New Quebec Language Law silliness: "Le Magasin Walmart"

[garbon]

Sorry V, but all of that sounded really weird to me. I don't know that I've ever bitched that English should be first...anywhere. People who I do see do that (often in our states that border Mexico) strike me as backwards and trying to preserve some static image they have of their "culture" which fails to recognize that such things are fluid and always changing.

Another language or culture is not see as a threat until it reaches critical mass.  Right now, Vermont is a french friendly state, promoting bilinguism everywhere in the public and private sector.  Back up 100 years ago, French speakers were forced-sterilized like the Afro-Americans, among other things.

A brief history here:
http://bostonlanguage.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/the-bilingual-u-s-french-vermont/

Now, French is no longer a threat, so it's enjoying a revival.  If it threatened the dominant language, if it became more than something for the tourists, you can bet there would be a movement aiming for "English first".

But there you go again consulting distant history. Sure some of Vermont might see Arizona like behavior but I don't see how you can dredge up the less enlightened past and say that such would dictate how an entire country would react to in the future.

[garbon]

That's some dramatic rhetoric.

Also reality.

So then why doesn't Quebec have the will to get out? They're just trapped so tightly they can't vote in favor of independence?

[Grey Fox]

That's some dramatic rhetoric.

Also reality.

So then why doesn't Quebec have the will to get out? They're just trapped so tightly they can't vote in favor of independence?

Maybe for some, for others Independence is not necessary to prosper as a culture.

[garbon]

That's some dramatic rhetoric.

Also reality.

So then why doesn't Quebec have the will to get out? They're just trapped so tightly they can't vote in favor of independence?

Maybe for some, for others Independence is not necessary to prosper as a culture.

Except you'd still be imprisoned as you put it.

[Grey Fox]

That's some dramatic rhetoric.

Also reality.

So then why doesn't Quebec have the will to get out? They're just trapped so tightly they can't vote in favor of independence?

Maybe for some, for others Independence is not necessary to prosper as a culture.

Except you'd still be imprisoned as you put it.

Yes. I have no magic answer for you. It's something that I cannot reconcile even just for myself.

[Grallon]

Yes. I have no magic answer for you. It's something that I cannot reconcile even just for myself.

It's called cowardice.  Despairingly - about half the population is afraid of a the sacrifices necessary to become master in their own house.




G.

[Josquius]

When I tell you I live in a socialist hell, do you think I'm lying?

See, a real case: my notary made a simple mistake last year.  She made all the paper work to dissolve two of our companies, but forgot the file the final documents with the government, after everything else was registered.  So, for the government, I still have 2 active companies, beside the others.  These two companies have produced tax fillings every year, one of them never had any revenues.

So, I received a letter last month, telling me I owe the government 8000$ in income tax for one of the companies because the company is still registered and did not file an income tax report.  Now, I have to prove to my government there has been no activity for this company, that it was dissolved, that the notary simply forgot to file the last paper (electronic form actually, in a system for wich the government has had many problems... so it might just be that they lost it).

That sure sounds sucky but it certainly doesn't sound in any way particularly socialist.

You know, I would not mind having you guys up there. Though be warned, it is remote and lacks conveniences.

Sounds like a real life murder-mystery in the making.

[Razgovory]

Yes. I have no magic answer for you. It's something that I cannot reconcile even just for myself.

It's called cowardice.  Despairingly - about half the population is afraid of a the sacrifices necessary to become master in their own house.




G.

Say it in French.

[Zoupa]

It's been a bad year for Quebec. The province seems determined to live up to all the complaints made about it - strikes, municipal corruption scandals, and harsher language laws.

The complaints made about it by whom? You guys? We don't care.

It's been a pretty good year. Interesting stuff, real change in the works.

What's been going on in Ontario this year?

[Razgovory]

It's been a bad year for Quebec. The province seems determined to live up to all the complaints made about it - strikes, municipal corruption scandals, and harsher language laws.

The complaints made about it by whom? You guys? We don't care.

It's been a pretty good year. Interesting stuff, real change in the works.

What's been going on in Ontario this year?

Seems that Viper does.

[viper37]

But there you go again consulting distant history. Sure some of Vermont might see Arizona like behavior but I don't see how you can dredge up the less enlightened past and say that such would dictate how an entire country would react to in the future.

You can't understand the present without knowing history.  You can't understand someone without knowing where they came from.

There's a reason why French is in danger, even in Quebec if we don't do anything.  The number of French speaking people in Canada has diminished over the years, the only recent gain is that it's declining slower.

Now, what's the difference between a francophone outside of Quebec and a francophone in Quebec without any language laws?
There ain't much.

In the past, our ancestors were breading like rabbits, maybe 5 francophones birth to 1 anglophone birth and immigration wasn't an issue.
Nowadays, it's more or less equal for the births, and immigration is vastly from non french-speakers.
That means that without anything, French is declining, while right now,it's remaining mostly stable.

[viper37]

What's been going on in Ontario this year?

Nothing, they don't want to hear about it.  So long as nobody stirs up shit, they believe everything is ok.  You former mayor could be perfect for the job of Ontario's Premier

[viper37]

So then why doesn't Quebec have the will to get out? They're just trapped so tightly they can't vote in favor of independence?

'cause not everyone feel that way.
Anglophones certainly enjoy the protection of canadian federalism and certainly do not want to risk having the status of francophones outside of Quebec.
Recent immigrants feel they owe Canada for the protection they have; they came here to live in Canada, not specifically Quebec.
Some French Quebecers feel strongly that Quebec should be put down like a mad dog for Canada to prosper.
Some others believe ou French community can not evolve on its own and needs Canada to prosper.
Some do not trust socialist parties to realize independance.
Some do not care either way.
Some truly believe Canada to be their country first&foremost.
Some think Canada will eventually change, stop be so static (they are called dreamers ).
The independantists parties have done a poor job of convincing the majority to vote for their option.
The federalists have done a good job of convincing the majority they are better with the devil they know.

The reasons are many.

[dps]

But there you go again consulting distant history. Sure some of Vermont might see Arizona like behavior but I don't see how you can dredge up the less enlightened past and say that such would dictate how an entire country would react to in the future.

You can't understand the present without knowing history.  You can't understand someone without knowing where they came from.

While there's truth in this, at the same time, refusal to let go of the past doesn't much lead to anything good.  It lead to a century of Jim Crow laws in the US, it lead to the never-ending Palestinian/Isreali conflict, it lead to the Irish-American retards who give donations to the IRA.

[garbon]

But there you go again consulting distant history. Sure some of Vermont might see Arizona like behavior but I don't see how you can dredge up the less enlightened past and say that such would dictate how an entire country would react to in the future.

You can't understand the present without knowing history.  You can't understand someone without knowing where they came from.

While there's truth in this, at the same time, refusal to let go of the past doesn't much lead to anything good.  It lead to a century of Jim Crow laws in the US, it lead to the never-ending Palestinian/Isreali conflict, it lead to the Irish-American retards who give donations to the IRA.

It's hard to move forwards if you force yourself to mime out old blood feuds.