Читать книгу Why Now Is The Perfect Time to Wave a Friendly Goodbye to Quebec - Lowell Green - Страница 5

That was then! This is now!

In the years since the “Unity Rally”, as the scandals, the corruption, the constant demands, the continued discrimination against minorities piled up, one upon the other, I found myself increasingly frustrated until, one day, not long ago I awoke surprised to discover that I had come full circle and was now convinced that Quebec separation was inevitable and that, sadly, I just didn’t care anymore.

More than that.

I never thought I would say anything like this but here goes.

I have now become convinced that this is the perfect time to begin waving a friendly goodbye to Quebec. Perhaps even a bit more than just a friendly goodbye—a little friendly push might be just what the doctor ordered!

When you read here about the kind of sacrifices other countries have made in order to achieve independence you really have to wonder what stops Quebec from bucking up its collective courage and taking the courageous route that so many other countries have followed.

You are hard pressed today to find any more than a tiny handful of countries where more than one language and culture have been able to co-exist in separate clearly defined areas such as exists with the Province of Quebec.

Could it be that Quebec has allowed itself to be bribed into stepping back from the kind of independence that the people in places like the United States, Ireland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Balkan states, etc. even Scotland have fought and died for?

Why do I think now is the time to wave a friendly goodbye? Maybe even a friendly push?

Good questions. The answers are becoming more obvious every day.

Chief among those answers is—because finally the divorce can be amicable! If guys like me, who used to care very much about national unity, have lost patience with Quebec and are ready to throw in the towel, I suspect there are many others who feel exactly the same. A suspicion that, as far as I am concerned, has subsequently been proven accurate.

If you don’t believe me, read some of the comments that have poured across my desk in recent months from more than 90 different Canadians from coast to coast!

Quebec separation back in 1995 would have been a recipe for disaster. Perhaps even violence. Passions were inflamed back then. The Cree Indians of northern Quebec were threatening war. The Pontiac and other predominantly Anglo sections of the Province were talking about holding their own separation referendums. “If Quebec can unilaterally separate from Canada”, western Quebec callers to my show thundered “then we can separate from Quebec!”

In 1995, despite the constant separatist agitation we were, for the most part, a nation that still cared enough about each other to try and make the marriage work. There was still a good deal of affection even love on both sides. Car bumpers sported stickers proclaiming, “My Country Includes Quebec.” Close to 100,000 of us showed up to demonstrate that affection, that love, in Montreal’s Place du Canada.

The overwhelming majority of callers to my show prior to the 1995 referendum were passionate in their insistence that we stay together as a nation. Some were in tears as they begged Quebeckers not to vote “Yes”.

As referendum day approached, the nation held its breath. Some of our churches held special prayer vigils.

And in the end a majority (albeit very slim) of Quebeckers voted for the second time to stay together.

That was then! This is now!

You don’t see any of those “My Country Includes Quebec” bumper stickers or T- shirts anymore.

Nor will we ever see 100,000 anxious Canadians gathering anywhere in an effort to persuade Quebeckers not to leave us. Those days are over.

If that rally were held today I doubt very much if a thousand would show up.