Saturday, January 18, 2014

Canadian Hypocrisy at its worst: The humiliation and misery of Canada’s First Nation People

Canadian Hypocrisy at its worst: The humiliation and misery of Canada’s First Nation People
In the past, Canadian Prime Minister and the Quebec Premier have made both noble and inspiring speeches in regard to the lifelong struggles and challenges of South African legend Nelson Mandela as he and the African National Congress fought to end apartheid in their country. 
In the mid 1980s, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney was one of the first elected officials of any Western country to publicly support Mandela and demand his release by ending Canada’s trade with South Africa’s apartheid government.  
Provincial Canadian leaders have even used the ending of South Africa’s apartheid White-ruled government as a rallying cry / catalyst for their own political agenda. 
Current Prime Minster and leader of Canada’s conservative political party, Steven Harper and Pauline Marois the current premier of Quebec, upon hearing of Mandela’s death gave emotional speeches praising the legacy of the man the world refers to as “Madiba”. 
Like all great thinkers, Madiba from his early years understood that a “rising tide lifts all boats” so he earnestly fought until the day he died to provide every South African child with the opportunity to receive a top-notch education. From the very beginning Mandela articulated that receiving a great education was the best hope to uplift Black and Brown South Africans from tyrannical / generational poverty.
Hypocrisy is an evil that makes liars of all politicians
Although in essence most Canadian politicians have outwardly supported the initiatives of Nelson Mandela to improve Black South Africa’s educational system, in Canada the same courtesy has not been given to the indigenous people of the First Nations.
In short “Indians” of First Nations are subjected to antiquated and prejudiced Federal and Provincial laws that emasculate Canada’s indigenous people. 
Prime Minister Harper may apologize for the Residential Schools system abused and forced Indians” to become “White” to lose their Mother tongue and become for subject cruel medical experiments, however, apologies alone do not equate to fixing a broken educational system. First Nations have opened their own schools:  they teach their kids, their language, their history and their ways.  At this time these schools are being subsidized, if this law passes they might lose funding. 
As it currently stands, the politics of Canada, but particularly Canadians who desire an independent Quebec [“Le Parti Quebecois”] is not a friendly political party to reforming the educational standards of First Nation schools. 
Throughout the province of Quebec there exist language laws that legally mandate the French language as the official language of the province, hence affecting the comprehension of lessons being taught in “Indian Schools”.  Food for thought….”If textbooks supplied by the Province are all printed in conversational French, and in some reserves they are unilingual French then is it possible that some native students may not fully understand the text or other Natives?” It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that inter-generational misunderstandings via communication between the elders and then “conqueror and the conquered” is most likely to beget generational poverty.
Nationalism in Quebec or neo-colonialism and the new apartheid
Without a doubt the “French only laws” in the Quebec Province has created a discrete yet distinct division between people as some schools are taught in English others are taught in French.  Religion was blamed as a deterrent to success, religiously run schools like the Residential schools have closed in Quebec. The Duplessis children suffered and so did First Nation kids who were abused.   These schools were overseen by religious organizations, sanctioned by the government. Since the quiet revolution there is no confessional schools but English or French language schools.   Provincial language laws promotes unilingual (French only) schools and has become the new religion to obey.  In both cases it was political will of the conqueror that was imposed. 
Far too often in Canada it is because of culturally-suffocating-Provincial-laws that oversee and govern the life / education system of “Indians” that causes a “Native identity crisis” is manifested. If the Bill on FNEA as proposed by Harper passes it will give Quebec too much power over First Nation. 
Quebec Nationalism or the Parti Quebecois agenda wants to rule over to be in charge, have dominion over everyone regardless of their culture, religion or ethnicity, yet the only ones in charge are “White” French speaking and immigrants to this land. 
Praise Astérix follow Caesar
Astérix le Gaulois fought against the Roman and the preservation of his language and culture, he is a cartoon strip.  The Parti Quebecois claims to fight for all “Quebecois” however unlike Astérix they  are pontificating bureaucrats and act like Romans who care little about maintaining the integrity of Native customs and language scuttle about the country legislating and passing laws that strip away Native identity.
Case in point, during the recent “Maple Spring” tuition reform was at the forefront of public debate, to overthrow a Liberal government, rowdy acting Franco-Canadian-Quebecois students who were vehemently demanding free university tuition for their self and future students, never uttered a single sentence about the plight of public education in First Nation Schools; not one sentence, not one word.
My main concern is that eventually Canada’s First Nation will be relegated in history to the infamous oubliette of France. The oubliette (loosely translated as the forgotten ones), were the prisoners of French prisons that were left to rot, die and wither away.
Praise Mandela emulate the Afrikaner apartheid
Traditionally governments of Canada but specifically Quebec, have a long history of violating First Nation treaties remember 1990, and the Oka Crisis! Currently Bill 60 proposes to make any wearing any religious symbols illegal, this includes the forgotten First Nation who were forced to cover in the French way, like French women, today the government wants all women to uncover regardless of religious tradition or culture.   Province are in charge of education and if the First Nation Education Act passes Quebec will be in charge of First Nation.  No commission on reasonable accommodation or on religious symbols is required to understand that Quebec will be administered by “White” only French “pure-laine”. 
Like the Dutch in South-Africa (Afrikaners) in 20th century who imposed apartheid, newly appointed French Quebecois Prime Ministers wants to be in a position to create their “perfect French educated-First Nation-colonies” that in essence will be only loyal to the interests of French speaking Quebec which is creating a new apartheid.
The forced assimilation of any “conquered people” into the culture of their “conqueror” is equivalent to systematically erasing the losing side’s history / identity. The conqueror becomes the identity thief.
It’s time for political hypocrisy in Canada and in Quebec to end. Speaking elegantly at Nelson Mandela’s funeral is good for the International Press and may win a few national political points, however without progressively enacting on the principles of promoting human dignity and civil liberties that Nelson Mandela stood for in life and stands for in his legacy, words without meaning only give comfort to fools, and it is my sincere wish that no Canadian is ever considered a fool.

