An Open Letter to Pauline Marois from a Hijab-wearing Muslim Québecois.
Dear Mme. Marois,
I have a bone to pick with you. You may not know me, but I know you. I write to you as a hijab wearing Muslim Québecoise. I write to you woman to woman.
You see, I’m writing to you about MY Quebec. My Quebec in which I was born and raised. The home my parents chose for themselves some 40 odd years ago when they migrated from Germany. The only home I have known my entire life with the exception of the five or so years I lived in Ontario. The home I yearned for and missed like a good cheese curd misses warm fries.
You see, I grew up in the middle upper class, primarily anglophone community of West Island Montreal. I was one of a handful of coloured children in my high school of almost 500. I studied hard, worked part time jobs and continued my post secondary education in this beautiful province.
I played street hockey as a child, watched the local baseball games and went ice skating in the winters. Like most other kids my age, before the Internet, I’d bike to the local dep (dépanneur) and buy candy with my friends. You see growing up in MY Québec the colour of my skin or the way I dressed didn’t used to matter much. It never made headlines or the 6 o’clock news.
In cégep in the early 2000’s I made a decision to express my individuality and embrace my faith. Much like my colleagues who chose to grow mohawks, wear ripped pants, and about nineteen different earrings, I too chose a form of self expression. After all, if it was one thing I knew for sure, growing up in MY Québec, it was that self expression is a thing to be embraced.
So against my family’s wishes at the time, I put on the hijab in the winter of 2001. Despite alienation from certain family members and members of my own Pakistani community, I put it on. With much of the support of so many of my Québecoise friends who, like me, were raised in an era where self expression is to be waived high into the air with the same pride as the fleur de lys on its beautiful blue background. I wore the hijab as a symbol of empowerment, of self expression and of pride. I fought my family, and I wore it. I embraced the many questions my colleagues in cégep had. I responded to their many queries that perhaps my father had forced me to wear it, or I had been married off over the Christmas vacation. I responded that I wore it as a symbol of my faith, my values and my self-expression. That, they understood. Similar to me, and pretty much most other teenage North American adolescents, they understood the importance of self expression.
I wore it, this hijab of mine, through the years. Through college and on to university. Through different jobs, marriage and the migration of provinces. I wore it with pride, a pride similar to that of my place of birth.
I once had an unfortunate experience when living in Ontario of a disgruntled old man who told me to go back to where I came from when I complained it was nippy out. To that I smiled and responded, “aah, right. Montreal.”
You see, Mme. Marois I now have children of my own. My husband and I are choosing to educate our children in 85% French curriculum. It is our choice. You see, we are not being forced to. I have the “eligibility certificate”. Yes, to all my non-Québec readers we are required by our province to have a certificate authenticating that our children are entitled to an English education. Despite having this, we chose to send our children to a school in which they receive the bulk of their education in French. Nous sommes fiers (We are proud)!
All these years I boasted about MY beautiful Québec. My home and native province. Despite the ludicrous nature of this proposed charter of values, I refuse to be ashamed of MY Quebec. You see, somewhere along the years it became so that it was excusable to not discuss the staggering debt of our province, the moon-like roads, engrained corruption that has permeated most levels of government or the future of our healthcare. Instead you have opted for us to focus on a piece of cloth and other religious symbols.
A few years ago the educational system in Quebec changed, it went from religious to secular. While it didn’t affect me directly, I respected it and saw little need for an uproar. We went from learning biblical stories when I was young to a secular system.
I honour and practice my religion on my own time, in my own way and contrary to what you may fear, I do not shove it down the throats of those around me. As any woman can tell you, I like to accessorize and choose my scarfs to match my outfits as you might understand. My hijab is not only a religious symbol, for me, it is a form of self expression.
I was driving and listening to the radio this afternoon, when I heard a commentary about (the proposed charter of values) “c’est pour les autres (It is for others).” I was tempted to pull the car over because I thought I was mistaken. If this law is to guard ourselves against others then please explain to me what exactly happens with the thousands like myself? The ones who are not “les autres” but “les notres (ours).” The ones who were born and raised in this beautiful province, the eaters of poutine and joueurs d’hockey who yes, by the way also drape a piece of cloth over their heads or wear a turban, kippah or a star around their necks.
