I also have a tail growing out of my… never mind.

On a similar note, I’m not sure why McGill gets so muck flak. Its FRSL courses are really exceptional. Two years of French at McGill will do way more for you than 12 years of “core French” education at any ROC school.

Mind you, now that I’m looking it up, the two MPs I found with statements of that nature came from Saskatchewan and Ontario, not Alberta. Other comments can be seen here about the issue.

I am from Alberta. I am not especially proud of that, but I’m not ashamed either.

First off, I have rarely heard any thing more disparaging to the french language other than ‘those frogs sure sound funny, eh?’ Nobody seems to be seriously put out that federal jobs often require french language skills.

Why? Because there actually are very vibrant and healthy french communities across Alberta. Entire towns where french is the primary language. That goes for Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario aswell (I’m not as certain regarding BC).

Add to that that almost every grade school kid has to be exposed to french class at some point and that many, many people, such as myself, are the products of french immersion. The University of Alberta actually has a faculty that operates entirely in french (in a neighbourhood of Edmonton that is largely french speaking).

Although Alberta has a love affair with conservative politics, I would encourage you to look at a map and realize that it is a largely rural province with an awe inspiring bible belt all of its own. According to Québec’s little Reasonable Accommodation Commission, one can quickly surmise that Québec has it’s own issues with right wing politics and a similar belt of religion, (as does Ontario… anyone else remember Mike Harris?)

Ignorance is not the sole property of the right. An ex-boss of mine here in Montréal, decided that I was not terribly intelligent because of the fact that I came from Alberta. Had he not been dumb enough to tell this to another employee, I may have only been able to guess that he saw me as a country bumpkin.

And while I am capable of saddling a horse, shooting a rifle, and driving a quad up a mountain, I can also read books without pictures, enjoy a documentary, drink fine wine and tell the difference between good coffee and that swill at Tim Horton’s.

Perhaps a critique of generalisations should not include more generalisations.

Very interesting that Montrealers are still bizarrely proud of such a trite genderalization: Montreal as a mecca comprised of hot women. Are you referring to the throat-cancered croakers of a certain age with high waisted leather pants and brittle blonde-bleached or red-hennaed hair? Or all those fat Wal-Mart/Costco shoppers in the burbs? Or is it the 20 something anorexics with the geometrically-challenged hair cuts that you are referring to? They look pretty, yes, but have you ever had to sit next to them on the bus or metro? Bad breath and horrifying body odour. Seriously gross. (Okay, that was just during one morning commute, but having a stinking hairy armpit waved in my face by one smelly lass followed by her companion yawning her deathbreath all over me… it’s left a lasting impression.)

Montrealers being proud of “its women”? What sort of crazy irresponsible pap is that? Women are trophies to be lauded? WTF?

I’ve been born and raised in 99.9% francophone, catholic Lac-St-Jean. I’m personnaly separatist for my reasons. I love Montreal as you do for it’s mix of different cultures. Montreal wouldn’t be what it is without anglos and francos. The Montreal I love is bilingual, multicultural and most importantly open-minded.

The problem is one of communication and education. Some Anglos need to realize separatists aren’t english-haters and some Francophones need to realize most anglos are just like them and they love quebec’s culture. And we need to talk. There should be a tv show or something on radio-canada where a reporter would meet people from the english-communities and talk to them.

We gotta fight against ignorance and misconceptions.