Jean-Paul Lemieux (Galerie Michel Bigue)
Just a few words.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-laicity-secularism-bill-1.5075547
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-will-require-bare-face-for-service-1.913095
Under Premier François Legault and several members his Coalition Avenir Quebec, Quebec is again trying to secularise its already secularised society. All faces are bare in Quebec. Muslim women wear a discreet veil. However, if Bill 21 is enacted, they would be required to remove their discreet veil or, perhaps, if not certainly, lose their position.
People gesture during a demonstration in Montreal, Sunday, April 7, 2019, in opposition to the Quebec government’s newly tabled Bill 21. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes)
Given its rigidity and Quebec’s preexisting official laïcité, Premier Legault’s, Bill 21 is unacceptable. Were there a genuine threat of terrorism, which there isn’t, a society could forbid the niqāb to make faces visible. It would be a matter of security. But, if enacted, Bill 21 could be interpreted not only as Islamophobia, but as an expression of religious intolerance across-the-board.
Some employees wear uniforms in order for the public to recognize that they are policemen, bus drivers, firemen, etc. So did school children when I was a child: navy blue and white. We looked like the young girl depicted by Jean-Paul Lemieux, including the hairdo. So there are uniforms. Men will not be affected, but Muslim women will be.
Alexandre Bissonnette
- sentence
- Premier Philippe Couillard
He will appeal his sentence, but as things stand, Alexandre Bissonnette, who killed 6 Muslims worshipping at a Quebec City Mosque, will not be eligible for parole for the next 40 years.
When Alexandre Bissonnette killed, he was not affiliated with a terrorist group and, to my knowledge, he has not joined such a group since he has been detained.
At the time, Quebec Premier Dr Philippe Couillard reassured Quebecers and Canadians.
The Consequences
As for my Muslim ladies, their daughters may wish to remove their veil. They may find it cumbersome. However, if their mother was forced to remove her veil or be unemployed, her children may insist on wearing a veil, if they have not left Quebec.
Under Bills 22, enacted in 1974, and 101 enacted in 1977, Quebec declared itself unilingual and would not allow immigrants to enrol their children in English-language schools. Therefore, Quebec’s best immigrants were North Africans who spoke French fluently. However, to a very large extent, they were Muslims. French-speaking Muslim immigrants to Quebec did Quebec a service. Has Quebec forgotten?
Religious Intolerance Across-the-Board
Bill 21 smacks of religious intolerance. All display of adherence to a religion would be forbidden. Some of us are atheists, but others believe in God, and many find a refuge in spirituality. We are a diverse society and will grow more diverse. If Bill 21 is enacted, Quebec could be divided along religious lines.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-bill-21-opposition-1.5083340
Students and staff at Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School in Montreal’s West Island, held a protest against Bill 21 over their lunch break on Friday. (Valeria Cori-Manocchio/CBC)
Conclusion
I will close by suggesting, boldly, that Bill 21 may not be entirely what it seems. I suspect that it is and that it isn’t about religious affiliation. Quebec’s two referendums (1980; 1995) have not given the government of Quebec a mandate to negotiate sovereignty. But the province is drifting away using all means it can dig out. For instance, Quebec has yet to sign the Constitution Act of 1982.
Could it be that, once again, Quebec wants to differ, Bill in hand … ? If Quebec wants to differ, let it not be at the expense of its law-abiding and French-speaking Muslim women. Immigrants from everywhere, first generation immigrants in particular, mourn their country. Many have lost everything. Let us not think that we have done them a favour. Such an attitude would be insensitive and, in fact, arrogant.
Our duty is to respect everyone, despite colour, faith, language and other differences. These are superficial differences. Let our immigrants belong. All of us are human beings and merely passing …
Love to everyone 💕
We are returning to Molière. But laïcité weighed on my mind. I have friends who are supporters of Bill 21. I hope they will forgive me. They know that Quebec is a lay society.
Marie-Nicole Lemieux chante “Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix”
Camille Saint-Saëns — Samson and Delilah op. 47
Samson and Delilah, by Gustave Doré, c. 1860
© Micheline Walker
19 April 2019
WordPress
Micheline's Blog 
So much strife in the world enacted in the name of religion is nothing of the sort
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Derrick, Quebec cannot do this. Quebec’s Muslims constitute a law-abiding community and the province is officially secular. Quebec wanted French-speaking immigrants. There were candidates in North Africa. They came and their French is better than the French spoken most Québécois. Why don’t we live in harmony in Quebec and in Canada. Canada is a land of immigrants.
What a week: the immigrants and then Notre-Dame de Paris. It was my parish when I lived in Paris, but it also belongs to the world. I cried for two days. All of it would be in ashes were it not for the expertise of the firemen. So, it’s back to Molière. That’s pure joy. Love to both of you. Micheline 🙂
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🙂 X
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Thank you Derrick. I may find myself totally abandoned because of this article. A lot of people support Bill 21. 🙂
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No, you are not abandoned, I support your views Micheline, we cannot endorse intolerance, to the right of people to choose to wear hijabs, turbans, kippas, and crucifixes in the course of their duties. it’s their choice, and it’s their Religion, and doesn’t hurt anybody, therefore their right.
Why someone else choose to dictate what a Priest, a Monk, or a Rabbi or anyone else shouldn’t wear their traditional garments?
And that it’s intolerance to their beliefs, I understand some people may object the place of work it’s not a place to advertise, or proselytize your beliefs, but that is a whole different matter.
Community organizations, civil rights groups and opposition politicians have pointed out that while the bill theoretically treats all religious symbols as equal, by far the largest pool of people affected will be non-Christian women who wear scarves or veils, giving it a distinctly xenophobic and sexist edge.
I am with you on this one. 🙂
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What a kind comment.
If Bill 21 is enacted, no one would be authorized to display their adherence to a religion. But it so happens that Muslim women wear a veil. As a result, they feel targeted. I’m glad other communities realize that they too would have to remove all public display of their adherence to a religion. Premier Legault does not seem to realize that Muslims have helped preserve the French language in Quebec. Nor does he seem to realize that French begins at home. Too many Québécois do not make an effort to speak their language properly. For instance, they do not read sufficiently. They use various bills in order to protect their language, but these bills can lull them into neglecting their language. They should take a closer look at themselves.
Extreme secularism will not protect Quebec. Its French-speaking Muslims could well move to a more tolerant province. So, Quebec is hurting Muslim women and hurting itself in the process. Linguistically, French-speaking North Africans, white and black, have been a blessing to Quebec, and they are good citizens. Tolerance and respect go a long way. Let’s hope Bill 21 is defeated. Quebec is a secular society.
I love all good human beings. Micheline 🙂
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Immigrants from everywhere, first generation immigrants in particular, mourn their country. Many have lost everything. Let us not think that we have done them a favour. Such an attitude would be insensitive and, in fact, arrogant.
Our duty is to respect everyone, despite colour, faith, language and other differences. These are superficial differences. Let our immigrants belong. All of us are human beings and merely passing … wise words, Micheline. Bill 21 may be very short sighted.
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Gallivanta, the government of Quebec may mean well, but Bill 21 is “short sighted.” We must be at one with the rest of humanity. Canada is a land of immigrants and Quebec’s Muslims are fine law-abiding citizens who also speak French. They are the immigrants Quebec invited. I prefer to love them and acccommodate small differences. I thank you for your writing. Your comment was soothing.
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