From: steven@spxtech.qc.ca (Steve Potter)
Newsgroups: mtl.followup,mtl.general,can.politics
Subject: Re: Denied access to English schools?
Date: 21 Aug 92 15:33:21 GMT
Distribution: can
Organization: Securiplex Technologies Inc., Montreal, Canada
X-Bytes: 6635

From article <1992Aug20.132845.8174@sobeco.com>, by lacroix@sobeco.ca
 d.lacroix asks:-

> steven@spxtech.qc.ca (Steve Potter) writes:
> 
>>Efforts are being made to restore the right to choose the kind of education
>>one wishes for one's children in this province.
>>If you know a family who has been denied this basic right then please pass
>>this message along.
> 
>  I know a lot: All french speaking families are denied that right.
>  They have only the rights of immigrants: to send their children to
>   french schools. Only english residents have the freedom of choice.

  M. Lacroix seems to be acknowledging that the restrictive law is
  indeed discriminatory.

>   Ah... the chance they have....

  M. Lacroix seems to wish everybody had freedom of choice.

>  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>  Now a little exercise:
> 
>  Choose between the two:
> 
>   1- Survival of the french fact in America
> 
>   2- Freedom of choice for immigrants
> 
>  What is more important for you ?

  First of all:  There is no connection between these two issues other than
                 the irrational paranoia that led to the introduction of
                 this restrictive legislation in the first place.

          M. Lacroix is attempting to suggest that allowing "new quebecers"
          the freedom to choose the kind of education that shall be given
          to their children is somehow going to destroy the "French fact
          in America"

          This is, of course, a ludicrous suggestion. It is based on the
          emotional, paranoid, nationalistic assertion that a flood of
          immigrants would rush into Quebec, send their children to 
          English schools, and refuse to learn the principal language of
          the province- and **that** to such an extent that the more than
          8 million francophones in America (most of whom live in Quebec)
          would dissappear or be assimilated.

   The two objectives mentioned [The survival of the French fact in
   America and the freedom of choice (in education) for immigrants] are
   quite compatible with each other and they are both of very significant
   concern and importance.

   Secondly: The immigration concerns (justified or not) that led to the
             introduction of this restrictive legislation, as identified
             by the Supreme Court of Canada, were dealt with in immigration
             agreements signed between Quebec and Ottawa.

             Quebec has control over the selection of immigrants to Quebec
             so why is M. Lacroix worried?

             Because he is speaking from the typically paranoid, uninformed,
             emotional, nationalistic, intolerant perspective that I have
             had to deal with in this province.

> 
>  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  You may vary well forget about the question, you may be tempted to choose
>  both or all kinds on unconvincing arguments. Why don't you start to think
>  about it seriously?

   I have studied the history behind this issue very thoroughly and am
   probably better informed on this subject than the vast majority of
   Canadians, and probably Quebecers.

   I take these issues very seriously.

   I sympathise with the need to protect the French language and culture
   of Quebec - but **NOT** at the expense of basic human rights and
   freedoms: such as the right to choose the kind of schooling that shall
   be given to one's children.

>  French speaking people in America are 5 millions in a
>  pool of 300 millions english speaking. What is your estimate of their
>  life expectancy as a cultural group if freedom of choice is allowed for
>  new comers ... who know where is the money....


   My estimate of life expectancy of the French speaking people in North
   America if freedom of choice is allowed for newcomers?

   Probably the same as most peoples on this planet - subject to ozone
   depletion, food shortages, incurable disease epidemics, air poisoning,
   war, famine, etcetera. 


   Allowing newcomers to Quebec to choose the schooling they want for
   their children is not going to make a big dent in the linguistic and
   cultural integrity of the province of Quebec. There is **NO** 
   demographic evidene to support that claim. Such measures are, however,
   racist, fascist, and discriminatory.

  

  The "who know where is the money" comment, if I understand M. Lacroix
  correctly, is supposed to suggest that newcomers to Quebec would choose
  to join the English community here because (M. Lacroix believes) that
  is where all the power and money is.

  This illustrates again M. Lacroix's perspective.

  While I acknowledge that the English in Quebec were in a very powerfull
  position with regard to the economy, that has not been the case for
  decades.

  It is also abundantly clear that the overwhelming Francophone majority
  in Quebec not only has the political power in Quebec but also in Canada
  as a whole.

  
  Political figures in Quebec have been expoiting these irrational fears
  and emotions for their own purposes. 

  The myths continue and, sadly, there are many like M. Lacroix to 
  propogate them.

 
  It is frustrating to be confronted with these irrational, emotional
  fears and beliefs time and time again.

  Why do I keep at it?

  Aside from the fact that my family is directly affected by this - there
  is an important principle. It is an infringement of fundamental human
  rights and freedoms to deny access to a publicly funded service from any
  class of individuals in a society. It is dangerous and it is totally
  unacceptable. 

  There are times when individual liberties may be restricted for commonsense
  reasons. Restricting one's liberty to scream "FIRE!" in a crowded theatre,
  for instance. Nevertheless, the principle remains the same.

  When a society begins to deny rights or freedoms from any class of
  individuals, it crosses a line and embarks on a journey along a very
  dangerous road.

  I sometimes feel like a small child at the back of a crowded bus on that
  road. The driver can not hear my plea, "STOP! YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!",
  above the din of the passengers at the front - arguing about the route ahead.

  
-- 
  ///==================================================================\\\
  ||| Steve Potter:         steven%spxtech@CAM.ORG                     |||
  ||| Expertise/Experience: Computer Systems Engineering / Real Ale /  |||
  |||                       Politics in Education in Quebec            |||