The Plaints of Abraham (Qebecois)

Their successful propaganda battle against the re-enactment of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham by volunteer actors must have given the resistors of history great satisfaction. Portraying themselves as ill-done by through the evil machinations of English Canada, seeking always to triumph over francophones, and their aggrieved and grievous memories of exploitation and discrimination by the maudit Anglais.

Not enough that the rest-of-Canada forks over colossal sums through federal coffers in transfer payments to Quebec, eked out of the taxes of each and every Canadian, to enable Quebecers to assume ownership of preferential treatment in every conceivable social index. Setting it further apart from the rest-of-Canada in its entitlements. Political entitlements prised out of the federal government to portray itself on the world stage as an autonomous region of the country.

The threats of sovereignty simply will not die, for nothing can placate the burning resentment of the massive inferiority complex that francophones enjoy, relish, and burnish to a burning fire of passion. If they were ever successful in seceding from confederation do they really, honestly believe that they will not miss transfer payments, that the rest-of-Canada will be happy to share federal institutions with them?

Another kind of victory was experienced by the separatists on that infamous venue of the Plains of Abraham that saw Montcalm's army bested by Wolfe's. The generous assuring of language rights, religious rights, cultural rights, did not accomplish much more than to encourage later generations to take up the aggrievement of their forefathers.

There is something about the French; one sees it in the traditional relationship between France and Britain. A burning, effervescent challenge for superiority. A constant friction of distemper. The misery of grudging getting along to get along. But suspicion is always there that the English will attempt to show up the French any opportunity they get. It is an inbred pathology, inherited by French Canadians.

So the "sovereigntist show" had its day of glory, poking its metaphorical finger in the eyes of English Canada, and a good time was had by all who attended. Giving parity to the readings of nationalists, patriots, sovereigntists and terrorists alike. Would the rest-of-Canada miss the absence of such sterling characters as Gilles Duceppe, Bernard Landry and Pauline Marois?

Mr. Landry with his percolating hatred of the Anglais, his disdain of Canada: "The only way to remove [the flag] from there is to achieve independence. That is what we are working at", he raged at his appreciative audience of separatists. "Independence and freedom of nations must be pursued until it is achieved. Nations that can be free have a duty to be. Quebec can be, and it must do it."

Oh happy day, to be rid of that succubus.