Diversity Matters
  • Home
  • About
    • Gina Valle
    • Awards & Recognition
    • Giving Back
  • Workshops
    • Workshops & Training
    • Public Speaking
  • Creative Works
    • Strong & Free Series
    • Horizons Exhibit
    • Book: The Best of All Worlds
    • Legacies Photo Exhibit
    • Book: Teachers at Their Best
    • Book: Our Grandmothers Ourselves
    • The Last Rite Documentary
    • Publications
    • Blog Posts
  • Events
  • Media
  • Contact

Ode to Quebec

10/17/2013

4 Comments

 
Picture
History has taught us that when minorities feel that they are not being heard, or that their rights are being surpressed, they fight back, and usually with guns. Luckily, in our democracy, they fight back with words and charters reminding us of common values. 
When Quebec took a strong stand on the state of their language, and introduced Bill 101, despite some disgruntled people, overall it raised the status of French, and the number of people speaking it in their province.  For those who did not agree, they said bye-bye and moved away. They brought their families and their brains to neighbouring provinces, and francophone communities grew, and so did quality French education in those provinces. In a way, Quebec helped many of us in other parts of the country become bilingual, and for that I need to thank them. 

Thirty-six years later, in 2013, the minority is feeling it needs to make changes and take control of its identity again, and passes the Charter of Quebec Values. It raises issues that most Canadians would rather not discuss. My guess is that many Canadians are having problems with multiculturalism these days, and my guess is that we would prefer not to talk about it. Frankly, as a Canadian, I am embarassed that such a charter would even be debated in any legislative assembly in this country.

Despite my anger, I hope that the conversation keeps going, because for it to stop means that we make our democracy weaker. Frank discussions can facilitate breaking down barriers and reducing stereotypes, with the objectives of accepting each other's differences, and the values underlying those differences.
 
I'll take words over guns any day.
 
Join me in the conversation. We need to remain integral to who we are as a nation.

4 Comments
Marie-Louise Donald link
10/18/2013 11:26:17 am

Thank you for your thoughts. It is not easy in Quebec to have these discussions and every part of the community is asked to have an opinion, and subtlety and nuances are a skill many of us are still composing with. In your opinion, could there be a miscommunication or a gap or a lack of long-term vision between what Canadian-born citizens understood or were told about our need for 'new' Canadians and the way this was to be implemented according to our Canadian and Quebec policy-makers on immigration and refugees?

Reply
Gina Valle
10/21/2013 09:37:23 am

Thank you for responding Marie-Louise. The gap between what Canadians believe and what new Canadians believe is large, but is greatly reduced with the children of new Canadians or first generation Canadians. In comparison to other immigrant receiving countries, the gap is manageable and less hostile, although we still have alot of work to do,

Reply
Ingrid Berzins Leuzy link
10/21/2013 02:02:12 am

I, too, am embarrassed by the Quebec government's stance. Take note, however, that this Charter of Values has not been passed yet so hope remains that we might yet find a way to compromise. At issue is the need on the francophone side to remain dominant in their 'nation', a right they have fought hard for in order to gain strength and confidence as a people, and the anglophone view that multiculturalism makes a country more dynamic and economically viable. Somewhere in the middle lies what we should ALL aim for....my personal view is that when you immigrate to any country you must adapt to the laws and rules of that land. So making those rules clear before coming to Canada is crucial. I am thinking of the four women who were killed by their parents in Kingston a few years ago because they had supposedly brought shame on the family by wanting to live by western standards, or the girl in Toronto who was killed by her brother for wanting to wear jeans. These are extreme cases, to be sure, but lead to Islamaphobia and the need, as you said, to 'fight back'.
Words are definitely better than guns and bullets but I fear the total disconnect between what Quebec is saying and what the rest of the country is saying, will lead to not hearing either side.

Reply
Gina Valle
10/21/2013 09:41:20 am

Thank you for writing Ingrid. Most Canadians would agree with your personal view. That is how you grow a country with common values and a strong sense of identity as a nation. Because of the two languages, I agree that the two sides are listening to one another, or learning from one another. That is why people like you and I who speak both and have lived in Quebec and elsewhere become vital to this discussion.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

Bringing  diverse ideas and people together
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.

BACK TO TOP

Content (c) Gina Valle and Diversity Matters  | dMark Communications

We respect your privacy and will never sell your information to a third party.

© DivTag Templates Ltd | All Rights Reserved