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BONHOMME VS. HIJAB 
Although Bonhomme represents the best virtues of francophone cultures, he is not comfortable with those who hide their faces and their expressions, or those who would impose their foreign cultures. His open and welcoming francophone spirit feels rejection by those who appear to hide themselves from others. He symbolizes the homogeneity of Quebec’s francophone cultures quite naturally and seeks to perpetuate their lifestyle throughout the province and within their communities across Canada. But, the Anglo-cultures, Indigenous cultures and hundreds of sub-cultures across Canada are no different in their protection of cultural perpetuity.
Thus, when laws show up that give cultural priority or submission to groups of people, Canadians feel quite uncomfortable. Our intrinsic beliefs and values are challenged by such cultural preference legislation. Many of us tolerate a secular government ethic (human), whilst suborning our moral (Godly) preferences, for the sake of cultural harmony.
Since General James Wolf forces defeated the Marquis de Montcalm’s forces on September 13, 1758, (258 years ago), French descendants have strived to protect their heritage culture from dilution by primarily English, but also all other, cultures. Thus a powerful spiritual cultural identity has motivated the governments of our francophone brothers to this day.
Therefore, Quebec’s Bill 62 is not a law that the majority of Canadians would support, but many people are sympathetic to this anti-cultural legislation. In a secular country, religion and culture must be respected, but not at all cost. Many of our 1000 cultures share values and rights inside their families that many Muslim women willingly choose to forego.
In fact, the new law in Quebec is founded upon both deeply imbedded beliefs and values held by a majority of the francophone cultures in Canada, plus a likely paranoid fear of insecurity towards Muslim extremists. Thus, this law is not truly part of the Canadian Culture where cultural harmony is an overriding goal.
Although Canadians have never been able to actually agree in writing concerning our shared moral and ethical values and beliefs, beyond placing GOD above all our laws, we have shared many beliefs and values with all humanity including our ancient indigenous cultures and the Judeo-Christian immigrant majorities. This omission from our agreement on how we will tolerate, respect and co-exist with the different beliefs of our many cultures needs to be addressed. Quebec, and all of Canada, needs parameters of responsibility that over-ride our Charter of Rights. Giving rights without any responsibility towards each other is certainly a formula for litigation, racism, mistrust, insecurity, disrespect and many other ignoble human carnal traits.
It is in these hidden spiritual characteristics, where cultural conflicts simmer and erupt in societies and communities around the world, and Canada is no exception. Cultural Wars or Tribalism has plagued humanity since time began. Canada’s cultural conflicts have been a smear on the Spirit of Canadian Culture and it is time for us to make a new path towards Cultural Harmony. We should try to create a National Spirit that respects cultural divergences within our nation and upholds our values of individual freedoms. Founding principles of our culture, such as: we aren’t each other’s chattels or slaves, and men and women are equal under the law must not be ignored by Canadian citizens. Those who wish to live here must choose to abide by our Spiritual Cultural Values or deny their Canadian citizenship.
During this present “Era of Terrorism and Wars”, our heritage Judeo-Christian majority cultures are familiar with their Biblical warning from Jesus Christ in John 16:2: “…in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.” These Canadians also have on their mind numerous Islamic scripture verses that encourage the elimination of any other beliefs and believers. Of course, Canadians know that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live peaceably with their Christian and other beliefs neighbours as they have done in many communities for 1,000 years. This fear of radical Islam is real in Canada and Quebec is Canadian. But security laws will not relieve this fearful belief.
The other deep spiritual concern of the Canadian majority is the cultural values of Islam as enforced through Sharia laws by religious leaders. Islam culture is a theocratic culture that can exercise physical punishment vs. the Judeo-Christian theocracies’ spiritual punishments. This is a line most Canadians feel that Canadian Muslims must forego in much the same way Judeo-Christians forego laws allowing abortions. Other cultural conflicts occur in Canada over: freedom of thought, arranged marriages, polygamy, child brides, homosexuality, minorities, patrimony, etc.
So far, cultural groups have effectively used democracy as a tool for acquiring rights and privileges for their adherents. Some have used it to create cultural dominion, which is anathema to our Canadian Spirit. Our problem is we haven’t truly acknowledged and enshrined our Canadian Spirit within our Constitution.
Until we do so, Canada will continue to wage this foolish and ignoble cultural war between communities across our wonderful nation.
I don’t know if Muslim leaders will respect the other Canadian cultures someday by allowing their women to “open-the-veil”, but at least we must not make laws that cater to our irrational fear-paranoia of radical Islam.
God bless Canada!
Jim
Jim Reid Founder: CFP- Canadian Federalist Party
Copyright © Canadian Federalist Party, 2010