A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog about the Montreal municipal election musing on a statement I heard from the French Press that because Anglos voted for Tremblay over Harel that we must prefer the mafia to the separatists.
I thought it was an amusing idea.
But it caused a stir on separatist blogs. Richard Martineau even denounced me as being “racist”. I was very surprised. A bit offended too that they didn’t get the joke. But, to be fair, humor is the last thing you get in a second language.
As I further reflect on it, this idea could be an opportunity for Anglos. Is it possible that some Quebecois actually consider themselves a separate race? Is that the next thing they will want everyone to call them, after the thrill of “nation” wears off?
I used to think that all the descendants of Europeans were Caucasians. But according to Wikipedia (my sources are rock solid) the term “Caucasian” is now disputed by academics and activists. So in our new Post Modern world the identity and labeling of race is indeed up for grabs.
And if Anglos were to assist the separatists who consider themselves to be a separate race then Anglos could benefit in the long run. Because if they were to get our parliaments to make a declaration that “Quebecois” was not only a “nation” but a “race”, then the legitimacy of Bill 101 could be challenged as racist.
Because, logically, if Franco Quebecers were a different race than Anglo Quebecers then Anglo Quebecers would have to be a different race than Franco Quebecers.
According to every declaration of human rights, including the UN charter and the Canadian and Quebec charters, it is a violation of these rights to discriminate on the basis of race. Therefore the overt, state sponsored discrimination against Anglo Quebecers in Bill 101 would have to be judged as “racist.”
“Race” is indeed the first category mentioned in the Quebec Charter of Rights.
“Every person has a right to full and equal recognition and exercise of his human rights and freedoms, without distinction, exclusion or preference based on race, colour, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, civil status, age except as provided by law, religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national origin, social condition, a handicap or the use of any means to palliate a handicap.
Discrimination exists where such a distinction, exclusion or preference has the effect of nullifying or impairing such right.”
It is clear that Anglos are officially discriminated against by the Office de la Langue Francais. Anglo language, the very thing that defines an Anglo’s identity, is officially prohibited and diminished. That is the law.
Anglos have already objected to it because it violates the prohibition against discrimination based on language as stated in the charter. But this has been ignored by courts more interested in keeping the social peace. And, since the declaration in Canadian parliament that “Quebecois” is a nation, Anglos could claim that we are discriminated based on “national origin” (being Canadians living among the “Quebecois nation”) but this is a grey area that has yet to be tested.
But if Franco Quebecers were to be declared a “race” then Anglos could claim that Bill 101 is “racist”, because it clearly discriminates based upon a racial difference. This would be a much more powerful weapon. Even the most timid Quebec judge would be hard pressed to defend a law that sets up different rights for different races. (They eventually ran out of excuses for this in South Africa.)
In the global court of public opinion “racism” is an ugly and indefensible crime.
So maybe there is much to be learned from the separatist blogs. Anglos should help them declare themselves a “race”. Then Anglos too can play the race card.