frank theriault wrote: > On 8/6/07, Daniel J. Matyola <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> I have just returned from two weeks in Eastern Canada, and I observed >> a lot of flags in the various provinces up there. >> >> In Europe, some countries -- like Switzerland, Norway and Denmark -- >> seem to fly their national flags even more than we flag-waving >> Americans do. In other countries, like Germany and Italy, the >> national flags are rarely seen. >> >> Canada seems to be full of flags. In the Maritime provinces, the >> provincial flag is usually flown beside the national flag. In Quebec, >> however, the blue and white provincial flag is everywhere, but the red >> and white Canadian flag was quite rare. Most provincial government >> buildings were flying only the flag of Quebec, without the Canadian >> flag, mostly of national government buildings and tourist hotels. I >> can't imagine a state office building in New Jersey or New York flying >> only the state flag without causing a considerable controversy. >> >> Also, on the West coast of Cape Breton, I saw a lot of "Acadian" >> flags, but was not really certain of what they mean or why they seemed >> pretty much restricted to that area.
> Okay, I agree with much of what both Adam and Dave said, however, the > issue of Quebec "nationhood" is quite complex will not be simply dealt > with in a forum like this. > > Ever since confederation in 1867, there were those in Quebec that felt > that it should be an independant nation. > > The numbers of true separatists have tended to be fairly constant over > the years; depending on who one asks, the number is around 25%. > However, depending on how and when one asks the question of > separation, anywhere from 25% to up to 60% will seem to be in > agreement. > > Bottom line is that many in Quebec think of it as a "nation" - not in > the sense of an independant nation-state, but in terms of a defined > geographical area within which on can find a unique culture, language, > etc. There's a sense of "dual nationhood", by which one can consider > one's self both Canadian and Quebecois, and one's "primary" allegiance > (if that's the right word) may well be towards Quebec. > > Even though Quebec's current government is not separatist (there have > been a number of them over the years), due to the influence of > separatists in the media and educational institutions, the sense that > one's a Quebecker before being a Canadian is maintained. Therefore, > provincial government buildings, for instance, will fly the provincial > flag and not a Canadian flag. > > I know it's kinda weird, especially with the American concept of > nationhood, and many in English Canada don't understand it, but in > Quebec, I suspect that most understand what's going on, even if not > all accept it. > > As for the Acadians, I'll answer Adam's post directly... > > cheers, > frank Very good answer, Frank! Thanks... keith whaley -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