In closing I beseech my brethren and sisters who call Canada home to, “Stand up and recognize the sacred sovereignty of our First Nation neighbors, it is possible to uplift a people via a great education without destroying their history, of this I am certain”.   

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Documentary on the ill effects of Quebec Charter on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQpbYWRcgsk
For all those who want to learn about peace through literature and culture to visit the http://iflac.wordpress.com/
I have another blog you can visit also.    http://iflacpavespeace.blogspot.ca/

The events in Quebec are worrisome and are against peace.   

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Bilingual poems about the proposed Quebec Charter I am for unity in diversity not excluding voices

JE ME SOUVIENS  (I REMEMBER) by Céline Leduc 12/2013

I REMEMBER is the motto of Quebec
I remember the English colonized me.
I forget I colonized First Nations.
I remember multiculturalism is bad.
I forget it allowed me to keep my culture.
I remember the Church is my downfall
I forget it was Louis XIV and Napoleon politics
I remember my language matters
I forget I imposed language on First Nations.
I remember my culture
I want others to forget their culture
Quebec’s  new motto should be
I FORGET -- J’OUBLIE

 I FORGET – I REMEMBER by Celine Leduc 12/2013

I forget to be thankful
I forget the contribution of others.
I forget the pain I have caused others.
I forget to apologize.
I forget my mistakes

I remember my achievements
I remember my glory
I remember to baptize this land.
I remember to recreate my world
I remember this land was virgin.

I forget the skeletons in my closet
I forget that slaves were owned
I forget my ancestors were slave masters.
I forget Africans helped build Montreal.
I forget First Nations were builders.

I forget or I do not remember
I forget, yes history is keeping silent
I forget by muzzling other voices
I forget STOP I do not want to hear
I forget I became deaf and mute…


 SEPARATION  Celine Leduc 12/2013

Church and State must separate.
Church is responsible for all my ills.
Church must be separate from State.
God no longer is welcomed in the State.
No reminder of God in symbols.

The Church any Church speaks of God
The Church taught moral values.
The difference between right and wrong
Tells us about the word of God
God speaks to us through his messengers.

Hardcore secularist that the State is just
The State is the solution
The State has no bias.
The State is unblemished and pure.
The State becomes the new morality.

The State prohibits religious symbols
Women and men must uncover for the State.
If you want a State job show your hair.
Take off your cross, or we will crucify you.
You cannot be just if you show your faith.

