Oh, Shut Up

Apparently Bill 101 "saved" Canada.

If this be true, then Canada wasn't worth salvaging.

Bill 101 is a law rooted in tribal xenophobia written by minds that could only be considered "intellectual" in Quebec.

The truth is if one were to apply the rhetoric of the PQ anywhere else on the continent it would be exposed and summarily refuted by great minds. Nowhere in the West does any jurisdiction look to Quebec for inspiration on how to run a proper society with a great, noble vision.

The PQ would be a fringe party in American politics with little mainstream appeal.

That Canada actually believes this to be a "great compromise" directly shows how the idea of liberty is really absent here.

When votes are scant, we turn and pander to tribal instincts. It's frightening to hear the things coming out of the PQ and Liberals. No (true) self-respecting Democrat with a sense and commitment to the idea of liberty can tolerate this.

To us "ethniques", it was always curious how a law that came at the expense of one group of citizens as well as restricting choice, could be seen as a success. How precarious, indeed weak, is the majority to need such laws?

After all, the great communities of Quebec thrive with little or no help from the state.

It's a feeling I've heard be expressed over the years.

***

I've already made my decision for my daughter. We will encourage her to be educated elsewhere. To perhaps also begin a new life in a different place free of all this nonsense. I dare say, my allegiance to Quebec as grown so weak to the point it won't take much for me to leave.

***

Loathe as they are to hear this here, the world looks to the United States for it to move us forward.

At the peak of anti-American feelings during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, letters to the editors were filled with absolute anger towards the Americans. In response to it, a person wrote in from Texas and I never forgot it. The crux of his point was that the United States, rightly or wrongly, by choice or not, is the world's great super power and nation-state. It is both looked to and away from all societies from all corners of the globe. As such, its responsibilities; indeed sense of responsibility, considerations, leadership, values, beliefs, and (imperfect) decisions are such that no middle-sized nation of inconsequential size could ever understand. All we can do is criticize.

He closed by saying, "lucky you."

Exactly.