Vive Le Quebec libre
" You've asked most people in the world, have you? "
I lived 8 months in Canada, for student exchange - with other foreign students from Mexico, Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Argentina. We had time to speak about countries, especially about Canadian identity.
" There is also bilinguism in USA, spanish. "
Spanish is not yet an official language of USA as a whole country. The presence of a huge spanish population is a very recent phenomenon comparing to the history of the united states.
This is not the case for Canada, where English and french are both equally official languages of the Canadian confederation.
Bernard,
I do not know where you are from, although I gather you are quite young and immature. Why do you suppose Canadians care two hoots about how foreigners interepret Canadian national identity? Identity is a subjective thing and not dependent on interpretation by others.
It is quite common, and an interesting phenomenon, that foreigners in any country spend quite a lot of time talking down the locals. This is just idle gossip of little significance. It allows the foreigners to feel themselves somehow above the locals, as if they represents some higher level of sophistication and intelligence. In fact, they and the countries they come from are subject to the same condescending gossip from foreigners in their home country.
Anglo Canada without Quebec is an identical twin of the United States. It would be great for both countries if Quebec decided to go its separate way to merge and form one country. Ontario would have a land bridge with New Brunswick via New York State, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Anglo Canadian identity accentuates its british past and its inferior position in regards to the UK. Why would they have the face of Queen Elizabeth plastered on their money if they did not feel this way? In a wider North American context I feel that is is very pertinent for Canadians, US residents, and Mexicans to discuss these very real issues.
Quebec is a nation within a nation, this is undisputable. Logically it should be its own country.
Riko
Countries consisting of more than one national group are very common. There is nothing "logica"l about making separate countries of each these national groups. It is a matter of what a majority of people want. Democracry exists to defend people's interests against the "logic" of autocrats. "Logically" we should be ruled by a super intelligent and capable dictator. Reality is quite different.
As for your comments on how Canadians feel and the relevance of the Queen on the currency, you really can only speak for how you feel. You cannot speak for how others feel.
Sander : tu répètes à l'envi, comme un petit robot, que le Québec s'effondrerait s'il prenait son destin en main. As-tu autre choses à nous proposer que des borborygmes pour appuyer tes dires et tenter de nous convaincre ?
>>Spanish is not yet an official language of USA as a whole country. The presence of a huge spanish population is a very recent phenomenon comparing to the history of the united states.
This is not the case for Canada, where English and french are both equally official languages of the Canadian confederation. <<
bernard, ENGLISH is "not yet an official language of the USA as a whole country"! The US HAS no official language. Some individual states do, and some of them give official status to Spanish -- NOT because of any RECENT developments in the Spanish-speaking population of the US, but because of HISTORIC usage of the language in those regions.
Again, you need to do your research before you make your pronouncements.
And may I remind you that the US also has native French speakers -- drive into Louisiana, with its large Cajun (former Acadian) population, and the sign says both "Welcome to Louisiana" and "Bienvenue a la Louisiane". Yet French-speaking Cajuns are perfectly happy to be American, and not plotting any secessionist movements. Language is not destiny.
El C - apology accepted! ;)
bernard -
<<I lived 8 months in Canada, for student exchange - with other foreign students from Mexico, Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Argentina.>>
Did you talk to any Canadians?? I live in Germany and have my own opinions on the country, but it doesn't affect Germans whatsoever.
Riko -
<<Anglo Canadian identity accentuates its british past and its inferior position in regards to the UK. Why would they have the face of Queen Elizabeth plastered on their money if they did not feel this way?>>
well, perhaps because she's their queen, too?
BERNARD,
=>Spanish is not yet an official language of USA as a whole country. The presence of a huge spanish population is a very recent phenomenon comparing to the history of the united states. <=
You don't know what you're talking about.THE USA HAS NO OFFICIAL LANGUAGE .And I bet that when you were (like you claim) in Canada that you only spoke French. LOL LBL
Of course there are some official languages,
School is in english or in spanish in some countries.
El C,
=>Of course there are some official languages, <=
NO! LBL
Steve K
I read that the the last referendum held in Quebec to secede in 1995 was supported by the vast majority of francophones in Quebec. The anglophone population, immigrants, and first nations wanted to remain in Canada and therefore gave them the 50 percent they needed.
Quebec is 3 times the size of France. It can be its own country. In regards to Canada, if it were a truely independant country, it would not have the face of a foreign monarch on its currency. They ditched the Union Jack on their flag some decades back, why didn't they do the same with their currency?
Riko,
The non-francophones in Quebec have the same right to vote as the francophones and their votes count equally. Many have been there as long or longer than many of the francophones. Or do you think they should just be kicked out? Opinion in Quebec is divided.
The question in 1995 was not "Do you want Quebec to declare independence ?". The question was
"Do you agree that Quebec should become sovereign after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new economic and political partnership within the scope of the bill respecting the future of Quebec and of the agreement signed on June 12, 1995?"
It is well known that the support for "la question dure" is much lower. But I am not against Quebec separation. I welcome it. I just do not agree that logic has anything to do with it, nor has the size of Quebec. Ultimately it is something to be decided democartically in a democratic state.
The Queen on the currency bothers you but really does not bother a lot of people in Canada. It is irrelevant.
Riko,
=>Quebec is 3 times the size of France. It can be its own country.<=
LOL, Do you know how many people live in Quebec?
LOL, Do you know how many people live in Quebec? >
And what? Do u want that I remind u the size of your flea country? LOL