Subject: Re: Odds and Ends re Quebec politics
From: Graham Preston (gpreston@mail.com)
Date: Tue Oct 17 2000 - 20:40:31 GMT
>kennedyp@toronto.cbc.ca (Paul Kennedy) wrote:
>>Quebec makes Canada Canada.
>I can't quite imagine Stockwell Day mouthing such sentiments, but then
again, I'm amazed that the man can even say his own name. But almost any
other politician in the country would probably pay you good Canadian Tire
money for lines like that!<
Being so "far west", I get a unique view on the Stockwell/"Alliance"
phenomenon, and would like to say that Mr. Day and his colleagues are beyond
the country-bumpkin image that such torontonians such as youself (possibly?)
try to spin on him. Make no mistake and don't underestimate him - he's got
charisma, and a little smarts to possibly find himself in a position with
80-100 seats if he plays his cards right. Then, we'll have a huge problem.
Trust me, living under Stockwell fiscal policy Alberta and being a student
was NOT easy, and I fear for the country if he ever got into 24 Sussex.
Stockwell seems to be sort of like L. Manning Vines in that some people like
him, and a lot of others pretend to like him, without ever reading anything
he wrote or thinks.
>Wiser words were never spoke. The only quibble that I have with your
argument is that it doesn't acknowledge the first couple hundred years of
'separatist' history. The conscription 'crisis' during the First World War
was far from the original airing of such sentiments. Resentment of
"English" rule dates back to the Plains of Abraham in 1759.<
Perhaps I should of thrown in a reference to the 7 years war, but chose to
edit it out of my argument for the sake of length for JLSnoop. Easily one
could use the expulsion of Acadians in 1756 (?) as another galvanising force
in Quebec's history, not to mention the revolts of 1837. But I contend that
the first time these thoughts were concentrated into a streamline machine
for seperation was over conscription. God bless Sir Robert Borden!:)
>Quebec, as you say, is unique--especially, as you say, in North America
(where not only the milk is homogenized.) Montreal is currently
experiencing a bit of an economic downturn, but it's still BY FAR the most
interesting city on the continent.<
My brief few days spent in Quebec in my lifetime have been some of the more
interesting experiences I have had. The whole place is just on a different
vibe than anywhere. But that doesn't excuse them from Roch Voisine, Celine
Dion, etc. =) But I also think that Vancouver, New York, Billings (!),
Edmonton (in its constant suburban mess of houses ie my home in Canada),
even Toronto, and LA have their merits to contend with Montreal. Just
because Mordecai Richler lays the leather onto Edmonton doesn't discount it
from the race!
And for a parting bit of Canadiana - I'm just counting the time until I can
head into a Canadian Tire and buy a lawnmower w/ Canadian Tire money that I
gained through buying hockey tape, furnace filters, automotive parts, and
snow shovels =)
Later,
Graham
-quite happy I could cram an OSR in all that canada-speak-
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