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U.S. Embassy sorry for Cheesy Invite
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by Barry Artiste | July 3, 2008 at 04:43 am
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Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor
Certainly someone at the U.S. Embassy needs a History Lesson, is what is the ultimate insult to Canada on the Eve of Quebec's 400th Anniversary, as Celebrations are underway, someone at the U.S Embassy thought it funny to put Canada's founder along with our First Nations Hurons, who helped open the Gateway to our country with a plate of Poutine, a dish of french fries, chicken gravy topped with curd cheese. This act much to the outrage of Canadian's and Quebecer's has called for the resignation of the US Ambassador.
One can only hope this U.S. Ambassador will soon hit the unemployment lines, as his actions as a representative of US Citizens the world over, certainly shows why some US citizens as tourists wonder how come some countries are not as fond of them, as they would like.
Myself, being from Quebec City, one can see why, though unfairly how American tourists are treated, when a US Ambassador makes fun of the rest of Canada, particularly Quebec think so.
Americans should be equally outraged as their July 4th celebrations runs alongside Quebec's 400th anniversary. Some may forget that the United States War for independence was fought alongside with Quebecer's and Quebec First Nations as their allies and friends, who gave their lives on behalf of the US colonists, by maintaining a battlefront along the mouth and borders of the Saint Lawrence keeping the front lines from falling into British Hands, thus if the British had taken the northern states, and if not for Quebec's part in helping their US colonial brethern, US citizens today most likely would be saluting the Queen and have a Union Jack as their flag. Quebec takes their patriotism to their roots as serious as the US does, especially on celebrations of long fought wars. Unfortunately provinces in the rest of Canada feel it too politically incorrect to point out their cultural history to the world.
Canada is more than Beavers, Moose, RCMP, Illiterate Sports Fishermen and Hockey, Canada, as well as Quebec are a Nation who stood side by side with the US in pretty much every troubling time when it was us against the world.
There is a reason why "Lest We Forget" is a reminder at Veterans Graves. Apparently this US Ambassador "Forgot his History".
MONTREAL -- Embassy sorry for cheesy invite
Thu, July 3, 2008 Embassy sorry for cheesy invite
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
The Canadian embassy in Washington is apologizing after it sent out a Canada Day invitation which showed Samuel de Champlain, the founder of Quebec City, holding a plate of poutine.
Jean-Paul Perreault, the president of Imperatif francais, a group that defends and promotes the French language, called the embassy's behaviour "contemptuous and unacceptable."
"It's ridiculous, it's a ... lack of respect towards the Canadian identity which proudly includes French-speaking communities," he said yesterday.
"If it was a joke, it was a joke in bad taste which we can't allow as part of the activities of a (Canadian) embassy."
JULY 1 PARTY
The Canada Day invitation was placed on the embassy's website and about 2,000 people showed up for the July 1 party in the U.S. capital.
Perreault pointed out that this year marks the 400th anniversary of the July 3 founding of Quebec City by Champlain.
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Barry Artiste
Vancouver, Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (10)
at 05:18 on July 3rd, 2008
Aw, c'mon, Quebec! What's wrong with poutine? 400 years is surely enough time to develop a sense of humor. Also, one must consider the audience: it was the Canadian embassy in Washington, so poutine would be a good cultural/culinary shorthand for those who have never been to Quebec.
at 05:49 on July 3rd, 2008
So with your logic then it is okay for Canada to send felicitations to the US on Martin Luther day with a plate of Fried Chicken, 40 ounce Malt Liquor and a crate of watermelon? Sorry to disagree Jordan, I for one can see humour in everything, but in this case, I am a little pissed.
On the other hand, if this were presented on any other occasion, of course it could have been seen as a joke, no problem, but not during a celebration as important as this. You have to remember Jordan, this was on a US website for all World Nations to view. That to me is a joke that went too far.
at 06:07 on July 3rd, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff. The Protocol Officer should be fired at the very least! Well said Barry!
at 06:12 on July 3rd, 2008
Thanks for the visit, comment and flag. Funny how when it comes to politically correctness, some Cultures do not seem to apply, especially if ones Culture happened to be North American historically.
at 09:46 on July 3rd, 2008
I hear that the ambassador to Saudi Arabia last year during Ramadan sent out a greeting card to all Saudi nationals with Porky the Pig on it wishing everyone a happy fast.
Of course this is just a joke, but I just don't think some people get how important a person's culture can actually be. Look, we live in a world (at least the Western one) where every college grad has to take a "cultural diversity" class that is nothing more than a "bash America" class.
