The day frogs grew teeth
In 1975, air traffic controllers and pilots across Quebec couldn't speak French to one another. An association was created to defend the rights of francophones to have the law on Official Languages enforced in the aviation industry. It met strong opposition, especially from so-called "friends," canadian controllers and airport managers across the country. The argument was that it wouldn't be safe to allow the use of French between controllers and pilots.
A commission was formed to study the question. Meanwhile, both sides campaigned fiercely for their cause. I saw a short documentary on television tonight about those years. I was absolutely shocked and appalled by some of the things I saw and heard. The pro-French side had buttons made that said "Il y a du Français dans l'air!" (There's French in the air). That's fine. A tasteful little play on words that gets their point across. The opposing side however, had buttons made that depicted a beaver strangling a frog. I cannot put into words the strength of the disgust I felt when I saw that. I literally got nauseated. The hypocritical pricks. How dared they pretend it was in the interest of safety while proudly wearing such a button. Why not have the balls to wear a button that said "We hate Quebeckers and resent that French was made an official language." I could respect someone like that. I may not like them but I could respect it. But this bullshit? How sickening.
In 1976 the Parti Québécois was elected and the battle for the right to speak French in the aviation industry became even more politicized. The frogs prevailed in the end, years later, and the monolingual beavers were sent home waddling with their big fat tail between their legs. Today, all Air Traffic Control frequencies in the Flight Information Region covering Quebec airspace are published as bilingual. Air Traffic Services are provided in both official languages, daily, and so bilingualism is a requirement for all controllers. Not a single incident in those 30 years has been attributed to the provision of air traffic services in French.
As a small distinct people in an English-speaking sea, we can't afford to not forgive. At some point in my youth, for several years I adamantly refused to learn English. I didn't like being told that I "had to" learn it. I was proud of my French heritage and I believed that learning English was disloyal, borderline treasonous. I know that many Quebeckers still feel this way. I don't anymore. Obviously, I learned English along the way, and willingly so, for my grammar and vocabulary wouldn't be half of what they are had I chosen to learn the bare minimum required by the school system.
I discovered at some point that knowledge of another language does not take away anything, it can only adds to what you already have. I realized that I could learn the language, enjoy its historical background and rich literature without forsaking my own heritage. I understood that languages are tools and that tools are not evil, only the people wielding them can be. Taking the best of both worlds is what I do today. Fanatics of either side would resent such a conciliatory approach, no doubt. Their loss, I say.
A commission was formed to study the question. Meanwhile, both sides campaigned fiercely for their cause. I saw a short documentary on television tonight about those years. I was absolutely shocked and appalled by some of the things I saw and heard. The pro-French side had buttons made that said "Il y a du Français dans l'air!" (There's French in the air). That's fine. A tasteful little play on words that gets their point across. The opposing side however, had buttons made that depicted a beaver strangling a frog. I cannot put into words the strength of the disgust I felt when I saw that. I literally got nauseated. The hypocritical pricks. How dared they pretend it was in the interest of safety while proudly wearing such a button. Why not have the balls to wear a button that said "We hate Quebeckers and resent that French was made an official language." I could respect someone like that. I may not like them but I could respect it. But this bullshit? How sickening.
In 1976 the Parti Québécois was elected and the battle for the right to speak French in the aviation industry became even more politicized. The frogs prevailed in the end, years later, and the monolingual beavers were sent home waddling with their big fat tail between their legs. Today, all Air Traffic Control frequencies in the Flight Information Region covering Quebec airspace are published as bilingual. Air Traffic Services are provided in both official languages, daily, and so bilingualism is a requirement for all controllers. Not a single incident in those 30 years has been attributed to the provision of air traffic services in French.
As a small distinct people in an English-speaking sea, we can't afford to not forgive. At some point in my youth, for several years I adamantly refused to learn English. I didn't like being told that I "had to" learn it. I was proud of my French heritage and I believed that learning English was disloyal, borderline treasonous. I know that many Quebeckers still feel this way. I don't anymore. Obviously, I learned English along the way, and willingly so, for my grammar and vocabulary wouldn't be half of what they are had I chosen to learn the bare minimum required by the school system.
I discovered at some point that knowledge of another language does not take away anything, it can only adds to what you already have. I realized that I could learn the language, enjoy its historical background and rich literature without forsaking my own heritage. I understood that languages are tools and that tools are not evil, only the people wielding them can be. Taking the best of both worlds is what I do today. Fanatics of either side would resent such a conciliatory approach, no doubt. Their loss, I say.
posted by Nathalie at 10:48 PM
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