[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[viper37]

It is the way White Anglos have told us and continue to tell us that if you are white only English is acceptable.

More like English is the only acceptable language in Canada, and White (Anglo Saxon Protestant) is the only way to live in Canada.

There is some resurgence lately of the White and English thing everywhere in Canada, even in Quebec <sigh>.

[crazy canuck]

It is the way White Anglos have told us and continue to tell us that if you are white only English is acceptable.

More like English is the only acceptable language in Canada, and White (Anglo Saxon Protestant) is the only way to live....

Where, or better yet, when are you talking about?

[Bauer]

That perception feels really out dated to me to be honest.  I think the simple truth is that most of anglophone Canada have poor second language skills.

[Jacob]

I heard about "speak white" in the early 90s in Ottawa - as in "this is something a bigoted anglophone may say to a francophone". I never witnessed it in action, but my francophone friends mentioned having had it directed at them on occasion. I have not doubt it was a real thing much like all the other slurs that were current at the time.

Since moving to BC in the mid 90s I've not come across it once - as a concept, as a joke, as a topic of conversation. Nothing.

I expect it was part of the vocabulary of abuse where francophone and anglophone communities overlapped. I can't speak to whether it's still a thing in more recent times.

[Jacob]

With all the ™Speak White™ (these days cyber-) jihad on French, it's hardly accepting the language.   

Where are you seeing this?

It it something where people bust in on francophone parts of the internet and spout that kind of BS? Or are you seeing it in anglophone spaces?

Honestly, my immediate reaction is to suspect online bots and agitators designed to increase conflict and hate among Canadians as a political tool, rather than a reflection of any kind of organic sentiment.

[Jacob]

Both

I don't know anything about the online jihad.

To paraphrase Wikipedia

It is the way White Anglos have told us and continue to tell us that if you are white only English is acceptable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speak_White

It is also the title of a 1968 poem that was quite influential that help jump start la Révolution tranquille.

I want to believe it's not a thing anymore. Where are you collectively experiencing being told this?

I mean, I don't doubt that there are bunch of places where the assumption that English is the default in practice turns into significant social or institutional pressure to speak English instead of French. But you seem to be speaking of a more active, aggressive, personal pressure to not speak French? I'd like to hear more about it if you don't mind.

[Zoupa]

It is the way White Anglos have told us and continue to tell us that if you are white only English is acceptable.

More like English is the only acceptable language in Canada, and White (Anglo Saxon Protestant) is the only way to live....

Where, or better yet, when are you talking about?

Montreal, late 90s was when I last heard it personally. You don't know our old anglos.