Excesses of Freedom

Pierre Falardeau is a controversial nationalist film-maker and he's an example of all that is wrong with modern intellectualism in Quebec.

Without getting into details about the man himself - I really don't want to give him more attention than he deserves - let's just say that he thinks the the plight of the Quebecois is similar to those faced by the Palestinians. Many Quebecers disagree with him.

He's hilarious isn't he? Of course, there is no comparison to be made. Last I checked, Quebecers enjoy all the advantages and rights of other Canadians. Never mind that the Canadian government has never invaded the homes of Quebecers. Ironically, the only tolerated form of legal harrasment happens in Quebec via the L'Office de la Langue Française - Quebec's version of the Black and Brown shirts - without the violence but equipped with intimidation nonetheless. Let's call them Blue shirts.

Quebec pretty much runs its own show - as the sinking of Montreal can attest to - in one of the world's most decentralized Federations. So any complaints about having power concentrated in Ottawa rings hollow. In the minds of people like Falardeau, we are in theory 'oppressed' like the Palestinians. Quebec has power to determine what's good for them; the Palestinians do not.

Ah yes. The incessant theorizing of Quebec nationalists lamenting of a nation under the shackles of 'les anglais' has become tiresome and antiquated. Canadians fear American hegemony; Quebecers Canadian hegemony.

So it is no surprise then that Mr. Falardeau was seen carrying a Hezbollah flag during a pro-Lebanon rally - which quickly became an anti-Israeli rally. Duh. That it came from him should not surprise anybody. Perhaps he should go live in the Mid-East?

As a citizen, I have grown concerned at the boldness some Arabs have found in taking out the Hezbollah banner. Quebec leaders - not that Falardeau is one. He's not fit to lead anything - should know better.

The argument always inevitably turns and degrades into 'Well, why was Israel given the land of the Palestinians?' As if to justify malignant terrorists such as Hezbollah. This line of reasoning is an intellectual security blanket. Personally, I don't see the comfort in it. For it suggests there is a starting point and thus an explanation for why madness prevails in the region. However, the problem is much deeper than 1948.

Let us assume that it was a mistake to create Israel in 1948. For 60 years Arabs have gone on the offensive in trying to belittle and decimate a democracy. It has failed miserably.

At what point will people actually sit, think and conclude that Israel is here to stay? That to believe otherwise is perpetuate the cycle of destruction? In other words, learn to deal with the hand that has been dealt. The Arabs are not innocent in this. They too are authors of their own destruction.

To take part in rallies Quebec leaders help to symbolically ensure that Arabs keep pointing the mirror elsewhere. Much like they do themselves to had hideous realities within Quebec political and academic circles and laws.

Are Ottawa and Israel perfect entities? Of course they are not and they do have much to account for in some cases. When will we ask the other side of the equation - in this case Quebec and Arabs - do the same for a change? Do the grievances Quebec have against Canada justify their behaviour in this instance. Absolutely not. It's too wide of a discrepancy to stand next to Hezbollah.

When does freedom become offensive?

It becomes so when you see men of high rankings such as Andre Boisclair and Gilles Duceppe exercise their rights to be incredibly ignorant by attending political rallies that are of little concern to them. Quebec politics is good at justifying its backwardness. Their actions don't stem from being oppressed.

Rather, it is borne out of having too much freedom. Too much freedom in consistently conjuring mythical battles that no longer apply. It's decadent self-victimhood at its worse. It happens so frequently that they mock freedom. They are not democrats nor are they enlightened. They are- our business, political and academic classes - just tiny, little parochial colonial jackasses.

Ça c'est la verité.