Quebec, the French Language, and Quebecois Identity

[New Brisavoine]

He meant American football is extremely boring to watch, as is baseball and golf. Only basket ball is found interesting by European audiences, but less so than football (soccer), rugby, cycling, etc.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Guilty as charged, but an anglo not unsympathetic to the francophone cause, and, living in Moncton, well aware of the siren call of the dominant anglophone culture of North America and what it means for assimilation.

I just want fairness for the anglophone minority in Quebec, having had family members living there. Equality of service will not be possible of course (especially in 98% francophone areas of the province, but it might be nice in areas like the townships, Chateauguay valley, Outouais, greater Montreal, parts of the Gaspesie south shore and in the nord shore around Blanc Sablon where historical anglophone populations exist.

I am growing more and more concerned that Legault's ultimate aim is nothing less than the extirpation of the anglophone community within the province.

Quebec could certainly implement an English Language Service Act; modelled on the French Language Service Act in Ontario. Designate areas of Quebec as bilingual using the Ontario threshold of 10%/5000; whichever is less (there are 26 such designated areas in Ontario). That would mean bilingual highway signs in Quebec City and elsewhere in the province, bilingual SAQ outlets, bilingual government documents such as drivers' licenses, health cards, birth/death certificates, etc.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Yes but go to Halifax with a Greek and they'll say that is not a real Gyros. Which (I'm guessing) probably comes from Turkey or points east anyway.

Totally agree on the us or ours but add whole wheat wrap to a Donair and it is something new and people from Halifax will claim it's not authentic. It never ends.

1. Gyros and Donairs are definitely not the same thing, so there will be no confusion there.

2. I doubt that Haligonians would care what kind of wrap or whatever is on it. People here (outside of those who might want some media attention) don't tend to get wrapped up (see what I did there?) in stuff like authenticity of food, or whatever. You can get donair 'everything' here... egg rolls with donair meat in them, donair pizza, donair plate (meat and fries), etc etc.

Now back to Quebec...

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

He meant American football is extremely boring to watch, as is baseball and golf. Only basket ball is found interesting by European audiences, but less so than football (soccer), rugby, cycling, etc.

Because *ahem* they don't want to take the time to expand their horizons and appreciate those sports for what they are and the intricacies and nuances therein. Sound familiar?

[thebasketballgeek]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

He meant American football is extremely boring to watch, as is baseball and golf. Only basket ball is found interesting by European audiences, but less so than football (soccer), rugby, cycling, etc.

That’s why the NFL sells out the stadium every time there’s a game in Europe. I highly doubt its all Americans making the trip across the Atlantic to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars play.

Fwiw North Americans have very similar views about watching soccer that Europeans have regarding football. I’m pretty sure football is the second most popular sport in Québec as well.

But you forgot to mention Hockey which is definitely considered “interesting” by Europeans.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I also could have predicted this one too based on your message.

It's still very popular here, and heard very frequently during the Christmas season. Both the original Tino Rossi version and innumerable remakes by artists from Quebec and France.

While some places here do go "full Nat King Cole + Mariah Carey" for Christmas, you also have lots of places where there is a mix and so you'll get Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire and All I Want For Christmas is Yooooooooooou, mixed in with Petit Papa Noël, Noël C'est l'Amour, Enfants de Palestine, Le Petit Renne au Nez Rouge, Le Sentier de Neige, in addition to Adeste Fideles and Feliz Navidad. And of course there are places that only do songs in French.

Which means that the average person is almost certainly familiar with all of these songs.

Even your average Anglo-Montrealer or even Anglo-Ottawan would probably recognize Petit Papa Noël. Though that recognition drops off really quickly once you get deeper into Anglo-Canada.

Wonder what the awareness in Franco Canada and the rest of English Canada about the traditional and unique Christmas celebrations in Newfoundland; as well other celebrations found only in Newfoundland. The ROC is not some homogeneous blob that Franco Canada tends to make it out to be.

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by thebasketballgeek

But you forgot to mention Hockey which is definitely considered “interesting” by Europeans.

When all is said and done, the two "nations" of Canada still will always have that bond, at least.

[harls]

When this came out it I thought it was hilarous.. now, I feel sad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMNbUvVj678

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

One (European) reader of the Financial Times summed it up today:

I think that's what most Europeans think.

Never understood the whole Super Bowl thing. US sport is bizarre from A to Z anyway. Like non-metric units.

The Americans will be landing people on the moon again within a few years. Aside from the US, China is the only other country with serious plans to do so (they're quite a bit further behind; Americans will probably return to the moon 5-10 years before the first Chinese landing). The EU isn't even close to having those capabilities in space.

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Because *ahem* they don't want to take the time to expand their horizons and appreciate those sports for what they are and the intricacies and nuances therein. Sound familiar?

Yes, your familiar BS.

