My Take

My Take

The format of a My Take is 150 words – no more, no less – to express an opinion on a different topic each week. This week’s topic was bilingualism.

By Lawrence Belanger

I value bilingualism. I came to Quebec specifically because I didn’t want to be another American who could only speak English. I’ve always elevated Canada as proof that the United States could become more accommodating of Spanish, but recent developments surrounding C-13 have caused me to reconsider. In the United States, there is no official language Federally, which I realize now might actually help, rather than hinder, language rights. Right-wing movements in the United States have long sought to make America an “English-only” country, getting blocked at the federal level since English has never been an official language of the United States. It seems they should start translating notes from Quebec’s politicians, who have successfully warped Canadian bilingualism so it accepts Quebec’s efforts to slowly squeeze what remains of Quebec’s Anglophone community out of the province as they manufacture the identity of a “french-only” Quebec.

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