec. As a result, the separatist movement gives a voice to French people who feel unheard. This just results in political and cultural tensions.
While we debate this issue, the people who benefit the least are indigenous people. Their case is politicized on both sides and legislations rarely benefit them.
Re: Quebec Sovereignty Movement
#46Quebec is represented by the CAQ at provincial level who are nationalist/separatist. Bloc at federal level who are also separatists. Quebec quite clearly wants to separate. Technically speaking if we were to have a nationwide referendum on 'should canada kick quebec to the curb' it would be overwhelmingly in favour of throwing quebec out. So what's going on? If you go back 75 years. Quebec due to the language barrier…
> What you think you dont need a military?
Actually they wouldn’t. There is no way in hell that the US allows a foreign power to attack Quebec. That area is too strategically sensitive to the US.
Re: Quebec Sovereignty Movement
#47Interesting fact about how slowly things change. I drank a weissbier from Munich yesterday, and French language section on the can included instructions for Quebec explicitly. English one for Canada had instructions in both English and French
Re: Quebec Sovereignty Movement
#48Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don’t see anything about “racism” in 3 and 4. The first is about excluding religious symbols from public, which is what France does, and is an extremely left-wing notion. Certainly not what folks in “Georgia” would do. And the second is about mandatory French education. Explain to me where the “racism” is.
Because: [3] exclusively targets non-Christian symbols and came after a campaign of primarily non-city folk freaking out because immigrants are different - most infamously Herouxville where the town published a manifesto warning immigrants against "stoning and burning women. It included, too, an explanation of the importance of Christmas trees." [1]. The Catholic symbology remains in the officialdom - see the giant c…
Religion is not race and the law targets Christian religious symbols as well.
Re: Quebec Sovereignty Movement
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
The crucifix was removed from Quebec National Assembly a few years ago https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/crucifix-removed-nat...
They literally didn't mention anything about the National Assembly.
The point is that the crucifix was removed from the most symbolic place it could be removed from. If thats not a strong, consistent signal that Quebec wants religions out of the public institutions, then what is?
Re: Quebec Sovereignty Movement
#50The only reason I see this relevant to HN is because lots of tech companies have been opening Montreal offices over the past 20 years. We have 4 universities and most educated people are bilingual in spite of the officialdom. However the drumbeats of separatism are banging again [1], so might be relevant considering what happened to the Montreal economy the last times these idiots were allowed to lead by their inferi…
I don’t see anything about “racism” in 3 and 4. The first is about excluding religious symbols from public, which is what France does, and is an extremely left-wing notion. Certainly not what folks in “Georgia” would do. And the second is about mandatory French education. Explain to me where the “racism” is.
It tends to be discriminatory towards Sihks, Muslims and Orthodox Jews, who all have head coverings as important religious garb, basically excluding them from government jobs.