It would be natural for Montrealers with common sense, in any language group, to get angry about the latest foolishness from hard-line francophone nationalists.
But before you get offended, consider this: The expulsion of two local bands from a St. Jean Baptiste Day concert - now reversed - was more a sad symptom than a calculated insult. And it was tremendously heartening that many francophone voices were raised against this grim spasm of mean-spirited ethnic nationalism. No doubt that disapproval spurred organizers to reverse their ban.
Despite the happy ending, the incident demonstrates the innate tension between two types of nationalism, civic and ethnic. The civic model, relatively inclusive, understands that Quebec has been home to a significant anglophone population for centuries, and to many allophone communities for decades. In this model anglophones and allophones are encouraged to feel that they have more in common with their francophone neighbours than with their cousins in Toronto.
Ethnic nationalism, more exclusive, saw - and no doubt still sees - a provocation in allowing Montreal performers - a string band called Lake of Stew and a singer known as Bloodshot Bill - to perform at l'Autre Saint-Jean, a St. Jean Baptiste concert June 23 in Rosemont.
An ancient holiday, once celebrating the summer solstice, then a saint, then all French-Canadians, was converted by the Parti Québécois into a subsidized festival of nationalism. For some, this means no English need apply - though we are allowed to pay taxes to subsidize such events. (We're almost afraid to ask the people who hold that view: would anglophones performing in French be acceptable?)
Pathetic, isn't it? Some 32 years after the Charter of the French Language became law, long after most anglophones accepted it as essential to linguistic security for the majority, a few francophones still lack the self-confident maturity to hear a bluegrass tune in English.
For some, this is a knee-jerk reaction. For a few others it is part of a strategy of provoking crises to awaken nationalist fervour.
But note that many other francophones do not share this view - and said so loud and clear, applying so much pressure that the singers will get to play.
The agent for Malajube, a well-known group booked for the same event, called the ban "ridiculous." Even Louise Harel told La Presse that while French, as the common language, should be used most, "in the nation we do not exclude the anglophone community."
That, we trust, is the majority view.