We are taught that it is simple and uncouth to be patriotic and that every other culture should be just as important to us. Well, to that I say ... [expletive removed] ... !
Happy July 3rd Barry.
at 15:38 on July 3rd, 2008
Thanks BigT for the comments, you can read my comments to Politisite on Quebec and US colonial forces during your War for Independence, many think Quebec was just French, far from it, Quebecers were disenfranchised Irish, German, Scots, Dutch, Belgians, other colonial Americans who lived in Quebec before borders were ever imagined before Colonial wars, Quebec in particular New Brunswick had black slaves who fled to Quebec to freedom, as well as many First nations tribes who intermarried with all of the above, we call them Metis. Bottom Line as a Quebec culture we all lived and intermarried together and got along famously. Why? Because we considered ourselves Quebecois!
So all in all, when it comes to true Multiculturalism, Quebec certainly knew the true meaning, not like Politically correct society today, which has them all living in cultural ghettos with political ethnic vote pandering.
Hence why this Canadian Drivel Multicultural Diversity thing today is such as scam, as far as I am concerned, you live in Canada your Canadian, not African Canadian, Irish Canadian, of Indo Canadian,. what a complete left wing inspired Farce, as you say with expletives *^$##!!!
We are all equal, regardless of our cultural background, get used to it, one is no different than the next, so when in Rome, act like a Roman, cause you're Roman! Keep your culture and religion is fine, no one is asking you to get rid of it, but when in Rome, remember you are........but do not think it is better than the next.
Well perhaps Saint Patrick's Day! Cause when your drunk , you are all Irish!
Anyways, I have said my piece, thanks for reading.
at 10:08 on July 3rd, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.
I also did a round-up of celebrations in Quebec here.
at 15:20 on July 3rd, 2008
Hey, thanks Amy, much appreciated
at 12:40 on July 3rd, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff. Americans are not taught much about Canada in schools. I have to admit, I didn't know that Canadians helped us at the time you provided. I know about recent times when Canada was involved helping in conflicts.
An Amassador is a respresentitive of the county, one would think he would have been briefed on what could be offensive to our friends in the north.
When I have traveled to other countries, Americans expect people speak english and if they don't rather then speaking the language of the country, they speak louder and slower in english.
I think we get treated based on how we treat others. My trips through Canada has always been a great learning expeience. The people were so nice and glad to see us. Of course it was a town of 35 and one guy was the postman, plumber, and mayor. The only major cities I have been to is Edmonton, Calgary, and White Horse.
I love Canadians. I have listened to Radio Canada International, CBC, watched CTV and CBC televison for years.
I think Canadians have been exposed more to Americans who have money and are able to travel. These folks can be demanding and rude. Rest Assured, those of us who are of less means make up for it in attitude.
No Excuse for our Representitive to Canada.
at 15:19 on July 3rd, 2008
Thanks for the comments Politisite, It is not an American or Canadian thing, or even a Quebec French thing. I do a thing of two of the inner workings of a Embassy. The Communications guy, PR guy, know full well the history of Quebec and the American War of Independence, as I am sure so do Americans whose schools taught them local history as well, especially those living in the Northern States bordering New York, Maine and Quebec and New Brunswick of our two countries.
When in training in Quantico, VA, our instructors talked in depth on Quebec military strategy speaking volumes on Quebec colonial forces who fought alongside American colonials in the War of Independence,(As both our colonials were pretty much civilians, farmers, Blacksmiths, storekeepers, pretty much we were untrained soldiers, with the exception of the officers) against the British, as well as Benedict Arnold, before he defected to the British in 1780.
France fighting Land forces were in fact many Quebecer's. Benedict Arnold and Montgomery of the Colonial Forces along with French forces fought together in the 1775 Battle to take Quebec City back from the British, it did fail, but Quebecer's did not forget the US Colonials who also helped us in our time of need as we did helping you against the British when British Naval forces on the other front were attacking the US Eastern states. So you see Quebec's 400th Anniversary is more than just Champlain, it is also about independence of both Colonies for independence.
Quebecers were comprised of First Nations, French, Irish, Scots, English, Dutch, Americans, Black slaves who fled to Quebec and New Brunswick who lived in Quebec etc,(How is that for Multiculturalism, as it is meant to be) of which my Irish ancestors who still live on the outskirts of Quebec city since the mid 1700's fought as Quebecer's alongside American Colonists, and as I said in past stories about Quebec's 400th anniversary, it is a celebration to be enjoyed by Americans as well, for without them, Quebec would not have as much as a great history to brag about without you.