Religious bigotry in Herouxville Quebec, what do you think about it?

Question

Almost everyone living in Quebec's tiny town of Herouxville is white, French-speaking and Catholic. But that didn't stop local officials from adopting a rule of conduct for immigrants. Included in the code: women should be able to show their faces in public (aside from costumes worn on Halloween), and they should also be permitted to drive and write cheques. Women should also not be killed in public beatings or burned alive. Critics call the code ridiculous and xenophobic, but Town Councilor Andre Drouin says he has received about 2,000 e-mails of support -- 700 more than Herouxville's population. "We have just published a small document saying who we are and what's our standard," he told CTV News.But some Muslim leaders have called the code a thinly-veiled example of xenophobia. "Racism is coming out of the woodwork now, and it's not being obscure or subtle," said Salaam Elmenyawi of the Muslim Council of Montreal.

Two hours away in Montreal, commentators like radio host Stephane Gendron have taken a hard-line stance against making too many accommodations for religious groups. Gendron has criticized acts like glazing over windows at one of the city's gyms to satisfy neighbouring Orthodox Jews, Sikhs being allowed to carry ceremonial daggers, or Muslims having their own prayer rooms in schools. "We should have zero tolerance for that," said Gendron. "You're just a regular citizen. Religion at home is fine. Otherwise, it's too much." However, Gendron said Herouxville's code is a step too far. Jack Jedwab, of the Association for Canadian Studies, said while Gendron may want to distance himself from the code, such commentators are somewhat responsible. "I think the people who have generated the debate in this particular way are in part of blame for what's happened in this particular town, which has now become a focal point for xenophobia and Islamophobia in Quebec,"

Read Herouxvilles standards here.... http://municipalite.herouxville.qc.ca/Standards.pdf

Answer 1

Kelly, I don't know if you are from Quebec or not, but I lived there for two summers - in Montreal (loved it, BTW). My take on it is that there is definitely a provincial attitude in rural areas but that the overlay to all of it is the sense from many Quebecois that their own culture is slowly eroding and needs to be actively defended.

I think this manifests itself in different ways. And some are more ugly than others. I lived on The Plateau and was surprised to learn of the stigma that came with living in some of the poorer neighborhoods - even from young people.

Here in the states, the poorer or working class neighborhoods are often very cool and vibrant. But in Montreal, it just seemed different.

In general, I found a strange mix of cultural pride, liberal progressiveness and provincialism while I was there. That's just my reading of it and I'm sure there are others who have spent more time there that can give a more informed opinion than me.

Answer 2

I'm a little confused. Their standards are portrayed as placing limitations on people, when really all they do is support the common freedoms of Canadian citizens. Their code is akin to the US Bill of Rights stating what a person CAN do. It does not mean they have to do it, nor does it place any limits besides no public beatings to death or burnings.

I think their standards have been greatly misunderstood and misportrayed. They merely assert that this town expects people to refrain from letting religion place additional restrictions on people that are not supported by law. However, it doesn't say a person can't choose to live under certain restrictions, if they so choose. It's just that no one else can make them do so.

People really seem to not understand what these Standards are saying.

Answer 3

I believe in a separation of Church and State, but I also believe in the freedom of practice of religion and the support of religious diversity, not the banning of it outright.

Interesting that this is happening in Quebec, as this seems very similar to policies in France (banning headscarves in schools, etc).

God Bless the people of every nation, creed, and belief.

Answer 4

It all seems fairly moderate to me, the shame is it has to be said at all.