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Premièrement, la langue du Nouveau-Brunswick, c'est l'anglais. 40% seulement des gens la-bas parle français.


Mais le problème reste que si les Québécois et les Canadiens deviennent tout deux parfaitement bilingue, le Français serait abandonné par tous. À quoi servirais-t-il, de toute façon? Si tout le monde pourrais parler français ET anglais, les gens choisiraient bien évidemment de parler l'anglais.


L'anglais est plus facile à apprendre, et c'est la langue numéro 1 dans le monde. Personne n'utiliserais plus le français.


(Sorry to be obligate to use french, but it's easier for me to exprime my point of view)

   

Um, not sure where I said ANYTHING like that.
Hmmmm....am I the only one who sees the irony of your accusation...?




I'm not saying that there are not good reasons for Canada's existence. But visit some European abbeys and castles and you come to realize that 120 years is NOT a long time. The world and the boundary lines are constantly evolving.


We would be no less diverse if Quebec went on their own. To extend your analogy, it is sometimes better to have spinoff companies rather than try to run a monolith. There is no reason why we could not continue to work together in a form of "Canadian Union", similar to the EU. Think of Quebec as a "franchise".



I would suggest that no separatist will tell you he is trying to split up the country. They are not anti-Canada, they are simply in favour of self rule. North Americans are not subject to the laws of Britain or France like they were in the 1700's. And I think we did pretty well since THAT breakup.If it's been working for 120 years, why have we spent the entire time arguing over it?

I agree with embracing the differences. We already do that with the US, China and the rest of our trading partners. Why would it be so difficult with a separate Quebec (or BC, or Maritimes etc.)?



Fully agree. See previous paragraph.



I would consider this an emotional statement. What evidence do you have for this postulation?



Hmmmm...a career as a diplomat MIGHT not be in the cards for you. But I suspect by taking the time to pontificate to Quebecers in both official languages you have helped make my point better than I could.

   

It has NEVER been the case for ANY multilingual country that all or even most of it's citizens were supposed to speak all of the official languages. I'm sure the Belgians (official languages: Dutch, French, German) would be interested to hear that we think that their citizens aren't being fair to each other unless they all speak all of those languages.

Almost all french-Canadians speak some level of English. Some very well, some less well. Guess what? So do most people living in France. I just came home from living there for nearly 4 years, and it's rare to meet someone there that doesn't speak English at all. That doesn't mean that they expect all english speaking people who come to France to speak French. It's just the way of the world today.

Now all that aside, I would definitely prefer if all Canadians were bilingual. Speaking English as a first language is both a blessing (we already speak the language that most other people have to learn if they want to communicate internationally) and a curse (there is less motivation to learn other languages as a result, which provides us with less understanding of other cultures and points of view).

Language issues aside, I PERSONALLY don't think that Quebec should separate from the rest of Canada, and I don't think that it would be in the interests of either Quebecers or the ROC.

If the reasoning for separation is historical strife or cultural differences or one culture disappearing, take look at Switzerland. They have 4 VERY distinct languages and cultures (German, French, Italian, Romansh), with at LEAST as much to argue about historically as us, and yet no one is talking about separation, and they all manage to get along, and run a highly successful country. They have their share of problems, just like us, and all countries with significant populations from different historical backgrounds, but they work through it and they are generally proud to be identified as Swiss. Romansh is the language and culture of a very small portion of Switzerland, and has been for a very long time. They are concerned about preserving their language and culture, and they protect it by being culturally active and passing pride for their language down to future generations, not by trying to separate or force others to communicate in Romansh.

Let's take off the blinders for a second and take a look at what's happening in the rest of the world. It might help us understand our ourselves a little better.

Ouvrons nos yeux à ce qui se passe dans le reste du monde. Peut-être que ça nous aiderait à mieux nous comprendre nous-mêmes.

- CamCKA

   

So, is this kind of beaviour more frequent than Quebec bashing in the ROC?

   

Would you prefer prescribed insult quotas?

   

This thread has been going on for a few days now, and the discussion generated has been great, allbeit emotional.

It seems that everyone's had their fill, done their bashing of either side, and expressed their own political and personal opinions.

I'd like to thank everyone that posted here, discussions like this are extremly useful as most arguements were well thought out and intelletcual (with a few exceptions). More conversations like this are needed as it allows people to express their views, and to have others listen and try to understand. This is the kind of communication we need to keep a sucessful confederation going.

