Most people in Canada know that by now, as the Inuit are more significant on our national scene. Incidentally, John Simon does deserve to be horsewhipped, not because he's a prescriptivist but because he's so mean-spirited. Enjoying it thoroughly. I am come late to your debate about the correct stance on proper use of language, especially of English, and maybe I can thereby add some fresh perspective. Mankind is superior because we have reason.
Reason is mankind's primary tool for survival as mankind.
Therefore, we cannot tolerate sloppy use of this tool. Those who justify bad grammar or inept diction because the masses persist in such sloppiness reduce the power of language, and thus reason. Such an irresponsible position is just as untenable as condoning incompetent driving practices or child abuse or bigotry simply because they are common. The purpose of academia, in fact of all of mankind's intellectual pursuits, must be to raise the standard, and not to succumb to the lowest common denominator. Reason is the only frontier left.