Clearly you have understood the importance of the large cross atop Mont Royal or of the cross in legislature. So too, I implore you to understand we are entitled to our own forms of self expression. For my Jewish friends who choose to wear the kippah, that is their right, their freedom and their decision. My Sikh friends, the turban and for me, MY hijab is MY decision.
When will we stop pretending this proposed charter of values is anything more than a bigoted attempt to stifle self expression and freedom of attire. If the nineteen earrings and purplish blue hair of my neighbour are an allowable form of self expression than why not a piece of fabric atop my head?
It is through dialogue and freedom of expression that communities flourish. Educating our citizens helps to empower our own culture, not stomping upon the fabric of others. Enforcing the removal of one person’s article of clothing is removing their freedom of expression and creating an environment of hostility and ignorance. To do so is to take one giant leap backwards for mankind and that is not what I will accept for MY Quebec.
Signed
A hijab clad fiercely proud Québecoise Muslim woman.
Great letter. Thanks Fariha!
Thank you Shama 🙂
Thank you for this letter.
I hope people come to their senses soon! I can’t believe this is happening here.
nice! as an Anglophone, born and raised in Quebec, feel the same way. 🙂
That’s really good to know Willa. Thanks for sharing.
Willa, are you the Willa I lived with for just over a year whale at nursing school??
Wonderful letter. Having been norm and raised in Quebec, and having lived more than 1/2 my life in Saudi Arabia. This world of ours can be an amazing place to be we’re it not for the fears and ignorance of many people! Celebrate your differences!
Heather Pierce? who married Brian Gratto?
Great letter! These “laws” that restrict freedom of expression are ridiculous expressions of fear. Good for you for sticking up for your rights and the rights of all!
Thanks Heather.
Very proud of you and your stand. I have another friend who wears Hijab and has faced similar scrutiny. I understand what it represents in the Muslim faith and I think it is good, and virtuous and sincere. Wholesome values do not detract from our society and what makes Canada amazing is not our “tolerance” but our welcoming of the expression of faith and belief, whatever they may be.
It strikes me as strange that the belle province would so aggressively perpetuate the importance of our two official national languages and the preservation of the French culture in Canada and yet move so clearly to limit the rights of cultural preservation in another community. For shame.
Thank you for speaking up Fariha!
Thank you Lori. Very few if any of us expected such a ludicrous charter to come so far. It’s up to people to speak up and express their outrage over this “proposed charter of values.” It cuts through the fabric of what makes us thrive; diversity.
Excellent! Very well said Fariha!
Great blog, Fariha! This proposed legislation really makes me angry. I cannot even believe this is an issue in any part of our Canadian society.
Glad you spoke up. More people need to do this. We need not take an aggressive stance, rather an intelligent, eloquent and passionate one, like you have.
Thank you for such a thoughtful letter. Many people seem to think that women are forced to wear the hijab, and while in some cases this is true, many choose to wear as both a personal expression and an expression of faith and certainly not one that should be stripped of anyone.
Great post Fariha! Cannot imagine what you and your fellow Quebecoise are going through. Good for you to stand up for yourself. Just find it so odd, in a democracy it’s okay to disagree about politics (and sometimes expected) but to attack a person’s values and beliefs is fundamentally wrong on so many different levels least of all… morally!
Well said! Bravo!
Great post Fariha. It is very important for all québécois to come together on this issue. Every single one of us should speak up against this proposed Charter of Values.
Thank you Amber for your comment. You’re absolutely right. It’s too major an issue to ignore.
Its so funny, I was going to write you a personal message on Facebook asking what your opinion was on this fiasco. I am so glad I saw your honest, straightforward and riveting post.
I too am a proud Montreal and Quebecer. After growing up and living in Montreal for most of my childhood and into University, I eventually left Montreal to follow my family and ultimately my heart. Not a day goes by that I don’t wish I was back in Montreal again… REALLY, that is not lie. Not living in Quebec any longer, does not dissuade me from identifying myself a s Quebecer… it is my hometown and the true holder of my heart.
My Quebec was just what you described… down to the last detail. It breaks my heart to see this unnecessary divisive issue brought upon my brethren. It breaks my heart to see what you have to suffer through. It is degrading. I am a practicing Catholic and although I don’t actively wear any religious symbols, I would never in a million years suggest anyone not wear theirs. Creating this ludicrous charter goes against any rational thought process to anyone that adhere to a Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
I honestly hold all of you in my prayers… this cannot be an easy time to be a person of faith in Quebec.
