What is Digg?4 Comments
- UniverseJDJ, on 07/11/2008, -1/+7***** the CRIA!
- smacksaw, on 07/11/2008, -0/+5A lot of people ***** on Quebec and Quebecois, but QuebecTorrent did serve a purpose, providing French-language content to a severely under-served and overwhelmed (by English) population.
It really makes you think that French-first initiatives (like 101) are more about gov't control than actually preserving French. As a libertarian and American, I have a lot of sympathy with Quebec. I'm multi-lingual. I like Spanish, but being from SoCal I have to wonder why English stopped being the primary language. The same thing goes for Quebec. It sucks when you're in the US, you speak English and people come and erode your language and culture instead of adapt to it. I have a lot of sympathy for them.
My libertarian side likes the fact that things like torrents exist which really democratise the entire process. If you have a torrent index that primarily serves French Canadians, they can make the choice to to view the content of their language and culture.
But then what will the politicians legislate? Can they say "oh no, French is dying"...prove it. If people are downloading massive amounts of French content that they choose without interference from gov't, it makes you wonder if French is that important to gov't. I'd think that if it mattered, politicians would not look a gift horse in the mouth and use whatever works. Hell, QuebecTorrent is a great example of why French should have primacy! It proves how hungry people are for that sort of content.
Going back to California, it's similar. English isn't really important. We pay lip service to it. But what's really important is exploiting Hispanics for cheap labour. In fact, making sure they can't speak English makes them perpetually 2nd-class citizens so they will work to keep English-speaking Americans not only rich, but from having to get their hands dirty. If poor Americans don't like it...well, they can lump it, right?
In the end, you have to wonder exactly what in the hell gov't is trying to do here. - earthforce1, on 07/11/2008, -0/+4Old boys media trying (and succeeding) in shutting down new alternatives. Another victory for the buggy whip makers.
- meshman, on 07/12/2008, -0/+1" It sucks when you're in the US, you speak English and people come and erode your language and culture instead of adapt to it. I have a lot of sympathy for them."
I see your point but in Quebec, they cross the line too far. Qubec insists that Canada be bilungual but it doesn't play by its own rules. Yes, French is enforced but in many areas, business owners can be fined by the "language police" for not having bigger French signs than English. There's also a lot of prejudice over there if you speak English in certain areas. You'll be ignored for service if you don't speak French. A more even playing field would benefit them greatly.
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