Next year marks the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City…and a loud brew-ha-ha has erupted over the possibility that the Queen might be invited to attend the ceremonies.
Here are samples of some of the ignorant & ridiculous opinions which were spewed during an hour-long TQS television call-in show:
“Have we forgotten that England deported the Acadians, sent Louis Riel to the gallows and exploited francophones?”
“This is shameful. The Queen has no business coming here. Quebec City is the cradle of French in America. Her presence will only fuel nationalist sentiments.”
Hmm…aside from the fact that England had nothing to do with Louis Riel (which indicates someone didn’t pass elementary school history!), perhaps those who are baying like rabid dogs at the monarchy should actually get on their knees and thank them…for without the monarchy — and the government it represents — there would be no French in America!
In the aftermath of the French defeat of 1756, Quebecers wondered whether or not they would be assimilated by their new English overlords…swamped by a North America that was entirely composed of English colonies. As far as the rest of the British colonists of North America were concerned, that’s what should have happened…
As it turns out, the British government decided on something extraordinary: they would not only TOLERATE Quebec as a French-speaking colony in an English word, they would also ENSURE it with legal protection.
The result was a small little document you might have heard of: The Quebec Act of 1774 — an ACT of the BRITISH PARLIAMENT (you know, the one represented by that monarchy-thing) that ENSURED THE SURVIVAL of the FRENCH NATION in what would become CANADA.
I hope you all found that easy to read…especially the bigoted, vile French nationalists who might find it extremely uncomfortable to face the realities of history…or truth…or logic. Just like Celine Dion, there are certain things that Quebec nationalists can never deny…and the Quebec Act is one of these things. After all, the Act did the following for francophones:
(1) Replaced the oath of allegiance so that it no longer made reference to the Protestant faith
(2) Guaranteed free practice of the Catholic faith
(3) Upheld the continued use of Civil law (legal system) initially used by the French (as opposed to Common law used by the British)
In fact, for the first time since becoming a colony, the people of French Canada could actually participate in the government of their colony — far more than they ever could under the previous French colonial administration.
The Quebec Act was so powerful that it was listed as one of the intolerable acts that helped to fire the American revolutionaries to the south.
So…right-wing francophone nationalists can bay at the moon — or the monarchy — all they want. If they actually cracked open a book…or paid attention in school…they might realize that their opposition to a visit by Elizabeth II for Quebec City’s birthday bash is just about the worst thing they could possibly advocate. Quebec as we know it owes its existence to the Britsh…and the British crown…and try as they might, it’s a historical fact that isn’t about to disappear into the ether.
Hmm…I wish I knew how to say “the pot calling the kettle black” in French…
