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Parallels Between Quebec
Separatism and America's North-South Conflict
Dear Editor,
Re: "Quebec Whistles Dixie" -- by James McPherson -- March 1998 -- Saturday
Night Magazine
Kudos for James McPherson's informative piece on the striking and ominous similarities
between the North-South conflict that led to the American Civil War of 1861 and the
current threat of Quebec separation. McPherson clearly illustrates that the separation
forces in Quebec and the American South were driven fundamentally by tribalism, or
what he calls "ethnic nationalism."
But I disagree with McPherson's assertion that Pierre Trudeau -- because of his Charter
of Rights and Freedoms -- was on the side of Abe Lincoln and individual rights. Trudeau
was on the side of tribalism.
Tribalism involves identifying oneself with one's non-volitional, nonessential, non-individualistic
characteristics such as race, ethnic origin, mother tongue, etc. -- rather than one's
chosen ideas and values making up one's character. A tribalist says in effect: My
tribe, right or wrong. In politics, tribalism involves subordinating individual rights
to "group rights." Unlike the American Bill of Rights, Trudeau's Charter
explicitly subordinates individual rights to group rights.
McPherson reports that in both countries the more the federalists appeased the separatists
-- by granting them special "rights" and allowing them to pass laws (e.g.,
Quebec's French language sign laws) which violate individual rights -- the stronger
the separatist movement became. Trudeau appeased Quebec nationalism by making Canada
officially bilingual.
The only way to fight tribalism (and separatism) is to demonstrate its inherent irrationality,
encourage individuals to identify themselves primarily with their ideas and values
(not their ethnic origin), and to uphold the equal and inalienable rights of all
individuals.
Sincerely,
Glenn Woiceshyn
© 1998 Glenn Woiceshyn.
All rights reserved. This article can be found on-line at at http://www.capitalism.org/glennw. |
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