Speak French or you are not our coach!

Bilge_Rat · 12-20-11, 05:29 PM

The issue is more one of respect, many Quebeckers like me are bilingual, open to the world, international. I work mostly in english and have clients all over the world. Montreal is probably the most bilingual city on earth, where you can live exclusively in english or french or both. Quebeckers are not french, in fact, culturally, Quebeckers are probably closer to Americans or even the British than the French.

There are many anglophones who head Quebec institutions, like Michael Sabia, head of the Caisse de Depôt, Quebec's largest government owned financial institution. He was chosen because of his competence and so far seems to be working out.

As I mentioned before, the issue with the Canadian's head coach is more than just his lack of french. For a long time now, the Hab's organization has been pushing out french canadians from key positions. It is certainly not because of lack of competence since french canadians are over-represented among players/staff at all level of the NHL. If the Canadians were winning, it would be different, but they are on their worst slump in years. This is just the straw that broke the camel's back or as we say up here " la goutte qui a fait deborder le vase".

If the new coach manages to turns things around, it will all blow over.

Bilge_Rat · 12-20-11, 05:47 PM

1480, Penguin,

I apologize if I was overly harsh, as I mentioned I had a bad day. I am a tax lawyer by trade and spent part of the day arguing with a Revenue Quebec collections officer that wants to seize my client's assets even though the tax assessment appears to be invalid. These bureaucrats will drive anyone batty!

Merry Christmas all fellow subsimmers!

The real mother of debate is just around the corner, the 2012 presidential election.

12-20-11, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Everyone in the world is completely qualified to criticize the US, but when the shoe is on the other foot.....

It's unworthy to play the victim card, everybody who posts a counter-factual about the United States on these forums gets roundly stomped flat in very short order.

Quote:

If you have never heard Ozzie Guillen speak, it's almost impossible to understand him. But, he took the White Sox to a world championship.

I once had a Regimental Sergeant Major (that would be at least an an E9 for those Americans out there) who officially spoke English, French and German. The only problem was that he was virtually unintelligible in any of them which made for interesting parades and professional development days. One day he came onto my gun platform and proceeded to give me a severe dressing down in no uncertain terms, yelling so as to attract the TSM and gesticulation wildly about at my cam net, ammo shelter and local defence trenches. I stood at attention and dutifully responded with a "Yes Sir!" during every pause in his tirade and managed to look contrite and serious. After he stormed off with the Troop Sergeant Major in tow, my 2 I/C quietly asked what all that had been about and my response was that I had no idea whatsoever. Still don't over 25-years later.

These days that sort of thing would be recorded on a cell phone and go viral on Youtube.

Penguin · 12-20-11, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

1480, Penguin,

I apologize if I was overly harsh, as I mentioned I had a bad day. I am a tax lawyer by trade and spent part of the day arguing with a Revenue Quebec collections officer that wants to seize my client's assets even though the tax assessment appears to be invalid. These bureaucrats will drive anyone batty!

Merry Christmas all fellow subsimmers!

No harm done & apology accepted - hope you also read mine in the previous post

I have a fairly thick skin regarding Nazi-jokes, I know where I stand, so no big deal.
Happy Christmas to you, too! Btw: the state of Germany still owes me 1500 Euro in taxes, so if you need a job here... - remember: we also employ non-native speakers

And thanks for elaborating this issue a little deeper. To quote Monsieur Randomizer:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randomizer

This is no place to try and resolve cultural ignorance because the ignorant generally revel in their condition.

There is ignorance for ignorance's sake and there is ignorance because of cultural misunderstandings. So: yes, I think this is a fitting place here to resolve this - where else in the interwebs should we fight ignorance if not here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

The real mother of debate is just around the corner, the 2012 presidential election.

*runs away* Can of worms alert!

vienna · 12-20-11, 06:46 PM

There actually is a quasi-French enclave in the U.S. known as the Cajuns. Originally from the northern end of the Mississippi River up near Canada, they Live mainly in the area of the state of Louisiana. They speak a dialect of French mixed with English and Caribbean patois. They also do not consider themselves French and have a unique culture. They are not as many as those French speakers in Quebec, but they are as fiercly loyal to their culture...

12-20-11, 07:00 PM

Actually most Cajuns were Acadians, expelled from the the English colonies of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (then Acadia) to the French colony of Louisiana when the British feared that the French speaking population as a threat during the Seven-Year's War (aka the French and Indian Wars).