Your blog post was riveting and I will be sharing it…
Thank you Margarita for your kind words and for sharing your memory of your Quebec. I’ve lived most of my life in this province and have yet to see who the 57% are that allegedly support this charter. It baffles me. Thank you for sharing my post.
I applaud you, this is beautifully written and I am so glad you did! It’s hard to believe this could be an issue anywhere in our country
Very proud of you girl … loved it. You don’t know me but i do know you by your your writing now. Keep it up. *high five* xoxo your sister from Toronto, Ontario
As a Pentecostal the idea of stifling any freedom of religion should create a huge uproar amongst us all. I love the way you wrote this. Not vicious and cutting, but just explaining your heart!
I have been trying to wrap my head around this, just as I tried to wrap my head around the whole soccer business in Quebec, and I just can’t. Maybe it’s because I’ve from the prairies and am so far removed from Quebec and the culture there. I care about Canada. I care about Canadians.Period.
Beautifully said. Sadly I left Montreal, because democracy has been torn away from Quebec piece by piece since 1976 and proud québécois ( the English and the immigrants ) were invited to leave as their choices and way of life was pulled out from under them. I am in Ontario now and am so proud of the anti bias policies which are mandatory in every business, school, institution. Don’t let this happen. Keep on expressing yourself and hopefully this charter does.
Marilyn: up to the 1960s, despite being the overwhelming majority of the population, French-speaking Quebecers had the lowest income per capita than any other ethnic group in the province, save for Indigenous people. It was a place where colonial privileges were still very much entrenched, upward mobilty for francophones was very limited and the business community was still anglo-dominated. This historical imbalance had to be addressed in order to bring more equality to our democracy, not to tear it away in any way.
And please, no one was ever asked to leave Québec. This narrative is naive and oh-so-convenient. What about the economic factors that were largely favouring Toronto (like, the Seaway opening in the late 1950s that began shifting jobs and headquarters upstream the Saint-Lawrence) since way before the first PQ government in 1976? I wouldn’t rule those off so easily. As much as you may have disliked his politics, you can’t blame it all on René Lévesque. But you’re free to prey on Pauline Marois, as far as I’m concerned 🙂
So very well said! Thanks for sharing your experience and point and of view!! Would you consider translating your letter into French? I’ve already shared it among my anglophone friends, but the people I know who really NEED to read this are all francophone, with not necessarily the best English reading skills.
Thanks Jenn. I’m working on its French translation. I’m aiming to have it up in the next day or so. Feel free to share once it is up. Thank you for your support.
Excellent!! I most definitely will!!
I look up to you for being brave, standing up for yourself and for writing such a well written letter. I’m sorry that you are going through this. I just don’t understand!
Thank you!
(hmmm. it seems that my whole comment wasn’t included. i was offering to check with some translator colleagues to see if anyone would be willing to translate it for free. let me know if you’d like me to do that.)
You make me so proud! This is me hugging you, hi-fiving you, and standing beside you in asserting the right to self-expression – of all shapes and sizes and varieties, for whatever reason. This ridiculous ‘law’ has no place whatsoever in 2013. Sending warmth, respect, and love your way!
I am very pleased to see that people are finally motivated to speak out. It is the only way to preserve freedom.Your letter is excellent, Fariha!!!
Thank you Marilyn. I appreciate your kind words and support.
You are a strong and courageous woman and I applaud you.
Thank you Patricia 🙂
Fariha I am so proud of you. You are amazing and have given your opinions with such eloquence and class. Knowing you as I do I would never expect anything less.
That was an awesome piece. I really do hope the government changes their mind, and I feel I have to excuse myself of being a native french quebecois now. A non religious state doesn’t mean it’s employees should not express religion. But we are not all like that, and I do hope that most people who are exposed to other religions do understand. I find that when you meet people from other origins and religions, you understand more.
So well written-Proud to be your sister!
🙂
Stop all of this nonsense!
What ever you choose to do at home is your business!
Better re- write that beautifully written in French. Or she will not read it.
I’m a white female francophone (I guess part of Marois’s definition of real Québécois!) and I found your letter beautiful. I do hope that this law won’t go through, because it doesn’t mirror the values of the Quebec I also grew up in.
Well said. I had been dismayed not to see the argument raised that religious self-expression is no different than any other, whether it is wearing a band T shirt, getting a fake tan, putting on a tie, or rocking a mohawk.
