Its hard to feel patriotic when the currency in your country bears the likeness of a foreign sovereign, the most powerful post is the governor general, and when the British anthem is played on country's national day. How many Canadians died for Britain in both world wars? Is there a single denomination of British currency commemorating Canada or Canadians?
A Disgusting Lack of Patriotism
- Thread starter Ocoq
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Given the long, complicated history of the relationship between Québec and its francophone citizens on the one hand, and the rest of Canada and Canadians on the other hand, perhaps we should just be thankful that all Canadians manage to coexist and live in peace despite their differences.
Looking at other countries of the world whose citizens are divided by language, cultural, religious and/or racial differences (think former Yugoslavia, many African countries, former Soviet republics, the United States, etc), it's somewhat miraculous that Canada has never suffered the tragedy of civil war. It's also somewhat miraculous that French Canadians have managed to preserve both their language and their culture despite the overwhelming influence of their anglophone Canadian and American neighbors.
My point is that maybe it's a good thing that French Canadians seem to display a lot more national pride (patriotism) on June 24 (Quebec's "national day") than on July 1. It helps them retain and strengthen their identity as a distinctive "nation" without needing to secede from Canada.
While secession does not seem to be a serious threat these days (apart from a vocal minority of French Canadians), Quebec came very close to voting to secede as recently as 1995. Today secession is not a serious threat. Most, but not all, French Canadians want to remain part of Canada, and that's a very good thing. If the price to be paid for that is a little less flag waving by French Canadians on Canada Day and a little more on St.-Jean Baptiste Day, then so be it.
Looking at other countries of the world whose citizens are divided by language, cultural, religious and/or racial differences (think former Yugoslavia, many African countries, former Soviet republics, the United States, etc), it's somewhat miraculous that Canada has never suffered the tragedy of civil war. It's also somewhat miraculous that French Canadians have managed to preserve both their language and their culture despite the overwhelming influence of their anglophone Canadian and American neighbors.
My point is that maybe it's a good thing that French Canadians seem to display a lot more national pride (patriotism) on June 24 (Quebec's "national day") than on July 1. It helps them retain and strengthen their identity as a distinctive "nation" without needing to secede from Canada.
While secession does not seem to be a serious threat these days (apart from a vocal minority of French Canadians), Quebec came very close to voting to secede as recently as 1995. Today secession is not a serious threat. Most, but not all, French Canadians want to remain part of Canada, and that's a very good thing. If the price to be paid for that is a little less flag waving by French Canadians on Canada Day and a little more on St.-Jean Baptiste Day, then so be it.
protagoras said:
Citizen of the World? One could ask "What does a Montrealer have in common with a Zimbabwean?"
I like to think that Canada's cultural values are Justice, Rule of Law, Freedom, well regulated capitalism, equal rights, etc. These attitudes are precious to me, and rarely found on Earth.
In fact, only a tiny minority on this planet live under such rules. So I celebrate Canada Day, and proudly call myself Canadian.
bobody1965 said:
Where exactly did you dig up this complete falsehood? PQ membership handbook? The only propaganda I see is the continued spreading of BS like this. The only reason that QC needs/gets more money than other provinces for Canada day is because of the lack of municipal and provincial funding compared to all the other provinces. Quebec receives more federal money than other provinces across the board, in most areas, so nothing new or surprising ---- or conspiratory here.
BD
There is no question that reading this thread does give one pause to ask the question. First off, why do people feel the need to express how they feel about the context or society in which they live.
In the first instance the posts to date in this thread would seem to indicate that here, at least, the feeling is that who gives a damn about the other guy? Just look after your own thing Who needs it because we don't get anything out of it.
So what do we get out of it? If nothing, then screw it. We would be just as happy squatting on a sand dune in the middle of the Sahara or somewhere where our very existence is at the whim of a banana republic dictator. They are the boys who can and do bust down the doors and drag us off when it suits them. Ha! But hey after all, as long as we demand we be left alone to achieve self-fulfillment anywhere on this planet we will get it, wont we? After all, they better damn well recognize our rights in this area, right? I mean, anywhere in the world, “WE HAVE RIGHTS!” Yeah? Give yourself a shake. Care to buy a bridge? Cheap?
