Le Monde Selon Le Kount Kazmier
My time has come to an end in Montreal and I just want to pontificate
a little.
My take on Montreal is that it is a very interesting city with
a very interesting history. While studying a new area I am always
amazed with my ignorance of history especially concerning other
countries.
I think the most wonderful thing about Montreal is the French
and English-speaking folks basically get along even though their
history has not. They have found ways to put things together against
tremendous odds. Oh yes there are still problems which I will
speak of here shortly but overall Montreal is a perfect example
of what America is about. A multicultural salad where ideas and
beliefs can be exchanged to grow into a vibrant creative society.
Canadians seem to me to keep themselves separate from the US but
realize they can't help but be culturally dragged along with us.
Even the Francophones get dragged along with us. The only strong
criticism I heard from the Canadians about the states was concerning
our (US) gun laws
They are very proud and I was surprised
to find out how many famous entertainers/musicians were from Canada.
They certainly know who is Canadian and who is not. (I guess someone
has to keep track)
The French controlled government is trying very hard to legislate
culture. It is only effective in creating a French Façade
in a bilingual city that is quite charming to visiting Americans
but really cost them a lot of money. For instance they have a
language police that insures all signs in the Province are in
French. They have even gone so far as to trying to have companies
change their names to some thing French. (See the picture I sent)
I wonder if the culture they are trying to save is French or French
Canadian
I don't know
When I was in Quebec City studying a bit of Quebec history it
was evident by they way they presented the history that they still
feel occupied by the English and want their autonomy. I really
think that if the French culture were to be destroyed in a big
bang it would have happened two hundred and fifty years ago. But
it seems their argument is that their culture is getting watered
down. I think there is no other option. All cultures are going
to get watered down and will someday melt into the one culture
of the world. Granted it will be a very long time from now. With
the age of Information in its infancy, the world's cultures are
already starting to melt into each other. And one can spend all
their resources trying to save a complete culture but ultimately
it won't work. If parts of a culture are not viable those particular
parts will be transformed into a new ones. I have to admit I don't
really like that idea but I don't think I have a choice. The really
strong points of a culture will always exist
I can't imagine
a world without certain cultural ideas but the culturally weak
ideas will just fade away in some deconstructive vapor.
I really like the French Canadian thing but hey I am not paying for it personally the bilingual thing fascinates me and wish I were part of it.
A la prochaine,
The Kount
Le Monde Selon le Kount Kazmier part 2
It's 1:28 PM Sunday June 4, 2000 Wichita Kansas
The above statement has created some controversy and I feel
like I need to modify my stance concerning my statement, "All
cultures are going to get 'watered down' and will someday melt
into the one culture of the world."
I am not a fortuneteller so I really can't guarantee the
latter statement. But I do need to clarify that I believe the
human condition has this tendency
That is to water itself
down. The separation of cultures creates a natural force, which
enables cultures to evolve in very disparate ways. Culture follows
the same rules of evolution as "the species". We can
see that separate ecosystems like Galapagos and Mozambique have
evolved dramatically away from the mainland. Culturally speaking
if you can maintain a separate culture then you can evolve in
your own direction. This is exactly what Quebec is trying to accomplish
(An impossible task do to the physical location of their culture)
The question is
do we culturally water our self down?
When I was younger I would have asked you, "what are
you talking about? No everything seems new and fresh to me."
But as I age, I have a different vantage point and see ideas much
more in terms of its genealogy. And although new things are created,
I personally am a bit frustrated with most because I am able to
trace its origins. Only the extreme creative things obscure their
influences. So unfortunately I see things being 'watered down.'
A toast to culture,
The Kount