Graeme Hamilton on the Quebec media or how denunciation of sensationalist journalism becomes itself sensationalist journalism

I absolutely want to react to that unfortunate article written by Graeme Hamilton. First of all, I don’t know where Mr Hamilton resides. For myself, I have been residing in Quebec for the past 40 years, both in rural and urban areas, so I know my province. Last week, a story was presented by the Quebec media on certain bylaws prohibiting noize, such as construction or lawn mowing, in the city of Hampstead in the heart of Montreal, populated mainly by Jews. It was run, among others, by hosts like Richard Martineau and Benoit Dutrizac, as Hamilton’s article points out. However, I must disagree with the treatment of the facts presented by Hamilton. I know these folks. Being myself a strong opponent of anti-semitism, I wouldn’t hesitate to denounce them if they were guilty of that terrible psychological disease. If they were anti-semites, I think I would know.

To understand correctly the core of the argument, you have to go back in time to the centuries and decades during which the French-Canadian identity and spirit were formed. Following the takeover of New France by England in 1760, the French elite was either deported or left by itself for France, which let the people with only catholic priests as leaders. So the Catholic Church was given, by the circumstances, a carte blanche to do whatever they want with the population and its education. French-Canadians continued to evolve with only the voice of the Church to guide them, without any room for any other points of view. And that monopoly was only broken in the 1960s, when the Révolution Tranquille occured. Continuer la lecture

New England is preparing for changes to come: More French, the Fleur-de-Lys…and a lot of poutine (I guess!)

© Laurent Renault | Dreamstime.com

This news is absolutely surrealistic. Things are going so fast since the start of 2011, we are having difficulty keeping up with all the changes. I began to raise your awareness in a couple of posts recently here, and here, about the impending collapse of the U.S. and the unavoidable Balkanization that would ensue. Independent republics would form, all with their own agendas. This National Post article informs us (I didn’t know, for myself) that a lot of businesses below the border (in the U.S.) have begun adapting to a new clientele that they are trying to seduce and bring to their shops: Canadians but especially Quebecers. The use of the French language is beginning to be implemented, slowly but still, fleur-de-lyses decorate windows at certain restaurants, etc. There is even a website that gives useful information to shoppers concerning border wait times, price comparisons, etc.

That is just incredible! During the French period of the colonization, the country that is called Canada today was called Nouvelle France, New France. So, is it far-fetched to envision a union of New France with New England? No. If you look at the map, you will see that what are called today the states of Maine, Vermont, New York, etc, belong to the same land mass as the Provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick. The irony here, and I can’t help but to underline it (please forgive me!) is that people south of the border seem to show a willingness to use the French language rather superior to what we could ever got out of certain Canadians here in Montreal or just over the St-Lawrence river in Ottawa. Anyhow, I am glad that it is becoming a reality. You know what, I just had an idea. A blueberry pie made with blueberries from Lac-St-Jean, served with Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, from Vermont. That would be delicious! Or French and literature classes that would be taught at the Wilhelm Reich Museum in Rangeley, Maine. Maybe someday…in our new country. Until then we will keep imagine great things for the future, because anything in life always begins with a great idea. The fleur-de-lys is here to stay and it will conquer the world.

More fleur-de-lys south of the border