From: steven@spxtech.qc.ca (Steve Potter)
Newsgroups: can.general,can.politics,soc.culture.canada
Subject: Re: Lower and upper Canadas
Date: 11 Sep 92 02:50:00 GMT
Organization: Securiplex Technologies Inc., Montreal, Canada
X-Bytes: 3224

From article <BuDFpD.4B8@ireq.hydro.qc.ca>, by beaurega@ireq.hydro.qc.ca
 Denis Beauregard says, again:-

> 
> Disinformation.

Ignored for the moment - might dig up some of Denis' comments about my
family being part of an "invasion" and justifiably having our rights
denied because we are as much to blame for his perceived problems in
Quebec as the British conquerors (who he has never forgiven) of late
18th century, later. :-)

> [Denis:-
>  I said that English schools are for English speakers
> that were in Quebec for years, not for recent immigrants.  The same status
> for all immigrants (they select where they emigrate, after all).  Period.

How is allowing francophone immigrants access to school in their own
language, while denying anglophone immigrants access to school in their own
language, the same status?

Denis will try to say, again, that ALL immigrants are treated the same; that
English immigrants don't have any right to expect any "privileges" like
those English people who were here before Bill 101 was passed; that ALL
immigrants must be assimilated.

Just because spraying the words "Go Home English Immigrant" on a wall,
or declaring "ALL immigrants must go to French school", is not the same
thing as rounding 'em up for the gas chamber or firing squad doesn't mean
that it is not a racist action.

Is a man in England declaring "Bloody Frogs!" to a friend on passing a
couple of french speaking tourists committing a racist act?

Is a government official ignoring non-white people in a line-up
committing a racist act?

Is a government denying access to a public service from certain classes
of individuals that is available to other classes of individuals comitting
a racist act?

Now, please, don't start on about Nazi Germany or South Africa again!

I don't like Denis' attitude because he refuses to see things from a
reasonable and rational perspective.

He believes that the French language and culture in Quebec would be
destoyed by a wave of immigrants if they didn't have restrictive
legislation to prevent it.

He doesn't seem to think that the English community in Quebec has
any legitimate right to flourish. He's afraid all the english
"bosses" would take over again! :-)

He doesn't even acknowledge that it is possible to learn French in
an English school.

When I tried to tell him that I want my children to learn french
he makes a joke - pretending to be confused about why someone who wants
his children to learn french would prefer to send them to an english
school.

Let me ask you this, Denis:-

Why shouldn't an english speaking person coming to Quebec expect to be
accepted as a fully legitimate member of his own language community here?

Secondary question:-

If an english speaking person came to Quebec, totally unaware that there
was an english community here, and discovered that there was indeed an
english community here - would that make any difference?

-- 
  ///==================================================================\\\
  ||| Steve Potter:         steven%spxtech@CAM.ORG                     |||
  ||| Expertise/Experience: Computer Systems Engineering / Real Ale /  |||
  |||                       Politics in Education in Quebec            |||
Newsgroups: can.general,soc.culture.canada