Dear Fariha,
This is absolutely wonderful in every possible way, and just what I needed to read to end this ridiculous Charter-filled day. Thank you for this. Sharing as widely as I possibly can.
What a beautiful and meaningful piece you wrote!!! It was by chance that I saw it on the Huffington Post and my first instinct was that this incredibly touching piece should be sent to the major newspapers (both online and print) in Quebec and across Canada, as a letter to the editor. Your voice speaks for thousands of religious and secular Quebecois.
As a anglophone Quebecker, brought up in Quebec City, I know exactly how you feel when you say you are Quebecoise. We are just as much Quebecoise as our neighbour francophones are.
Thank you for this posting. I am looking forward to hearing your eloquent voice through other media.
Great letter. I too have the certificate allowing my son to go to English school, but I chose to use it. One reason only really, so that his children will have the right to choose when the time comes. All it takes is a couple of years elementary, and he got his certificate too. What he does from that point on is his choice, and he will be able to afford that choice to his kids down the line as well. I come from a merged family (Reconstituted family) and 4 of my brothers are French and attended French school, they all resent the fact they cannot send their kids to the school of their choice like I can. Who is that law hurting in the end? Anyhow, freedom of expression, it’s a god given right, who are we to take that away?
In all my 72 years I have never been more proud of a sister Canadian! You exemplify the best in our young women and my sincere hope is that we stem this trend of fear of the “different” in our societies, from whence all discrimination and isolation originate. Brava, my young friend! Your eloquence is breath-taking!
Thank you this witness. I also fall under the definition of what the PQ believes to be a true québecoise, but also having been raised in the West Island, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to have friends of a multitude of faiths, cultures, and forms of expression. I do not believe for one moment that the average public service representative would take their job/career as an opportunity to proselytize through their clothing. (Because clearly we are such a fashion-forward society that clothing now SPEAK to us… jeez.) Good on you for sharing your story.
Great letter, Fariha. My thoughts exactly. I’m a Montreal-born anglo of an Ontario mom and a Montreal bilingual dad. We left Quebec for Toronto in the great exodus in the 1970’s. I fear another exodus of brilliant people like you will ultimately cause the collapse of Quebec society. Marois and her ilk are very short-sighted in their flagrant bigotry. Thank you for being you. We all must join together and express our disappointment, dismay, outrage at this nonsense. And sadly, it is an opinion that is quietly being shared in the ROC (rest of Canada). I would like to add that I am someone who has come to be rather anti-religious, HOWEVER, I am very much for human rights, freedom of choice, freedom of expression. That is what our society is about. And let’s push Premier Marois to remember that she serves all of the people, and to stop her attempt to distract from the REAL problems of Quebec: the economy, corruption, infrastructure. Thank you, Fariha. All the best to you and your family. Sincerely, Mary Clare
The rest of Canada stands with you! Or, if I can’t speak for all Canadians, I can say that *I*, as a Canadian, stand with you. I am absolutely appalled at what is happening in Quebec. And maybe I don’t get it because I’ve never lived in Quebec, but I hope that isn’t the case. I hope this bill doesn’t pass because it is unconstitutional and because it is a human rights issue. I hope that you never have to take off your hijab in public if you don’t want to.
Madame, vous êtes une empêcheuse de préjuger en rond. Merci mille fois! This is an important and very well written post. You are not alone opposing this bill, which holds no real chance to pass anyway. It is mostly a horrible and ill-chosen electoral tactic to attract the conservative “identitaire” right. Peace.
Is not the deliberate removal of english from Quebec already a form of asphyxiation of freedom of self expression? The english have been defeated so now they need to find some other groups to pick on. I am an atheist and just the very thought of this charter is offensive to me because it affects all of us. It affects basic rights. If this passes, what will be next? What book is Marois reading (if in fact she can read)… The Communist Manifesto?… Because anyone who’s anyone who knows some history, Quebec is going down THAT road. I hope (and pray) that we all finally stand up to this garbage charter. This is not a government but a bunch of bullies who need to be brought down NOW because surely enough they have something else up their sleeve in the near future. Two words to Marois: THE ECONOMY.
You nailed it…Extremely well written letter.
Merci Fariha for this so well written letter. Hope you don’t mind me sharing it.
