Vice and Voices

The Vice Montreal article takes a look at the issue of reasonable accommodation and racism in a comical but sobering manner, poking fun at the issue in a manner that provokes thought for the reader. The article cites a poll featured in the Journal de Montreal, which polled Quebecers asking whether or not they consider themselves racist. The results of those polled show that 59% of Quebecers identify themselves as racist.

While the article brings humour to an important issue, it gets some facts wrong when discussing the Herouxville charter, and adds specific information that was only implied within the document, not actually stated. This may have been done to suit the article’s satirical style, however.

The most significant insights, however, come from the comments left from Quebecers themselves, who provide different viewpoints for or against reasonable accommodation, and whether or not they consider Quebec to really be a racist province. When looking at the comments, one gets the sense of how divided the debate truly is, and its surprising to see how many Quebec natives are in direct opposition to the Hereouxville charter, but answer with hostility on the site. One person says “FLQ = Fuck Le Quebecois”, and others in defense of the Herouxville charter state they are not actually racist, but rather fed up with what they consider to be “unreasonable accommodation.”

While the debates will be continue to be heated and divided, neither side seems to want to give any footing to one another, with those on the side of “reasonable accommodation” stating that they are not racists, and those against them not believing them. It has been argued that the issue of reasonable accommodation isn’t being put forward to be oppressive to migrants, but rather asking for their respect for Quebec’s cultural history. What seems to be lacking is respect that each opposing side on the debate should have for one another.