As Usual, the Fascination With Quebec’s So-Called Bigotry is Fascinating to Many it Would Seem

I was looking for further news about Jean Charest and the latest scandals and or polls and whether or not he’s going to resign sooner rather than later.  There will be some kind of  Quebec Liberal Party conference in St-Hyacinthe (still researching that, so not really sure of the exact nature of meeting) this evening. More to come on that.

Far more important fish to fry than to ban or not to ban the niqab in Quebec these days, like huge, career wrecking scandals, which by the looks of things, can certainly compare to that of ADSCAM; or how Charest, himself was attempting to sell the idea of Americanizing our health care system, but no, it seems that some are still hell bent to stick with the niqab ban.

Somehow, there are some who are trying in vain to twist this into a feminist issue. Not grasping how though; the ban, if anything is supposed to promote equality for all in more ways than one.  Apparently, the Simone de Beauvoir Institute, (Department of Women’s Studies at Concordia) has decided to weigh in on this, also claiming it’s a feminist issue: go figure!

I have already expressed my views on this subject here, so I will not rehash them in their entirety. I disagree. The fact is, most of these women who walk through life with their faces covered are repressed in their own homes at least.  As for those women who choose this way of life are actually repressing themselves, and for what? As many have pointed out (Myself included), the Canadian Muslim Congress condemns the practice as more of a political extremity originating from such places as Saudi Arabia & Afghanistan and no, it is not a religious symbol.  When an Islamic organization comes out against the practice,  they at least, deserve to be heard as well.

It is also to be noted that Islamic countries have banned niqabs and other face coverings. Such countries like Turkey and Tunisia. Egypt has banned it in their universities and I believe its’ work force.  An acquaintance was in Syria and in order to cross borders, they have to  show their faces.

I find it strange that Quebec’s bill 94  received more coverage across Canada than the Alberta Courts ruling that a sect of Hutterites who insisted on not having their pictures taken for their drivers licenses, must have pictures on their licenses or don’t drive.  Why is bill 94 much more fascinating than the Hutterites in Alberta being forced to be photographed if they want a valid drivers’ license?

Martin Lemay, a Parti Quebecois MNA wrote a very interesting column  on this subject today while, at the same time reminding everyone that not only are  Quebecers not more bigotted or anti-semitic  than the rest of Anglo Canada, but he also reminds us of events throughout history proving  how bigotry is not an exclusive Quebecois thing.

I can’t help but wonder if a province like Ontario or British Colombia were to ban the facial coverings, how would the rest of Canada react, then? I can’t help that the reaction would be far more subdued and that it would certainly get far less media coverage.

Likewise, those camera-hating Hutterites in Alberta who didn’t get nearly as much air time; would they be talked about far more if they were in Quebec as opposed to Alberta?

Yes, there are wingnutty extremely paranoid French Quebecers out there; and their leaders are folks like Pauline Marois. They are, of course, of a minority.   Hint: in spite of Charest’s political career spiralling out of control over much more serious matters and scandals, Marois still has a very low opinion rating as a leader at only 27%. `

I’m sure Rene Levesque would be turning over in his grave to see how the leader of his party was an insufferable and intolerant shrew.

Now, on to more important matters affecting the province I call home these days.