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by thebasketballgeek

But you forgot to mention Hockey which is definitely considered “interesting” by Europeans.

Hockey is a niche sport, like water polo. The only North American sport that has a significant audience in Europe is basket ball.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by harls

When this came out it I thought it was hilarous.. now, I feel sad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMNbUvVj678

Because it's actually happening?

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

The Americans will be landing people on the moon again within a few years. Aside from the US, China is the only other country with serious plans to do so (they're quite a bit further behind; Americans will probably return to the moon 5-10 years before the first Chinese landing). The EU isn't even close to having those capabilities in space.

The usual view in Europe is this (I don't say I agree with it, but that's the general view): landing on the Moon is nothing extraordinary, we could do it if we wanted to, but it's a complete waste of money and energy for no good benefit, so it's much better to invest in hard science and automated space exploration.

It's been Europe's approach ever since the cancellation of the Hermès spaceship at the Grenada Summit in 1992. France was, as usual, the only country with any space ambition (Hermès was essentially led by the French), but the Germans and other Europeans were not interested, and they torpedoed the project and have torpedoed all serious European manned space projects since then. And unlike in de Gaulle's days, the French leaders are not willing to go it alone anymore, alas.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

Hockey is a niche sport, like water polo. The only North American sport that has a significant audience in Europe is basket ball.

It's probably not as popular as basketball in Europe overall but in quite a few European countries hockey is the second most popular sport after association football: Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden, Latvia, Russia. It's probably number one in Finland even.

Less niche than waterpolo for sure.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

Quebec could certainly implement an English Language Service Act; modelled on the French Language Service Act in Ontario. Designate areas of Quebec as bilingual using the Ontario threshold of 10%/5000; whichever is less (there are 26 such designated areas in Ontario). That would mean bilingual highway signs in Quebec City and elsewhere in the province, bilingual SAQ outlets, bilingual government documents such as drivers' licenses, health cards, birth/death certificates, etc.

Quebec already has all of this though it doesn't apply to signage most of the time. Ontario OTOH does pretty good at bilingual signage at least in some areas but there never seems to be anyone who can speak French! But I might ask what's more important? A faded sign that says ENTRÉE- ENTRANCE or actually being able to speak to a human being in your language to conduct your transaction?

Anyway, Quebec has perhaps more policies and laws on services and rights for the minority language than any other province, and believe it or not many of them are guarantees as opposed to restrictions.

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by Acajack

It's probably not as popular as basketball in Europe overall but in quite a few European countries hockey is the second most popular sport after association football: Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden, Latvia, Russia. It's probably number one in Finland even.

It's only the 4th most popular sport in Germany. #2 is handball. Handball is surprisingly popular in Central Europe.

#3 in Germany is basketball, just ahead of ice hockey. See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_in_Germany#Main_sports

Although these are just team sports, and doesn't take into account cycling. If you took cycling into account, I think it's more popular than ice hockey in Germany.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

Wonder what the awareness in Franco Canada and the rest of English Canada about the traditional and unique Christmas celebrations in Newfoundland; as well other celebrations found only in Newfoundland. The ROC is not some homogeneous blob that Franco Canada tends to make it out to be.

You're right at least for Quebec: no one here knows or even cares if Newfoundland has its own unique Christmas traditions. But the positive is that no one in Quebec would say Newfoundlanders are xenophobic backward assholes for wanting to preserve them. In fact, most people in Quebec would see that as a positive.

I would also suspect that many ROCers would at least assume that Newfoundland has some of its own Christmas traditions. Since Newfoundland tends to have its own things for a lot of stuff. Though these ROCers would probably be hard-pressed to name any of them.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

It's only the 4th most popular sport in Germany. #2 is handball. Handball is surprisingly popular in Central Europe.

#3 in Germany is basketball, just ahead of ice hockey. See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_in_Germany#Main_sports

Although these are just team sports, and doesn't take into account cycling. If you took cycling into account, I think it's more popular than ice hockey in Germany.

So the top handball league in Germany has a half-dozen top clubs that draw 10-15,000 people per game? Because the top hockey league there is probably in that range.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Acajack

You're right at least for Quebec: no one here knows or even cares if Newfoundland has its own unique Christmas traditions. But the positive is that no one in Quebec would say Newfoundlanders are xenophobic backward assholes for wanting to preserve them. In fact, most people in Quebec would see that as a positive.

I would also suspect that many ROCers would at least assume that Newfoundland has some of its own Christmas traditions. Since Newfoundland tends to have its own things for a lot of stuff. Though these ROCers would probably be hard-pressed to name any of them.

Is it Halloween or Christmas in Newfoundland?

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by harls

When this came out it I thought it was hilarous.. now, I feel sad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMNbUvVj678

there are times when every teacher/professor feels a bit like that guy loosing his shit.