So, they cry the song, why have countries anyway? Why not each of us go off and do our own thing? It would be great if that would happen. But long ago in the dim mists of the past an ancestor figured out that standing alone is weakness. Three can take what one has worked so hard to get as long as they are united . The rewards are great. If Ooog spends all day gathering bananas, Crog, Crag and Frag only need spend a couple of minutes taking it away. There is an old saying that you only have two choices as to what kind of military you can have in your country: Yours or somebody elses.
Our society is strong because of the common purpose which is the child of a common belief. That belief is that of the society built by our fathers based on the revolutionary and extraordinary innovations of the two great European democracies, Britain and France. Every once in awhile a group or country sees what we have and how easy it might be to enslave us. Sorry, I hate to tell you this but they don't give a rat's ass whether you think appreciating your own country is relevant. But they do love you guys. You are the key to making a people weak.
We celebrate the wonderful life created for us by our ancestors and by those who work to keep it alive and by we ourselves who celebrate each year to remind ourselves just how easy it would be to lose it all. All that is necessary is for us to cheapen the value of it by saying it's worthless.
I don't. My ancestors came here close to 400 years ago from France. And not long ago I decided that was long enough ago to allow me the privilege of ceasing to call myself an immigrant. This country in all of its diversity, beauty and freedom is in my blood maybe because I know just how bad it can get if we don't all spend a bit of time each year to dedicate ourselves to reaffirming this rare jewel that we have built.
In the first instance the posts to date in this thread would seem to indicate that here, at least, the feeling is that who gives a damn about the other guy? Just look after your own thing Who needs it because we don't get anything out of it.
So what do we get out of it? If nothing, then screw it. We would be just as happy squatting on a sand dune in the middle of the Sahara or somewhere where our very existence is at the whim of a banana republic dictator. They are the boys who can and do bust down the doors and drag us off when it suits them. Ha! But hey after all, as long as we demand we be left alone to achieve self-fulfillment anywhere on this planet we will get it, wont we? After all, they better damn well recognize our rights in this area, right? I mean, anywhere in the world, “WE HAVE RIGHTS!” Yeah? Give yourself a shake. Care to buy a bridge? Cheap?
So, they cry the song, why have countries anyway? Why not each of us go off and do our own thing? It would be great if that would happen. But long ago in the dim mists of the past an ancestor figured out that standing alone is weakness. Three can take what one has worked so hard to get as long as they are united . The rewards are great. If Ooog spends all day gathering bananas, Crog, Crag and Frag only need spend a couple of minutes taking it away. There is an old saying that you only have two choices as to what kind of military you can have in your country: Yours or somebody elses.
Our society is strong because of the common purpose which is the child of a common belief. That belief is that of the society built by our fathers based on the revolutionary and extraordinary innovations of the two great European democracies, Britain and France. Every once in awhile a group or country sees what we have and how easy it might be to enslave us. Sorry, I hate to tell you this but they don't give a rat's ass whether you think appreciating your own country is relevant. But they do love you guys. You are the key to making a people weak.
We celebrate the wonderful life created for us by our ancestors and by those who work to keep it alive and by we ourselves who celebrate each year to remind ourselves just how easy it would be to lose it all. All that is necessary is for us to cheapen the value of it by saying it's worthless.
I don't. My ancestors came here close to 400 years ago from France. And not long ago I decided that was long enough ago to allow me the privilege of ceasing to call myself an immigrant. This country in all of its diversity, beauty and freedom is in my blood maybe because I know just how bad it can get if we don't all spend a bit of time each year to dedicate ourselves to reaffirming this rare jewel that we have built.
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Dinosaurs
Somewhat interesting but disjointed thread.
A few weeks ago outside the nearby McDonald's 3 little kids 7 - 8 years old were sharing their interest in dinosaurs, showing each other the various plastic figurines they had obtained during the latest promotion. Quebecois,Haitian and Muslim. Mothers were nearby chatting.
Yes there is hope.
Somewhat interesting but disjointed thread.
A few weeks ago outside the nearby McDonald's 3 little kids 7 - 8 years old were sharing their interest in dinosaurs, showing each other the various plastic figurines they had obtained during the latest promotion. Quebecois,Haitian and Muslim. Mothers were nearby chatting.
Yes there is hope.
protagoras said:
And what does a New Yorker have in common with someone living in Louisiana or Arkansas or Alaska or Texas? Not very much, but they all celebrate the 4th of July with great fervour and a common love for their country.