No, not at all. Thanks for reading.
your words are well chosen and wise in thought – everyone has a right to self expression. I think with Quebec the rights of Canadians living in Quebec) have been taken away for years by a provincial government that does not respect freedom, but if more concerned about the “Quebec French Agenda” and the sentence you wrote alludes to that —– I have the “eligibility certificate”. Yes, to all my non-Québec readers we are required by our province to have a certificate authenticating that our children are entitled to an English education. —— It is time the federal govrnment has balls and steps in with economic measures to ensure the rights of Canadians living in Quebec are not subject to wacko regimes of their provincial parliment . (I will not get into the “french only” sign ridiculous issue!!)
wait, are you advocating economic sanctions from the federal government against an elected government? Sounds to me about as unconstitutional as the proposed charter. Sure, language laws are a bummer, but please do yourself a favour and trad a history book ro understand where they came from. They are not an uncommon thing at all in a constituency where the majority is a national minority of a larger constituency.
Alhumdulillah! Great letter! May Allah bless you.
Au québec on parle français. Alors ce n’est pas votre Québec . Je me demande combien de temps un blanc québécois pourrais vivre avant de se faire lapider si il revendiquait constamment comme vous le faites……
Tout d’abord, il faut que je dise que les anglophones font parti du patrimoine québécois autant que les francophones. Ils ont contribué à ce que nous sommes aujourd’hui et nous devons être fier de les côtoyer et qu’ils vivent dans notre communauté francophone sans rouspéter (ou presque). Pour le reste, la réalité québécoise n’est pas du tout la même que dans les pays musulmans. Bien entendu, certains vont vouloir revendiquer leurs droits, leur liberté d’expression religieuse, mais nous faisons exactement la même chose en tant que québécois, mais seulement pas pour les mêmes convictions (ex. droits de scolarité, patrimoine, ressources naturelles, etc.). Il ne faut pas mettre les extrémistes dans le même panier que tous les autres musulmans ou juifs (ou autres). Nombreux se conforment aux valeurs québécoises et en sont même très fiers. Il suffit seulement d’être ferme envers certaines doctrines extrémistes qui pourraient aller à l’encontre de la sécurité et la liberté d’autrui. Quant à moi, un hijab, une kippa ou un turban ne nuit en rien à la sécurité ou à la liberté d’autrui. Ce n’est pas un foulard qui fait en sorte qu’un mari bat et soumet sa femme. Ce n’est pas un foulard qui impose que la nourriture soit Halal dans les écoles. Le hijab (ou peut importe le symbole religieux) n’est que la représentation matériel d’une croyance religieuse. Il n’a rien à voir avec le comportement des gens. Étant une femme québécoise blanche francophone, je peux mettre un foulard sur ma tête par soucis d’esthétique. Vais-je changer mon comportement pour autant? Non. Une femme musulmane qui exige fermement que la nourriture soit Halal dans l’école de son enfant va-t-elle continuer à le revendiquer sans son foulard. Oui. C’est une question de valeur et d’éducation. Je trouve cela absurde, en tant que société développée et éduquée, d’avoir peur d’un foulard sur la tête ou d’une étoile. Nous ne visons pas le bon problème en restreignant ces gens, en fait, nous ne faisons que preuve de régression.
Au Québec on parle français et anglais.
Hi Fariha, It’s Ghadir we went to college together, I congratulate you for this letter, it really made us proud, and you did talk on our behalf, I think you should include your letter in a petition, and let the ball roll. you could go on change.org good luck
Thank you Ghadir. Nice to hear from you. Thank you for reading.
I am as agnostic as I could be, I am born that way and I probably will remain it untill my last day, but I respect every other form of humanism or religion, and so I am grateful for your letter (I read the french version in the HP) It is eloquent, tolerant and in many ways the “cri de coeur” we all would like to express so gracefully…but this is a political decision, of a gouvernment that knows it will be defeated in spring elections if they do not find a way of dividing Québec in two camps…they lost because of the number of parties…so do not be offended by it, or by the hateful comments, it is unfortunate but it’s the way politics work…
Bonjour,
After pastagate, now this!
I am a “Pure Laine”. According to the Drouin Institute, recorded on paper, my ancestors arrived in Québec by boat in 1635. I am a proud Montréal born Québecer. My parents were born in a little village past Québec city called, “l’Isle Verte”. I was just there 2 weeks ago visiting the beautiful family farm. That is who I am!
