We have long been a sworn people.
This promiscuity, of which we were rightly proud, was based on our status as French-speaking minorities and Catholics in Canada.
By opening ourselves to the world, by actually liberating ourselves, we have become more tolerant, more open to those who were not “native” when we distinguished ourselves.
This matched a few decades in which many citizens believed in Quebec’s sovereignty, which would relieve us of our loss complex.
We experienced two heartbreaking periods, that of 1980 and 1995, when politics collided with us and hurt us collectively.
enemy brothers
Since the two failed referendums, we Francophones, hostile brothers, have been unraveled. Confronting the multiculturalism of a post-national Canada that extols the exclusive virtues of individual rights. The I-me-me has created new frontiers in Canada. And Quebecers discovered that their collective selves were in decline.
The technological revolution blew up Quebec. Social media has fascinated new generations who no longer cared about Quebec’s past. Back then, the French language was taking its toll and Trudeau junior’s runaway immigration policies imposed its law, its culture and its paradigm.
Quebecers no longer show solidarity with each other. The proof is that the political party calling itself “Solidarity” that attracts younger generations has declared the war of the generations. He pursues politics with anger and arrogance. It is a party that divides rather than unites and has chosen an underhand strategy in its struggles.
In fact, it contaminates political life to the point where the Quebec Liberal Party is losing its sanity, or what is left of it. QS also paved the way for Eric Duhaime’s Conservative Party, which is struggling to follow its troops, who are more inclined than he to admire Trump, Putin or Poilievre.
Quebecers have always had a reputation for being spontaneous, authentic and even a little too naïve. The French, for example, envy us our good mood. But today, in the disturbing context in which we live, Quebecers have become aggressive. It is palpable through the clash of generations, accentuated by the disappearance of courtesy codes.
Flabby tongue
The systematic familiarity has just as much to do with this as the loosening of the language of the authorities and the artistic milieu. Stars jostle in the media, speaking vulgar language stuffed with Anglicisms and expressions to make a thug blush.
Who didn’t get their hair standing on end last week hearing teachers swear in front of kids, using scatological vocabulary to splatter and humiliate them?
Quebecers have turned into grumpy, angry people who can’t control themselves.
Too many of them like to hate their opponents and contradictors. Even old people in CHSLDs insult those who help them.
We don’t recognize each other anymore. The relationships between us are like collisions. Everyone curses each other. Quebec has become a boxing arena. Unfortunately, children are the first victims.