They pretty much ethnically cleansed Nova Scotia and PEI but many French speakers remained in New Brunswick, now Canada's only officially bilingual province. Some French speaking New Brunswickers hold a grudge even today...

Cajun is a corruption of Acadian.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acadians

As part of the general peace in 1763 or so France gave up all claims to Quebec which later became the colony of Lower Canada and the English Parliament granted French equal status with English there.

1480 · 12-20-11, 11:34 PM

To both BR, and Random, no harm no foul.

As a hockey fan and player, living in the US, hockey is somewhat a cult following. From what my old man told me, during the 60's the Blackhawks were the only game in town (mild exaggeration). The 70's saw a decline but a resurgence occurred in the 80's, but for all the wrong reasons.

I love to see the original six do well. Wish they played more games against each other. It's seeing something that could ultimately hurt the game and it's something that could have been easily avoided had certain people kept their mouths shut.

Call it self-interest....

And to all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, cannot wait for the fur to fly in 2012.

12-21-11, 02:30 AM

@ 1480
Cheers and Ditto. Apologies to all if I sounded bombastic.

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Bon fete or whatever works for you during this Silly Season.

12-20-11, 05:29 PM	#1
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,856 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	The issue is more one of respect, many Quebeckers like me are bilingual, open to the world, international. I work mostly in english and have clients all over the world. Montreal is probably the most bilingual city on earth, where you can live exclusively in english or french or both. Quebeckers are not french, in fact, culturally, Quebeckers are probably closer to Americans or even the British than the French. There are many anglophones who head Quebec institutions, like Michael Sabia, head of the Caisse de Depôt, Quebec's largest government owned financial institution. He was chosen because of his competence and so far seems to be working out. As I mentioned before, the issue with the Canadian's head coach is more than just his lack of french. For a long time now, the Hab's organization has been pushing out french canadians from key positions. It is certainly not because of lack of competence since french canadians are over-represented among players/staff at all level of the NHL. If the Canadians were winning, it would be different, but they are on their worst slump in years. This is just the straw that broke the camel's back or as we say up here " la goutte qui a fait deborder le vase". If the new coach manages to turns things around, it will all blow over. __________________

12-20-11, 05:47 PM	#2
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,856 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	1480, Penguin, I apologize if I was overly harsh, as I mentioned I had a bad day. I am a tax lawyer by trade and spent part of the day arguing with a Revenue Quebec collections officer that wants to seize my client's assets even though the tax assessment appears to be invalid. These bureaucrats will drive anyone batty! Merry Christmas all fellow subsimmers! The real mother of debate is just around the corner, the 2012 presidential election. __________________

12-20-11, 11:34 PM	#7
1480 Lead Slinger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chitcago, Illinoise Posts: 1,442 Downloads: 74 Uploads: 0	To both BR, and Random, no harm no foul. As a hockey fan and player, living in the US, hockey is somewhat a cult following. From what my old man told me, during the 60's the Blackhawks were the only game in town (mild exaggeration). The 70's saw a decline but a resurgence occurred in the 80's, but for all the wrong reasons. I love to see the original six do well. Wish they played more games against each other. It's seeing something that could ultimately hurt the game and it's something that could have been easily avoided had certain people kept their mouths shut. Call it self-interest.... And to all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, cannot wait for the fur to fly in 2012. __________________

12-20-11, 06:46 PM	#5
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,715 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	There actually is a quasi-French enclave in the U.S. known as the Cajuns. Originally from the northern end of the Mississippi River up near Canada, they Live mainly in the area of the state of Louisiana. They speak a dialect of French mixed with English and Caribbean patois. They also do not consider themselves French and have a unique culture. They are not as many as those French speakers in Quebec, but they are as fiercly loyal to their culture...

12-20-11, 07:00 PM	#6
Randomizer Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Actually most Cajuns were Acadians, expelled from the the English colonies of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (then Acadia) to the French colony of Louisiana when the British feared that the French speaking population as a threat during the Seven-Year's War (aka the French and Indian Wars). They pretty much ethnically cleansed Nova Scotia and PEI but many French speakers remained in New Brunswick, now Canada's only officially bilingual province. Some French speaking New Brunswickers hold a grudge even today... Cajun is a corruption of Acadian. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acadians As part of the general peace in 1763 or so France gave up all claims to Quebec which later became the colony of Lower Canada and the English Parliament granted French equal status with English there.

12-21-11, 02:30 AM	#8
Randomizer Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	@ 1480 Cheers and Ditto. Apologies to all if I sounded bombastic. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Bon fete or whatever works for you during this Silly Season.