| Ricky Blue's Other Life |
 Ricky Blue  Ricky Blue was born in Liverpool, England, but raised in Maine, New Jersey, and Toronto. He has an MA in English from Concordia University. He has been involved in bands and media music in Montreal for over twenty years. In 1981 he won an international 'Clio' award for excellence in advertising. He once appeared on television naked. His life had no real meaning, however, until he began to play with Bowser and Blue. Rick plays guitar, mandolin, and harmonica, and sings in a rather pleasant baritone when George will let him. He is also a columnist for Montreal's outstanding weekly The Suburban. His LCC columns are archived here |
Posted 07.03.06
The most wonderful Canadian wonder of them all
MONTREAL | Recently, the CBC revealed its much promoted "Seven Wonders of Canada."
None of my choices even made the nominees: Don Cherry's wardrobe, Peter Mansbridge's dome, Ralph Klein's liver, Conrad Black's ego, Leonard Cohen's libido, and Gilles Duceppe's career. A friend suggested Stephen Harper's French to complete the seven.
Perhaps many of you at home came up with your own lists as well. We Canadians seem to have a lot of time on our hands.
It was also suggested that "Canadian Wonders" might go like this:
I particularly like this line of "wonders": the beleaguered Canadian taxpayer is left to wonder about so many things.
The CBC final cut had something for everyone - the Canoe, the Igloo, the Rockies, the Prairie Skies, Niagara Falls, Pier 21 in Halifax, and old Quebec City. It was the kind of balance of sensitivity to regions and ethnic groups that makes our public broadcaster proud.
But the only "Wonder" given to our region was to Old Quebec City, a revealing choice, a typical expression of the way English Canada sees Quebec. It celebrates the Quebec that is safely tucked away in the past, wearing costumes of the Filles du Roi and playing spoons.
It was such a missed opportunity!
Just imagine for one minute if the CBC had chosen as one of the Seven Wonders of Canada "the French language." Imagine what a spectacular moment of generosity and understanding that might have been.
And it is a Canadian wonder, because French was written into the BNA Act in 1867 as one of the two official languages of our nation, because Canada evolved the way it has done as such an accommodating federation, and because of the good will and taxes of Canadians all across the country the French language has not only survived but has thrived.
This country has made a conscious choice to nurture and protect French. Remember, it is the government of Canada, not the government of Quebec, which defends Bill 101 in the international arena.
French is a living language, not something that was inhabited 300 years ago and now exists only as a replica for tourists, like in New Orleans.
What a graceful gesture this could have been for the CBC. What a magnanimous attempt at bridging the gap between the two solitudes. But it didn't even make the short list. As far as I know, it was never even suggested.
Of course, we didn't invent the French language and we are not the only ones who speak it. But the survival of the French language in North America has been due to the good will and hard work of Canadians.
And we have done it in spite of self-interest. It could successfully be argued that Spanish or even Mandarin would be more useful. We have done this because of our sense of duty, honour, and history.
The continued existence of the French language in North America is as great a wonder of Canada as the Rocky Mountains. Every time Stephen Harper leads off a speech in French, I am reminded of what a generous and accommodating nation we are.
But if we English-speaking Canadians and our voice, the CBC, never give ourselves any credit for this wonder, then why should French-speaking Canadians, or indeed anyone else? |
| HOME COLUMNS FEATURES FICTION OPINION POETRY PHOTOGRAPHY |