Whenever there is a question of the defense of French and especially of the obligation for newcomers to learn it, there are always those who make accusations of promoting francophone unilingualism. “English is the international and business language, get used to it! » « English is a wealth! »
It is true that the knowledge of any language is a wealth. Nevertheless, the bilingualism of French-speaking Quebecers, who were to broaden their horizons, turned against them as an instrument of submission. The bilingual French speaker is implicitly or explicitly summoned to speak English to anyone who masters the language of Shakespeare better than that of Molière. Otherwise, reactions range from Sorry I do not speak French ! (Sorry, I don’t speak French!) to accusations of intolerance.
This is how Michael Rousseaus and other anglophones and allophones escape their obligation to learn French. Even Anglophones who have come to Montreal from outside to practice French have difficulty finding willing interlocutors! The submission reflex is still well anchored among Francophones.
By the way, let’s pay tribute to the many Anglo-Quebecers who take pride in offering services in French while expecting in return the maintenance of their Anglophone institutions. If all Anglophones adopted the same attitude, Quebec would have its linguistic balance. Unfortunately, this is far from the case.
Some people go so far as to say that French is useless and that English would be very suitable as the only language. They would not dare to say the same thing to the Aboriginal peoples who are trying to revitalize their languages or to the multiple linguistic communities of Toronto which, by municipal by-law, have services in their language. When it comes to attacking the French, however, all shots are allowed.
Let’s stop imposing the systematic use of English on bilingual francophones within Quebec itself. Let’s also stop treating unilingual francophones like idiots. English should be reserved for relations outside Quebec, for services to the English-speaking community and, temporarily, for welcoming newcomers who do not speak French. Without neglecting the revitalization of Aboriginal languages, French must once and for all become our only public and common language. Sorry, because I speak English doesn’t mean I have to speak it with you! (Sorry, my command of English does not oblige me to speak it with you!)