According to Wikipedia, it was the German physiologist Friedrich Goltz (1834-1902) who, in his research on nervous sensitivity, was the first to demonstrate that a frog remains inert to the point of scalding to death if the temperature of the water increases very gradually.
In an experiment at the Johns Hopkins Institute in 1882, the temperature was increased by 0.002 degrees Celsius per second and the frog was found dead without having moved after 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Sociologists have used this example to illustrate the concept of “creeping normalcy” which refers to becoming accustomed to gradual social changes until it is too late to react. There would thus exist a “frogman” who can unconsciously run to his doom. Former US Vice President Al Gore applied the example of the frog to the climate crisis.
The “executions” and “deportations” mentioned by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon did indeed take place, but they are now part of History. The reality of French speakers in Quebec and the rest of Canada is rather that of the “frogman”.
The harshness of the terms that the leader of the Parti Québécois used at the end of last week made it easier for his adversaries to respond. Indeed, no one is trying to plunge Quebecers into a pot of boiling water all at once. The temperature rises almost imperceptibly, virtually painlessly, causing a numbness that may even feel pleasant.
It was tasty to hear the interim leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec, Marc Tanguay, talk about a fear campaign, while the federalist argument during the two referendum campaigns was essentially based on the disastrous economic consequences of independence.
It must be said that Mr. Tanguay was only seven years old in 1980, when No spokesmen frightened elderly people by telling them that they would lose their pension checks — and could even be deprived of oranges — if the “separatists » prevailed. In 1995, he was a member of the PQ and campaigned for Yes. It was only after the defeat that he became aware of the hell he had escaped.
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois criticized his PQ counterpart for his “catastrophism”. The Robert defines a catastrophe as a “frightening and sudden misfortune”. It is true that the decline of French and the loss of influence of Quebec within the federation perhaps do not have the abruptness required by the dictionary, but a misfortune is not less great because it is more long to settle down.
If federalism ensured the sustainability of French, this should begin to appear after more than 150 years. For a moment, we could believe that Bill 101 would achieve this. Nearly 50 years after its adoption, it is clear, however, that it was only a reprieve.
The PLQ was opposed to it from the start and has never stopped seeking to lessen its scope. It is therefore not surprising that he considers all those who are worried about the situation of French as alarmists. Everyone knows where he stands.
The action of the Coalition Avenir Québec is more insidious. The CAQ government reassures those who only ask to be reassured, even if it is a false security. He recognizes the danger and claims to act accordingly, but the measures he has taken are insufficient to avert it.
Mr. Legault blames Ottawa daily for the too large number of temporary immigrants, but his government does nothing to reduce the number in the programs it administers itself. It only prevents the water temperature from increasing too quickly, which would cause the frogman to jump out of the pot. With the CAQ, there is no need to worry, “Louisianization” is only for the day after tomorrow.
Unlike Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon, the Minister of Culture, Mathieu Lacombe, does not believe in “a planned, deliberate gesture to make us disappear”. He is right: there is no longer any need for deportations or executions, the demography and the dynamics of federalism since the rejection of the pact – of the myth – of the two founding peoples now lead to the decline of French Quebec quite naturally, and in candy.
Brian Mulroney tried to ensure that the construction of Canada stopped being to the detriment of Quebec, but he was neutralized. Since then, the water has continued to slowly heat up in the pot, and Justin Trudeau will certainly do nothing to cool it down.