Have faith in the government is the State
We have a policy, a law that guarantees
We guarantee equality if you show your hair.
We guarantee equality if you are in my image.
I do not want to see you! I only want to see me.

JE ME SOUVIENS Celine Leduc 12/2013 

Je me Souviens est la devise du Québec !
J’Oublie par contre tant de chose.

Je me Souviens que les anglais m’ont colonisée
J’Oublie avoir colonisée les Première Nations.

Je me Souviens que le multiculturalisme est mauvais.
Mais j’Oublie qu’il a préservée ma culture.

Je me Souviens qu’en tant que femme l’Eglise est mon ennemi
J’Oublie les politique myogène de Louis XIV et Napoléon

Je me Souviens que ma langue est importante
J’Oublie je l’ai imposée au Première Nations

Je me Souviens et j’applaudie ma culture
J’Oublie que je dénigre la culture de l’Autre.

La nouvelle devise du Québec  n’est pas Je Me Souviens
Mais J’Oublie car je me souviens de très peu.

LES JUIFS  ET LA FLEUR DE LYS Celine Leduc 12/2013

Je me souviens de la gloire des  Croisades
J’Oublie que j’ai massacrée des Juifs au nom de jésus. 

Je me Souviens de l’Inquisition espagnol
J’Oublie que les Juifs sont chassé, tué et/ou converti

Je me Souviens de l’immigration de nouveaux catholique
J’Oublie que c’était des juifs d’Andalouse

Je me Souviens être Français
J’Oublie mes origines juives issues de l’Inquisition.

Je me Souviens de Louis IX, St-Louis
J’Oublie sa purge meurtrière et l’expulsion des Juifs

Je me Souviens qu’ils ont tué Jésus
Mais j’Oublie que je les ai tués par millions.

Je me Souviens que Jésus est le premier Chrétien
J’Oublie qu’il était Juifs et ne s’est jamais converti.

Je Souviens de tuer des juifs par ce qu’il a tué Jésus
J’Oublie quand je tue un juif je tue Jésus


LES MUSULMANES ET LA FLEUR DE LYS Celine Leduc 12/2013

Je me Souviens que  les femmes sont  soumises
 J’Oublie qui m’a soumis à travers l’histoire.

Je me Souviens c’est une femme battu
J’Oublie que je suis une femme battu

Je me Souviens  que l’Islam est une religion orientale
J’Oublie que le christianisme issu de la même région.

Je me Souviens que le foulard égale soumission de pudeur.
J’Oublie que Brigitte Bardot le portait pour être sexée

Je me souviens cette femme ce couvre le visage
J’Oublie la dance du ventre et la femme voilé.

Je me Souviens de la dance du ventre est pour les hommes
J’Oublie que le  Baladi était  bénéfique pour les femmes

Je me Souviens de ton histoire à cause de toi
J’Oublie mon histoire à cause de toi.

Je me Souviens enfin qui a voulu me soumettre
J’Oublie que la femme musulmane se rappelle

Je me Souviens que c’est toi le coupable toi et tes balivernes
J’Oublie presque que  tu  me voile pour me soumettre

Je me Souviens et  je dévoile  tes ragots et non les femmes
J’Oublie c’est ce qu’il veut, mais moi, enfin je me souviens.


LES HAITIENS  ET LA FLEUR DE LYS Celine Leduc 12/2013

Je me Souviens qu’ils pratiquent le Voodoo
J’Oublie que la majorité est  catholique et chrétienne. 

Je me Souviens qu’ils sont venus tous diplômé
J’Oublie que très peu pratique leur profession.

Je me Souviens de l’influence de la France
J’Oublie qu’ils étaient esclaves et colonisés.

Je me Souviens ils parlent Créole pour les sondages
J’Oublie qu’ils ont été francisés et parlent le français. 

Je me Souviens ils seront Créoles pour les statistiques
J’Oublie qu’ils sont venues parce qu’ils parlaient français.

Je me Souviens que les « séparatistes »  voulaient leur vote
J’Oublie qu’ils ont mis « maitres » français à la porte.

Je me Souviens que nous avions des aristocrates français 
J’Oublie que le Québec a servie à payer une dette de guerre

Je me Souviens  Québec Haïti libre et  main dans la main.
J’Oublie mon racisme et  mes préjugés  qui les enchainent.