From: tdwebste@sparta.uwaterloo.ca (Timothy D. Webster)
Subject: Re: Toronto Sun: another case of paranoia???
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 23:51:27 GMT

In article <13477@audetf> audetf@Software.Mitel.COM (Francois Audet) writes:
>In article <BxJ4KM.Eq6@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca> tdwebste@sparta.uwaterloo.ca (Timothy D. Webster) writes:
>>Quebec Separatist are an enemy of Canada. The Bloc Quebecois have as
>>their mandate, the separation of Quebec. Therefore they are an enemy of
>>Canada. Remember this comic strip did not attack Quebecois ONLY
>>Separatist. 
>
>Canadian Federalists are an enemy of Quebec. The federal parties have
>as mandate, the submission of Quebec to Canada. Therefore they are an
>enemy of Quebec. Remember this comic stric did not attack Canadians
>ONLY federalists.

Your parallel does not correspond. 

The separation of Quebec from Canada would break Canada up, so Canada 
would nolonger exist. Two new countries would be formed neither of which 
is Canada. If one part maintained the name it still would not be Canada.

There is no reason why a compromise can not be made within a
federation suitable to all of its members. It may be difficult, but does
not need to be impossible.

Also people within Quebec can be divided into two groups, separatist and
federalist. CSQ can not be divided in the same way. They can only be 
divided according to their level of support for strong regional governments 
or central government. People in Quebec who support stronger regional
governments are not an enemy of Canada.

>Does this make any sense? No less than your previous paragraph. You
>have to be careful about falsified rethoric like the one you used, it
>can lead to justification of unjustificable hatred. If Quebec would
>secede, would you hate all quebecois?

I have no misgivings towards Quebecois who attempt to prevent the 
separation of Quebec and work towards making this nation productive. 
What about the people who would not want to be under control of Quebec.
(Indians). As people where to do we draw the line between going our
separate ways and working together? I reserve the right to simply 
leave Canada and not giving much mind to Quebec or the rest of Canada 
for that matter.

>
>Sovereignty is a valid option and should be entitled to the same level
>of respect as any other option. "Separatist"-bashing is also people
>bashing, and I doubt a lot that the Toronto Sun makes any difference
>between Quebecois and Separatists, and even if it did, it isn't the
>point. There is no excuse for this type of hatred. And if the Toronto
>Sun publishes it, there is obviously a good market for this type of
>ideas.
>
>>But Canadians are proud of their country and HATE Separatist. 
>>This does not mean they hate Quebecois or wish to impose there culture
>>onto Quebec.
>
>According to you, Canadians like only Quebecois if they think like
>anglo-canadians and act like them. They like Trudeau/Chretien-like
>quebecois. Hatred for "separatists" is not more legitimate than hatred
>for foreigners, francophones, etc.

I don't remember where I said I only like Quebecois resembling
anglo-canadians. In fact I would be disappointed if french-canadians
resembled anglo-canadians. Separatist are a different matter, they are
like enemy agents bent on the destruct of the country. They are
equivalent to an agressive foreign enemy. On the other had I have no
problem with cooperation with peaceful foreigners.

>>(Quebec's threating to separate is like a kid holding his breath to get
>>his/her way.)
>
>Canadian behaviour is like a kid doing it his way and not taking into
>consideration to what his brother's saying.

You may have a point here. However using separatation as a threat to
obtain one's way is counter productive. After a while the threat becomes
hollow, leaving you no choice but to carry it out. It am not saying that
you may not have legitament concerns, but this is surly not the way to make
them heard.

I am going to assume that you want this family to work. Do you think 
holding one's breath is very productive? Quebecois have the precarious
situation of desiring to maintain a unique culture in media cultured world.
I also agree that blaming Quebec for all the problems of Canada is a
little rediculous. Just as rediculous is Quebec blaming all of its
problems on Canada.

>
>>In the past the Quebec influence has been a postive one. Through it
>>Canadians have greater tolerence and some have learned a second language.
>
>And now we have articles like the one in the Toronto Sun. Great
>example of tolerance. 

Unfortunately I have to agree we are not so very tolerent after all. It
applies both ways.

>-- 
>                                                       Francois Audet
>                                                           '
>        Telephone: (613) 592-2121 x1754     Facsimile: (613) 592-4784
>                          Internet: Francois.Audet@software.Mitel.COM


-Tim.