In my travels over the internet I came across your website and your links with the Lilith Gallery. It is clear that you have very able talent as an artist and although I am not a professional art critic there is a depth in your work that demonstrates your passion, youth and understanding of your subject. However the part of you that interested me the most was your article that you wrote on the Lilith-ezine titled 'Canadian Unity Vs. Quebec Separation' in 2005.
To let you know a little about me. I am from Scotland and have lived in Quebec City for seven years. I am a member of the Parti and Bloc Quebecois and have also worked at the Assemblée Nationale here in Quebec City.
While I admire your passion for politics, it is clear from your article that you have virtually no understanding of Quebec politics. Maybe you aspire to involve yourself oneday activly in Canadian politics and I encourage you to do so. However Canadian politics and Quebec politics are very different and you are very much out of your depth as the ignorance in your article proved.
I am not going to critique your article word for word as I have no wish to humiliate you, unless that you really wish that I highlight the ignorance and weaknesses in your arguments. What I will say is this
Unless (this applies to anyone not just you)
a. You live in Quebec
b. You speak French fluently
c. You read/listen/watch news/debates on Quebec politics in French & English on a regular basis
then your opinions/views on Canada-Quebec relations are absolutley worthless. Of course you are entitled to your opinions, but if you really wish to have any sense of credibiltiy for yourself then I suggest that you concentrate either soley on your art or limit your opinions to that of Canada (where they speak English) and not of Quebec.
You finished your article with a big bold 'I am Canadian'. I admire people like you who have a strong faith in their identity and country. It demonstrates a confidence and a maturity. You cannot however impose an identity on someone. My wife and my daughter are Quebecoise not Canadian and Canada will never be their country even if in their lifetime Quebec never becomes a sovereign country. I hope you are one of the few Canadians to understand that.
I wish you well with your work and please feel free to reply if you so wish.
Ashley Watson, Quebec City hagusquebec@yahoo.ca
OUR RESPONSE:
Hello Ashley!
So what you are saying is that if I am not born and raised in Quebec then I am not allowed to have an opinion even though Quebec is part of Canada?
Let us both stop and consider what you're saying...
If an immigrant comes to Canada, speaks English, settles in Quebec City, and lives here for years becoming a Canadian citizen you're saying his or her views on Quebec Separatism are completely invalid?
Could you please explain why you consider a person's perspective, opinions, and indeed their vote is invalid?
I don't think you've sufficiently explained why a person's opinion (especially a Canadian citizen's opinion) would not be important to the ongoing discussion.
You are after all from Scotland, and therefore even after 7 years you cannot be expected to be completely fluent in French. Why should I listen to your opinion?
As a Canadian (regardless of whether I was born here and speak either of its two major languages) and since Quebec is part of Canada I see no reason why I can't discuss ANY part of Canada.
I don't predict any one from Cape Breton Island (where they speak Scottish Gaelic) in Nova Scotia complaining about me talking about Cape Breton Island/Scottish Gaelic.
Do you even speak Scottish Gaelic?
Slan leat!
Charles Moffat
(Teàrlach Moffat)