I cannot say I support the cause – AS I DO NOT THINK I CAN EVEN CALL THIS OUTRAGE, “A CAUSE”! I am at your side all the way! Supporting my fellow brothers and sisters (human race) of all religions. (Religion is at the very foundation of human evolution for the last 5000 years, since the written history is only approximately 5000 years old). I am personally not attached to any religion, however I am respectful of all religions that are respectfully established. Congratulations on a very well written article! If you have it written in French please forward it to my email address.
The Québec government has made mistakes on their website so I took the liberty of doing some editing: http://www.nosvaleurs.gouv.qc.ca/
Monsieur bernard drainville please credit me on my next income tax return, for the work I have done.
The Québec government website stipulates (Home page alone is full of contradictions):
A word from the minister (Taken from the website)
“Les orientations proposées par le gouvernement ont pour objectif de poursuivre la démarche de séparation des religions et de l’État, entamée il y plus de 50 ans dans le sillage de la Révolution tranquille. Le gouvernement québécois croit qu’il s’agit là de la meilleure façon de répondre au pluralisme religieux dans un État moderne, soucieux de l’égalité de toutes et de tous afin de tisser ensemble, par-delà les différences religieuses, morales ou culturelles de toute personne, un lien civique fort.”
“Durant la révolution tranquille, quand ils ont entamée la séparation des religions et de l’État dans les années 50-60” – Their primary goal was to transfer the power from the Catholic Church to the state. “In general, the Church of Quebec controlled education, health services and charitable institutions. If we consider that the role of a state is to regulate society and provide to it social services, then in Quebec in the late XIXth the Church had become, in practice, the State.” Read more: http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/readings/church.htm
What the Québec Government is proposing should not be attach to Québec history nor should it be a continuation of what happened over 50 years ago only because both subjects are not related. Jean Lesage at the time of the “Révolution tranquille” was about the modernization of Québec. The man had great accomplishments and he was a visionary (not to be compared to pauline marois. If monsieur Lesage hear what she is doing – he will be turning in his grave). I will not quote monsieur Lesage in this email – just do a google search, and you will get all your answers. Pauline Marois’ proposal is actually going against “La Révolution tranquille” Pauline Marois is a politician who has struggled her entire career to make it in the big league. She always ended up second or third. It is evident she will do everything she can to make a name for herself. She is all about ego with a personal agenda. She will fail!
The proposed charter of values removes our freedom, separates society and it is discriminatory. The very expensive publicity on the media is completely absurd. It is mismanagement of our funds and tax dollars. I have worked hard my whole life and I choose to pay taxes to live in a democratic country, which offers services to the population. I DISAGREE HOW MY TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING USED to create a proposed charter of values. This is not why our government has been put in place. The government begins the advertisement by saying that Quebecers must be treated equally and fairly (which is true) by the state. They go on saying the state must be “neutral” (which is also true) (see the video on w.nosvaleurs.gouv.qc.ca). The state (by the way – a new word being used to describe our province) neutrality should be about accepting all religions and uniting the citizens of its states. The video is distasteful and contradictive. They are obviously addressing the advertisement to a low education population. Therefore, I am addressing this next sentence to my fellow brothers and sisters who have made a decision in their lives not pursue advance studies; The proposed charter of values is basically telling the population, “If you follow a religion you are not welcome in Québec.” It is forcing the population to choose between a career (making an income) and a religion (individualism). If the proposed charter passes, this is what potentially may happen: If I choose to keep my religion, I will have to hide it in the privacy of my own home to practice or do my readings. I will be banned from speaking about my religion in public. If I wear a symbol, which portray what religion I belong to, people will look at me with strange eyes as if I am the ugly duckling and will be treated like an outsider. I will walk down the street wearing my Turban, Kippah or Jihab (if this proposed law is passed), someone will throw a rock at me just because they happen to disagrees with my religious beliefs and it will be ok only because the government said so. This is pure insanity. Why are we going backwards? We now live in one of the best era in the last 2000 years. More discoveries are being made now then ever before about ancient history, solar system, planetary discovery, the functioning of our brain… And Quebec is regressing? Quebec as a province (newly word being used: as a state) does not need to pass a law about values especially not one that basically bands individualism and freedom. As Quebecers and Canadians we are one, we are all connected and we are all respectful for our individualism.
