Guy Rex RodgersWhat We Choose To Remember

There are days when I struggle to make sense of the world around me – and the people in it. On those days, the human race appears hell-bent on destroying everything we have built together rather than allow enemies to enjoy any piece of it.

It is always terrible to see violence unleashed on innocent victims. But this is not new.  War is ugly and brings out the worst in human nature. I am old enough to have witnessed many wars and formed a mental image of war as a crazed disruption – like drunken rage or murderous jealousy – which is followed by peace, the healthy state of humanity.

“I believed, as did many of my generation, that increased education, opportunities, security, and prosperity would release our better angels.”

As a child who grew up in a world reeling from the horrifying destruction of a global war, I witnessed unprecedented international efforts to build a better world. I believed, as did many of my generation, that increased education, opportunities, security, and prosperity would release our better angels. All ancient moral codes and modern social sciences agree that to lead a happy life we must treat others as we wish to be treated.

I remember sitting in London’s Heathrow airport in 2000, watching citizens of every continent sharing the bustling terminal, and thinking, “Never before in the history of humanity have so many people been able to freely and fearlessly roam the planet.”  Older generations barely dreamed it possible.

Three years ago, I made a documentary film about Quebec’s years of national affirmation, from the FLQ violence of the 1960s to the bitter divisions created by the second referendum in 1995. I wanted the film to be a reminder of battles no one wants to fight again, and a celebration of our collective victory over past injustice.

I began touring What We Choose To Remember in May 2022. A month later, the government of Quebec enacted new language legislation – bill 96. For the next 30 months, I toured my film to more than 50 communities in almost every region of Quebec. After each screening, I talked to audiences about their lives, challenges, successes and – increasingly as the government multiplied ways to strengthen the French language and diminish all things English – about feeling targeted, betrayed and angry.

Now I am writing a book about the tour and this critical period in Quebec’s history. I have spent the past two months transcribing dozens of hours of post-screening conversations and placing them within a political timeline: a language crisis the English-speaking community did not see coming, the notwithstanding clause deployed to override the charter of rights, an improvised assault on Anglo CEGEPS and universities, and a flurry of contradictory declarations about access to health services in English.

While I have been revisiting these emotionally-charged recorded conversations, the polarised nation south of the border has elected a president who threatens to disrupt the entire world –– if it doesn’t give him everything he demands. The USA has extraordinary economic and military power to take what it wants.  This is not new, but the gangsterish threats and utter indifference to any distinction between friend and foe is shocking, particularly the sneering contempt for former allies.

Other nations are choosing tough leaders to fight their culture wars. While listening to community conversation recorded over the past three years, the parallels with Quebec, which has also elected a tough government to fight a culture war, are striking. The battle here is about language. The unilateral declaration of hostilities surprised the enemy, who had not seen itself as an enemy.  They proved themselves to be enemies by questioning the attack on former friends. If this last sentence makes no sense to you, then I have successfully represented the bewilderment many Anglos are feeling in the wake of Bill 96. Legitimate questions about what is happening – and why – have met with scorn. War with enemies is terrible. Malice from former friends, and their sneering contempt (Suffering Anglos? The most pampered minority in the universe. Don’t make me laugh!) is terrible in a different way.

We have reached an alarming state of polarization and miscomprehension in Quebec. There are days when I struggle to make sense of it. I am not alone. I have listened to hundreds of people share their stories. That is why I am writing a book. These stories are important, and need to be heard, particularly because the people in power who need to hear them are refusing to listen.

Guy Rex Rodgers was founding Executive Director of the English Language Arts Network (ELAN) and recently returned to filmmaking. You can reach Guy at: [email protected]