Thanks again,

Merci a tous pour votre posts et pour votre retenue de emtion. Il y a eu les exceptions ou quelques personnes n'ont pas le constrainte mais, groso-modo c'etait ok. A mon avis, tous sont le chance pour exprimer leurs opinions et leurs avis. Les conversations comme ca sont provide l'aide de resoude les grands problems parce-que les personnes sont l'opportunty de exprimer leur veus, et avoir les personnes qui ecoutent.

Ce sont une excellente thread, et encore une fois, merci a tous pour votre temps et idees.

Et, je m'excuse pour mon francais, mais j'essaye. Je suis seulement un eduiant de francais, comme un grand part de Quebecers en anglais.

   

Hello Fellow Canucklheads.....thought I would wade in with my thoughts on this controversial topic!!

I too am an English supporter of Quebec separatism albeit from an Albertan first perspective!!

This is how how see it...........First, I have always admired many of the PQ and I have nothing but admiration for the beautiful French Language and the Great History of the Gallic tribes.......so please do not think I am coming at this from an anti French Albertan redneck pov!

However, since the West and Alberta have been absolutely screwed by Eastern Canada (in particular the Left and Liberals ) the best thing EVER from a Alberta perspective would be too see Quebec leave and then the power shifts too the West..........Finally........

I bear no animosity towards the French........only Ottawa and their rule over the West and Alberta!!

And folks, you might as well get ready for it.......because of ruinous socialist policies, are country is balkanized and it is only a matter of time before one part of this nation leaves......

Remember this.......Alberta just recently polled roughly around 40 percent for separatism and that will only grow as seemingly apathetic voters down East will vote in the Liberals again in the next election which will only hasten our drive out of confederation!! And when you poll over 40 percent for separation when we have the hottest economy in North America, you know the dissatisfaction towards eastern rule is huge.....and the great thing from my pov, is the youngest voters, are the most highest for separation!

And lets face it.......Quebec is history.......the PQ will win in 2007 and they will call for a referendum and this time they have more voters for their side....and its all over....and if by some miracle Quebec stays for a few more years, Alberta will then become the first province to finally leave this deeply unfair country!!

Sorry folks......but this was once a great and fair country.......but decades of Eastern rule have ruined us...........we have become a pee cee multiculti wasteland that stands for nothing but falls for everything.....horribly taxed to death and the nanny state invading every corner of our lives....horrific healthcare system propped up by useless socialistic ideals.......a great army gutted by gutless leftists..........

I am not blaming anyone individaul........years of socialist lies in our schools and higher academia have dulled us into incredibly stupid decisions by voting in leaders that havn't a clue about reality....

So I say to my Quebec friends.........I am happy for you on your future country........and as an Albertan first, I look forward to ours!!

   

Stupid behaviour are stupid by definition. But I just want to mention that Quebecers don't have the "monopoly" of stupidity, and that I can find a lot of stupid behaviours from people of the ROC similar to the one Mario quoted above. Period.

However...

When I talk to Canadians from the ROC, I usually start in French with a nice "bonjour", and if I see that the people I talk to don't know French, I switch to English. If the people is from USA, I don't loose my time to do this... But usually, by phone, it's very hard to know if it is an English-Canadian or an American talking, all the more if it is an incoming call. But be sure that I will try my "bonjour" if it's me that place a call to Ontario for example.And when I travel to the ROC, I start all my conversations with unknown people with my nice "bonjour". IMO, this kind of attitude helps to maintain good services in French for Francophones outside Quebec.

So, according to all of you here, is it good or bad to behave like I do?

   

   

40 percent? Wow, got stats to back that up?

P.S - Your making good Albertans look bad. If you want out of Confederation, don't bring down the majority of good folks, remember theres always greener pastures for you down south.

   

Good behaviour. The important thing is the tone and the actual greeting itself. I can't imagine anyone getting bent out of shape because you start off a greeting in french. If that doesn't work then try this greeting:

qaleghneS

Pronunciation is a bitch though!

   

Dear AlbertanOnly:

The unity of Canada is a discussion for Canadians to have with each other, thus Albertans and all other Americans are not welcome.

Thanks, Bye.

   

Shut up VitaminC. While AlbertanOnly is one misguided fool, don't walk his path and be an Ontarian ass. Last time I checked, Alberta was a part of Confederation. Don't like it? Tough.

   

Remember seperatists, if you speak out, then you risk becoming one of this kitties targets.....






That's right, and he's back with a vengeance.

   

How does he pull the trigger?

   

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