Clear rules for everyone
“Since 2006, a number of high-profile religious accommodation cases have given rise to a profound discomfort in Quebec. To maintain social peace and promote harmony, we must prevent tensions from growing.”
Dear pauline marois and bernard drainville, please name these incidents since 2006. There were just a few incidents, which happened recently and originated by a minority group within your current government. As they say, “Create the problem and come back as the savior pretending to fix something that is not broken”.
Québec values
“Contributions by Quebecers of all origins have enabled us to build an open society that shares fundamental values. These values defining Québec society and constituting a form of social contract are, among others, equality between women and men, religious neutrality of Québec’s public institutions, and recognition of a common historic heritage.” These words located on the 3rd tab of your website are very well written and I am in full agreement with its content and meaning. However, it the proposed charter passes we will no longer have an open society and we will no longer share fundamental values. Dear government – who are you to tell me what my values should be? My parent may enforce certain values on me but not you my dear pauline.
Religious neutrality
“The state has an obligation to be neutral, which is an essential condition to ensure freedom of conscience and religion.” I agree that my Québec should be neutral – meaning not taking sides, allowing a Sikh to wear a Turban, a Muslim to wear a Jihab and a Jew to wear a Kippah. If the proposed charter of values is passed it is the first step to moving toward a dictatorship government.
Five proposals
1. AMEND THE QUÉBEC CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
Why would a government amend the charter of human right and freedoms and make it worst? Contradictory again!
2. ESTABLISH A DUTY OF NEUTRALITY AND RESERVE FOR ALL STATE PERSONNEL
What does that really mean? Because I work in a school or hospital I will have to live in secrecy because I will have to hide the fact that I have a religious belief or else people will look at me in dismay – insane!
3. LIMIT THE WEARING OF CONSPICUOUS RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS
Like I mentioned before, personally I am not part of an organized religion, however, when my son was born I did not know if I should baptize him or not. So, when I went to see the priest I asked him why I should baptize my son? The nice priest before me answered, “To give your son an identity in the first stages of his life and when he’s an adult he will have the freedom to choose who ever he wants to be! I answered, “fair enough, I like your answer”. My son was baptized! My son has the freedom to choose who he wants to be, what he wants to wear and how he wants to live his life in a democratic country.
By wearing a symbol to represent a religion means many things but one thing for sure, it is not conspicuous. This is a fabrication of you, pauline marois.
This is where I stop. I feel very uncomfortable with what our government has been doing. Can you imagine how long, how much work and how much resources it took to put such a plan together? You deserve to be fired!
“By affirming these values, we are proposing to build a strong Québec identity, whether one was born here or elsewhere. The state (Québec) is neutral therefore accepts all religions an essential condition to ensure freedom of conscience and religion.” Dear government, put your actions where your words are and do not pursue to pass the proposed charter of values.
You are currently in power – If you do not know where to place your energy please send me an email and I will send you a proposal about how to create jobs in our changing world, how to get involved in space commerce (which is the next big industry) and how to welcome people from all over the world wearing their symbol of religion.
Dear government of Québec – Please take down the website. It is a public embarrassment. If you don’t and if the proposed charter passes we as a society will live through the worst economic breakdown of the millennium.
A concerned citizen!
well said it is a form of self expression. how we choose to dress is our freedom of right
What a great letter! I hope the Premier gets it and reconsiders. I do not live in Quebec but the fact that this Charter is still even being discussed anywhere in Canada I find intensely frightening, I can only imagine how scary it would be in my own province. Even more frightening to me is hearing of anybody who supports it, as it represents pure ignorance to me. I understand that this ignorance exists, it always has, but to think a government would endorse and support it is what is so shocking to me. Good luck and know that you are supported all over the country.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read/write.
Vous faites tout pour être détestée vous !
I am an English speaking B.C. resident who, in the 1940s and 50s in Saskatchewan, did not have an opportunity to learn Canada’s ‘other’ language. When I visited Quebec I was thrilled with its unique and colourful culture. The thought of living in a country that contained this difference seemed uniquely ‘Canadian’. ( I have lived in the ‘melting pot’ of the U.S. for a few years.) I was shocked to hear of this “Charter of Values” which, to me, reeked of racism. The issue of Sovereignty saddened me. Last night we sat, transfixed, as we watched the election results, and the overwhelming defeat of the PQ. In my opinion It is an important step in the right direction. Vive la Quebec!!!!
All the best to you.
Judi