04-13-2006, 05:11 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-13-2006, 05:25 PM by Chaerophon.)
Occhi, I think that you may have misconstrued my comments, which is, again, the result of a lack of familiarity with our cultural situation here. I don't think that people who voluntarily choose to come to our country should refuse to conduct their public lives in one of the two official languages, nor do I believe we have any obligation to meet any demands as far as accomodating their language in the public sphere (I don't, on the other hand, disagree with free language education for such immigrants...I think that the expense is well worth the payoff) The fact is, they CHOSE to come here, and in so doing, chose to adopt certain elements of the common political culture and heritage that characterizes Canada.
The difference in the Canadian context is this: the Quebecois did not choose to be conquered. At the time of their conquering - and ever since - the political culture of the Quebecois has been largely conducted in French. In Canada, we have laws in place that demand our public have access to schooling, public documents, etc. in either of the two official languages, and I am not a fan of Quebec's "Bill 101" which denied that (in many/most cases) English should not have such an equal status in Quebec. Nonetheless, when I talk about respecting language rights, I am talking about a specific instance - that of the Quebecois, and not "language rights in general". The rest of my post should be taken in this context, and not as a "general defense" of the language rights of any and all immigrants to Canada.
The difference in the Canadian context is this: the Quebecois did not choose to be conquered. At the time of their conquering - and ever since - the political culture of the Quebecois has been largely conducted in French. In Canada, we have laws in place that demand our public have access to schooling, public documents, etc. in either of the two official languages, and I am not a fan of Quebec's "Bill 101" which denied that (in many/most cases) English should not have such an equal status in Quebec. Nonetheless, when I talk about respecting language rights, I am talking about a specific instance - that of the Quebecois, and not "language rights in general". The rest of my post should be taken in this context, and not as a "general defense" of the language rights of any and all immigrants to Canada.
But whate'er I be,
Nor I, nor any man that is,
With nothing shall be pleased till he be eased
With being nothing.
William Shakespeare - Richard II
Nor I, nor any man that is,
With nothing shall be pleased till he be eased
With being nothing.
William Shakespeare - Richard II