vox_rox

As Charlatan stated, this in not one of those things that you can simply define and let go. There is over 300 years of french history in that part of Canada (and others for that matter), and Canada as a country is coming up to its 150 birthday in the next decade or so. That much history is tough to summarize.

What it really boils down to is that, even though the French lost the war, Quebec continued to exist as, more or less, a country within a country. The rest of Canada adopted laws based on the British that ruled them (and still do, kind of). The French rejected that route and remained true to the laws that France had followed, which differ significantly in many ways.

Also, because they were a country within a country as I stated, their culture reflects an entirely different sensibility, different moral codes (writen and unwriten), a different language (duh!), and an almost siege mentality.

As far as politics go, that too is difficult to really pinpoint. From seperatism to the silent revolution to the FLQ to beer in corner stores, politicians and politcal movements in Quebec have made other politics in Canada boring by comparison.

I was born and raised in Ottawa, which is the Capital of Canada and only a bridge away from the province of Quebec where I spent a great deal of time growing up. I can tell you, without a doubt, that Quebec is as different from the other provinces as Mexico is from the the US, although that is a truly apples to oranges comparison, so don't pick it apart.

Suffice to say that Quebec, and all the issues that surround it, would take a college course just to get started, and several years living here to really get a handle on. I know this sounds a bit like a cop-out, but it would be the same as us asking you what the deal is with Texas, but even more complicated.

Maybe someone else can add something salient to this? (I hope!)

Peace,

Pierre

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There is no such thing as strong coffee - only weak people.
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