[Newsbot]

<strong>Filibuster Cartoon</strong>
<strong>Title: </strong> <a href="http://www.filibustercartoons.com/archive.php?id=20061125" target="_blank">Founding a Nation</a> (click to view)
<strong>Date: </strong> November 25, 2006

Prime Minister Harper shocked much of Canada on Thursday when he announced that his government was planning to table a motion in parliament that would declare Quebec to be \"a nation within a united Canada.\" For many years, even using the word \"nation\" to describe Quebec was considered a very bold, pro-separatist move. But now Harper figures he can actually co-opt the term to appease separatism. <br> <br>Some of Canada\'s leading conservatives are strongly speaking out against the move, however. From their perspective there is only one \"nation\" in Canada, namely Canada itself. To argue that Canada is a country composed of two nations is to go down a very uncertain political path we\'ve been trying to avoid.

[Rhoffman]

huh..... I honestly have no clue what to expect from this, though I am a little unsure if calling Quebec a nation (even in an attempt to appease seperatists) would be that wise of an idea. All I know is that if Quebec ever actually successfully leaves Canada, it's really going to screw things over (especially in Newfoundland and the Maritime Provinces). It's hard to imagine that the rest of Canada could function as a single nation with a massive chunk in between Ontario and the Western provinces from the Atlantic ones.

[Scape]

He did not say that Quebec is a nation. He said the Quebequois are a nation. Huge difference.

[JJ]

Not really... would it be a huge difference is someone said "the Germans are a nation" as opposed to "Germany is a nation"?

All citizens of Quebec are Quebecois. Therefore the province of Quebec is a nation-state, by this definition.

[Proculation]

JJ wrote:

Not really... would it be a huge difference is someone said "the Germans are a nation" as opposed to "Germany is a nation"?

All citizens of Quebec are Quebecois. Therefore the province of Quebec is a nation-state, by this definition.

False. Not all Quebecers are Québécois.
We are not talking about citizenship but about the nation.

[Elvis]

@Proculation

The French version is inclusive but not the english one. Like I said before, when you say one thing in french and another in english you are bound to face some trouble.

[Elvis]

Rhoffman wrote

Quote:

huh..... I honestly have no clue what to expect from this, though I am a little unsure if calling Quebec a nation (even in an attempt to appease seperatists) would be that wise of an idea. All I know is that if Quebec ever actually successfully leaves Canada, it's really going to screw things over (especially in Newfoundland and the Maritime Provinces). It's hard to imagine that the rest of Canada could function as a single nation with a massive chunk in between Ontario and the Western provinces from the Atlantic ones.

C'mon this is no big deal unless, Canadians what to make it a big deal.

[Streaker]

JJ wrote:

Not really

Wrong, there is a huge difference.

I live in Quebec. I'm even partly French-Canadian but I'm sure as hell NOT Québécois - a lot of people in Quebec have a hard time seeing themselves as Québécois, chiefly because in practice it is a term that only seems to be applied to people of a very specific linguistic/cultural/ethnic background.

[Elvis]

Quote:

chiefly because in practice it is a term that only seems to be applied to people of a very specific linguistic/cultural/ethnic background.

I know a lot of "new Québecois" who have absolutly no probleme with the concept . Unlike the Anglo-Quebecker, they have no probleme being part of the society in wich they live in.

The reason why so many "Anglo-Quebecker" refuse to see themself as Québecois is more a question of arrogance than anything else. Living in a buble for so long has it's side effect.

[Streaker]

Elvis wrote:

Quote:

chiefly because in practice it is a term that only seems to be applied to people of a very specific linguistic/cultural/ethnic background.

I know a lot of "new Québecois" who have absolutly no probleme with the concept . Unlike the Anglo-Quebecker, they have no probleme being part of the society in wich they live in.

The reason why so many "Anglo-Quebecker" refuse to see themself as Québecois is more a question of arrogance than anything else. Living in a buble for so long has it's side effect.

Maybe the Quebecois should start trying to be a part of the society in which they live - Canada.

It's not just anglo-Quebecers who have lived in a bubble, mon cher Elvis.

[Elvis]

Quote:

Maybe the Quebecois should start trying to be a part of the society in which they live - Canada.

Canada is a cultural void my friend there is not much to identify with. Beside american Culture and some local culture scatered acrosse Canada.

Quebecker are not in a buble they are living there culture and enjoying what the Rest Of the World has to offer. Like any other normal people around the world.

[Elvis]

I think that many Anglo in Québec refuse to live the Québec culture simply out of spite. Maybe if they just realize how silly it is they might finally participate in the debate of society that suround them.

[Streaker]

Elvis wrote:

Quote:

Maybe the Quebecois should start trying to be a part of the society in which they live - Canada.

Canada is a cultural void my friend there is not much to identify with. Beside american Culture and some local culture scatered acrosse Canada.

Quebecker are not in a buble they are living there culture and enjoying what the Rest Of the World has to offer. Like any other normal people around the world.

Calling Canada a "cultural void" - no that's not at all arrogant. But it's an attitude typical of those who have lived in a bubble, eh?

Bottom line: There may be some Quebecois - media types, intellectuals and maybe some others who live on the Plateau (I'll throw in the Plateau stereotype since you probably adhere to the "Westmount Rhodesian" one ) - who have a broader perspective but most still have a much more exclusive view of who a real Québécois is. There isn't necessarily anything wrong with that, but it's the reality nonetheless.

[Elvis]

Quote:

Calling Canada a "cultural void" - no that's not at all arrogant.

Des fois il faut appeler un chat un chat

Quote:

Bottom line: There may be some Quebecois - media types, intellectuals and maybe some others who live on the Plateau (I'll throw in the Plateau stereotype since you probably adhere to the "Westmount Rhodesian" one ) - who have a broader perspective but most still have a much more exclusive view of who a real Québécois is. There isn't necessarily anything wrong with that, but it's the reality nonetheless.

Now you lost me there????

[Proculation]

Elvis wrote:

Quote:

Calling Canada a "cultural void" - no that's not at all arrogant.

Des fois il faut appeler un chat un chat

Quote:

Bottom line: There may be some Quebecois - media types, intellectuals and maybe some others who live on the Plateau (I'll throw in the Plateau stereotype since you probably adhere to the "Westmount Rhodesian" one ) - who have a broader perspective but most still have a much more exclusive view of who a real Québécois is. There isn't necessarily anything wrong with that, but it's the reality nonetheless.

Now you lost me there????

I think he means that even if some "intellectuals" want people to believe that the Québécois nation is everyone who lives in our culture and our language, the definition of nation has not changed and means more than that.