Land of Free Speech

[cyklon_300]

and they somehow have the 'right' to eject this person, then fine.

However, if their actions are considered an affront by other consumers, then hit them in the pocketbook and organize a boycott of the place. An empty mall would get the owners to ponder the fairness of their actions very quickly.

THIS is the American way...you can talk 'concepts' til you're blue in the face, but when the issue comes down to money, suddenly things get put in proper persepctive (well, sometimes they do).

 

[Arnaud]

Leno joked about it last night. The mall and the guards sounded even more stupid in his words. Bad publicity.

 

[pufferfish]

I didn't know Leno dove and read our great Scubaboard

 

[DivePartner1]

Well, speaking of human rights, what about Quebec 's consistent violaiton of Canada's language laws. Their criminalization of English violates Canadian law, has been sanctioned by the UN, and is just down right rude to the rest of Canada.

It's also an irritant. Of the 40 or so countries in which I do work, it is the only one that require us to rename ourselves by rephrasing anything that might sound as if it were from any other language and making it sound "French." Not event the French do that. Sheesh.

But they DO have have some excellent clubs to meet my frustrated expectations about Le Club de Castor . . .

 

[Arnaud]

pufferfish once bubbled...
I didn't know Leno dove and read our great Scubaboard

Either that or one of the 26 or so writers watches CNN. Nah, it must be the Scubaboard...

 

[pufferfish]

Divepartner, ma vieille branch, one day at the Club de Castor over une biere I will tell you how we have learned to live with the Quebecois. Date a French woman and you will come to enjoy French women's company. Unpredictable at times but love to debate issues full of emotion. Yes they are a 'distinct society' and we should recognize this. Every poll ever done in this country shows us Anglos are PC in terms of our 'operating system' and the Quebecois are Mac. They are much more intuitive and feeling in orientation. That being said yes their language laws are a pain but hey that is their province and they can do what they like in that department. I think the majority of Canadians agree with that and it is only the radicals on both sides of the language debate who continue to get excited by this issue. I think it is great that we can go to Montreal and practice our French (or to California and pratice our Spanish for that matter) and learn to better connect our heads with our hearts as the French and Latinos seem better able to do.

 

[Northeastwrecks]

DivePartner1 once bubbled...
Well, speaking of human rights, what about Quebec 's consistent violaiton of Canada's language laws. Their criminalization of English violates Canadian law, has been sanctioned by the UN, and is just down right rude to the rest of Canada.

It's also an irritant. Of the 40 or so countries in which I do work, it is the only one that require us to rename ourselves by rephrasing anything that might sound as if it were from any other language and making it sound "French." Not event the French do that. Sheesh.

But they DO have have some excellent clubs to meet my frustrated expectations about Le Club de Castor . . .

Have they gone too far? IMHO, Bill 101 was overkill. Its also your country and I'm not going to say you're wrong. However, do you think that it makes cross-cultural communication more difficult? Why not let the market decide? This is much the same argument as Cyklon's suggestion regarding the New York mall. If you don't like somebody's sign, don't patronize them.

Regardless, I love working and vacationing in Canada. I've spent time in Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver and honeymooned in Ottawa.

I do find it interesting that Les Montrealais seem to be more outspoken over the use of English than other locations within Quebec. I've had people in Montreal berate me over the quality of my French (which isn't perfect, but is understandable) and it seems like the language cops are more active. When I was in Quebec City, on the other hand, people seemed to be more tolerant of my accent. I also found their accent easier to follow.

I'm trying to remember whether the restaurant signs in the Queen E are still in English. I ask because there is no other reason I'd know to call it the Beaver Club since I didn't know the French word for beaver until this thread. Anyone been there recently?

Incidentally, the restaurant is closed for renovation until, I think, May 2003.

 

[pufferfish]

Yes Bill 101 probably did go too far but I see it as one of those pendulum phenomena. That generation of Quebecers had a lot of shackles to break (Catholic church and English dominated businesses) back in the 70's and 80's but like with feminism the world is a different place now. Most businesses are run by French Canadians in Quebec and the church is history for now. Quebecers I believe have the lowest birth rate in the Western world. The market outside of Quebec is driving most of the language issues. In Toronto and Vancouver you are more likely to find English and Chinese on street signs or ATMs than French. If you speak to many Quebecers they to don't understand why people in Vancouver should have to read a cereal box in French when Chinese would be more appropriate based on demographics. About a year ago someone tried to blow up a Second Cup coffee shop in Montreal because they had an English name but I just checked their web site and they have not changed their name. I suspect the Queen Elizabeth hotel and the Beaver Club will keep their English names as well.

NEW your French must be real good if those in Quebec City were easier to follow. I lived there for a year and that la,la and accent was tough to follow at times.

I don't know if it is a sign of things to come in North America but my Spanish is now much better than my French. I hear Spanish daily here in Toronto but might hear French once a month if that.

 

[Arnaud]

Now, you guys have really hijacked the thread!

That's fine. Canada's great (except for the weather and those nasty black flies). "Vive le Quebec libre" was probably the stupidest thing De Gaulle ever said.

 

[pufferfish]

Thanks for reminding us Arnaud.

Tell me NEW with that guy who was thrown off an Amtrak train for wearing an 'inflammatory' t-shirt would an Amtrak train be considered private property or government building with all those subsidies they get?