Text 7929, 94 rader
Skriven 2006-11-24 16:00:00 av JIM WELLER (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av DAVE SACERDOTE
Ärende: Quiet
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 -=> Quoting Dave Sacerdote to Jim Weller <=-

 JW> Today the politicians are arguing fiercely and earnestly 
 JW> over whether Quebec is "a Nation within Canada" or "a Nation 
 JW> within a United Canada." It's a friggin' province!

 DS> We have some pretty stupid policies on this side of the Parallel,
 DS> but your government topped us big time with that Diversity business.
 DS> You were doomed the minute the first bilingual road signs appeared.

As there are no Quebecois on the list to offend, I'll continue the
thread but try to stick to history and philosophy and skirt around
politics.

The whole thing started in 1759 when the English won a war over the
French and a peace settlement was negotiated. France gave up their North
American territories with the exception of the tiny islands of St.
Pierre and and Miquelon (and of course Louisiana which doesn't really
matter in all of this). France really wanted those two islands badly so
they would have a place for boats to land when working the lucrative cod
fishery.

In a gracious gesture, England promised to allow the inhabitants of
Quebec to retain their language and religion (Catholicism). If England
had been more aggressive perhaps the French would have been completely
assimilated over time. (Or perhaps we would have a more unhappy and
strident minority today with violence erupting like in Northern Ireland
or the Basque country... who knows?)

In any event in the confederation of 1867, Quebec got a guarantee of 25%
of the seats in parliament, which was more than their fair share by
population, other assorted guarantees and assurances and French language
rights became entrenched. (In 1949 when Newfoundland joined Canada,
Quebec got more seats when Nfld got seats so they remained with 25%.)

It follows from there that French should be, as it is, the primary
language in Quebec and thus the federal civil service should have a
bilingual component so that Quebecers can communicate with their own
government.

I'm OK with this so far. If I moved to Quebec I would, in good faith,
learn French.

It gets a little more tenuous to suggest that all Canadians or even the
entire civil service (telephone receptionists plus one more per dept
should be adequate) must learn French or that other provinces be
bilingual. And of course Quebec is at the moment a province (albeit a
unique and special one) within a country and not a nation in its own
right. The politicians are torturing the meaning of words with their
antics.

Back to food:

MMMMM-----Meal-Master - formatted by MMCONV  2.10

     Title: Favorite Chipotle Raspberry Sauce
Categories: Condiments, sauces, fruit, chilies
  Servings: 1 batch

      1 sm box Raspberries
      2 TB Sugar
    1/4 c  Port
      1    whole Chipotle in Adobo; one
           pepper not the whole can

Cook until sugar is melted. Add chipotle chili. Puree in blender. Strain
through a fine mesh. Delicious with Zuni Rolls.

Recipe Notes

The sauce is great on grilled salmon or pork tenderloin ... it's even
good as a dipping for cold Roast chicken. Wrap the salmon in butter
lettuce and dip into the chipotle raspberry sauce.

  From: Terry Pogue To: Foodwine        
 
MMMMM-------------------------------------------------

P.S. There seems to be a late consensus that the Quebecois people be
recognized as a nation within Canada and not the province itself.
This is a nice harmless gesture that is consistent with recognizing the
Dene Nation and the Metis Nation etc as "Nations". I'm happy again.

Are we still doomed?

Cheers

Jim, in Yellowknife
                       
... Ever walk into a new bar and they already know what you drink?

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