Daily Cupcakes- January 4th, 2012

that clearly exists between our mindset and theirs.

It’s just so much more than that. Unfortunately. And it goes back, at the very least, a century. There are many references to this fact. Take “The Hockey Sweater” (by Roch Carrier) for example. This is so ingrained in Francophones that, parts of it, can be found on the Canadian $5 bill. It shows the tensions between the French and English, through hockey. A Quebec youth wants to get a Maurice Richard jersey for Christmas. His mom writes to Eatons (back then only catalogue sales), she needs to write a handwritten letter because, back then, they didn’t offer the catalogue in French and she didn’t understand English. They send her a Leafs sweater. The coach refuses to let Roch play in the game because he is wearing a Leafs jersey. In the short story he writes:

we lived in three places school, church and the rink. But our true life was at the rink.

.

Now, take into consideration, “they” (the English-folk) didn’t offer anything to Quebec. Not even a sales catalogue in French. They were second class citizens through and through. This is also why Maurice Richard was so important to Quebec. Yes, he was a fantastic hockey player. But he was their symbol. Here was a man who the English determined was incapable of any greatness. They refused him entry into the military because of his weakened ankles. Yet, look what he could do on the ice. He refused, numerous times, to play for the English team, the Leafs, even though they offered much more money. He fought numerous Englishmen his entire career. He, and the fans, felt that if he wouldn’t have been French he wouldn’t have had such a target on his back. He also hit refs etc. He was “Maurice” to all Frenchmen. You didn’t need his last name. In fact, there is a statue in Montreal that is of him, with handprints, so that you can place your hands on him. He “belonged” to Quebec.

There are so many rules and regulations in Quebec regarding the preservation of French it’s unreal. In Canada the radios and television stations are required to play a certain amount of Canadian content (this is what you can blame for Nickleback). In Quebec it’s taken even further with the content in French, and on English channels, even with content from Quebec.

It’s hard to explain because it’s something that I’ve lived with, even now, for a great number of years. I speak without an accent for the most part. If I have been speaking French, or listening to French, or drinking, I have an accent otherwise I’m told that it’s not very noticeable. There is a reason for this. I worked my butt off to get rid of it because of comments that I would get. It’s created a very volatile environment. Even today.

The fact that it is a hockey team makes it so much more to Quebec. Hockey is such a passion, such a way of living that to have the “English” encroach on that is a very big deal.

Ha, was just about to say the same about your post above.

If you live in the society for any appreciable length of time, it will happen, ’coz people, taken as a whole, suck.

In that case rain during the parade might be a good thing as it would help wash away any left behind fluids, gels or other such substances left behind, .

if true, is the saddest commentary on today’s society imaginable. That poor kid.

Turned out to be some minor foot skin thing. He’ll be back tomorrow.

thought so too, but I switched it to 50/50, still there.