I for one am very proud to be a Canadian and I'm damn proud of what our armed forces did in both World Wars and what they are doing today around the world. And Quebec separatists should be damn proud to live in Canada because in any other country they would never be permitted to actively campaign for the destruction of the country.
It's sad that other countries have more respect for Canada than many of the people who actually live here.
But I do feel that it is time to let the Monarchy go. We are no longer a British colony and when the Queen dies, it should be time to move on.
And by the way, Lasalle had a great celebration last night as they do every year and so did many other municipalities including Montreal with their usual party at the Old Port.
HG Hunter said:
Well thank you! I am glad you appreciate the view.
CaptRenault said:
Very good point! I had not thought about it but now that you say it, it makes sense.
Kepler said:
I enjoy many aspects of the buddhist philosophy and one of them says that all human beings are connected because there are some things everyone has in common : All of us aspire to be happy and need to be loved and none of us want to suffer.
I feel it puts things into perspective. I don't know about you but when I think about it this way, it does make me feel that even on some small level, I can relate to a Zimbabwean.
*****
To me country celebrations are just like Valentine's day : sure, it's nice to have a day where someone tells you they love you but I would much rather prefer that they show it to me with small gestures all year long!
As an adult, I rarely celebrate either St-Jean or Canada Day. I do not feel the need. I show my respect and my support to my nation on a daily basis.
CS Martin said:I really respect that!!! It's great to meet an SP who reports and accounts for all her income to the government.
My dear Martin, there are many ways to repay the community.
One of them is volunteer work. I think it is a very constructive and concrete way to make our society better. If everyone would do it, I don't think we would have to give as much money to our government.
Ariane Valmont said:My dear Martin, there are many ways to repay the community.
One of them is volunteer work. I think it is a very constructive and concrete way to make our society better. If everyone would do it, I don't think we would have to give as much money to our government.
I'm glad you ADD that to the equastion as well. Great.....no excuses, play it straight AND volunteer in the community. My enternal admiration.
CS Martin said:I'm glad you ADD that to the equastion as well. Great.....no excuses, play it straight AND volunteer in the community. My enternal admiration.
I am not sure what is your point and honestly, I find your tone annoying.
Did I say somewhere that I am a model citizen? I think not. I do my best but I am certainly not perfect. And you know what? I doubt very much that you are, so please keep your useless irony to yourself.
P.-S. By the way, if you ever feel the irrepressible need to set something straight with me, my pm box is open. Just thought I would point that out because I know you usually prefer to bash us "dumb bitches" behind our back.
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Capt Renault,
Though we did not have a civil war, people did die! maybe you should include the 60's and 70's in your remark.
And please do not tell me that we live in harmony! The Anglos are discriminated in Quebec and its also legal to do so!
Like the French Canadians in this province I too would like to preserve my culture and heritage, without being branded!
Though we did not have a civil war, people did die! maybe you should include the 60's and 70's in your remark.
And please do not tell me that we live in harmony! The Anglos are discriminated in Quebec and its also legal to do so!
Like the French Canadians in this province I too would like to preserve my culture and heritage, without being branded!
Ocoq said:
Hey Ocoq !
1st- Didn't you read Oobe before ?
2nd- Happy Dominion day ? you must be kidding.. and you're the one who's talking about a talisman of peaceful....
3rd-You went to a St-jean baptiste and actually saw a Gestapo-like police ?
DO you know what was the Gestapo ? or is it that anything too french to your taste sounds like fachism ?
4th-There was no information about the province history, culture ? and yet you were able to hear 'separatist propaganda' even though you didn't understand any of the what they sang, in french ?
And yet you've been in town since last summer (1 year) while you were able to see 30 ladies...
Didn't come up with any info on Google you say ?
Try 'fireworks st-jean baptiste' ? 3rd, 4th link (the first is about last year)
Even the 7th one is from Gouvernor general of Canada
Think you're just trying to stir sh*t again about Quebec !
Have fun ! you can sing 'God bless... whatever ' as much as you want.
New generations don't give a sh*t about that !
Porter said:
You did not understand what I meant.
He has the right to live where ever he chooses to!! What I was trying to say is that if it is that important for him to be amongst proud Canadians, he has picked the wrong area.
If, for example, I want to be surrounded by French people (which, for the secord, I personally don't care about) I will not go live in Westmount and then complain about it.
I have absolutely nothing against anglophones. In fact, I usually prefer anglo men to French Canadians.
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