Nov 28, 2004
My Maiden Speech
I see that I am in the system. The trouble, it seems, lies with a name confusion. There is another Greg Robinson who has posted commentaries at various times on Cliopatria. This person presumably has dibs, as far as HNN's system is concerned, to the name "Greg Robinson". I was thus forced to sign in today as "Greg James Robinson." (I am reminded of the delightful letter from the British statesman Winston Churchill to the then-more famous American novelist Winston Churchill, in which after saying "Mr. Winston Churchill greets Mr. Winston Churchill", the Brit offered to sign himself in the future
as "Winston S. Churchill" to avoid confusion.) It is too late for me--I already have books
published under the name "Greg Robinson." In fact, one of the pleasant aspects of my obtaining Canadian residence is that I have changed my name officially from “Gregory” to “Greg”. However, for the purposes of HNN I am willing to surrender my right, title, and interest to “Greg Robinson” to this other fellow and use my middle name James, known until now to a chosen few, in my handle.
I have been invited to join Cliopatria in part because I teach at a French—language institution in Montreal This leads to a number of interesting observations about the differences over national and linguistic frontiers which I will be imposing on readers. To some degree I am carrying my own load of responsibility, despite numerous visits, I was extremely ignorant of the history of Canada and Quebec before I moved to Montreal three years ago. Still, there are many things that, based on questions people ask me, it is clear that Americans just don’t get. Canada is a large country, even larger and wider than the US. Montreal is not particularly close to Toronto—it is about 400 or so miles from here to Toronto, New York, or Boston—and 3000 miles to Vancouver. Also, Montreal is a predominantly French-speaking city. This means its culture has differences from that of English Canada. It does not mean, though, that Montreal is especially like France or pro-French. Quebec has been separate from France for almost 250 years. While Québécois certainly do read some French books and watch French films, they also watch American TV and films. Moreover, they have their own writers, their own TV shows, their own filmmakers (Oscar-winner Denys Arcand being the most famous), their own newspapers and their own customs. Quebec French is as distinct from the French of France as American English is from British English.
I have been invited to join Cliopatria in part because I teach at a French—language institution in Montreal This leads to a number of interesting observations about the differences over national and linguistic frontiers which I will be imposing on readers. To some degree I am carrying my own load of responsibility, despite numerous visits, I was extremely ignorant of the history of Canada and Quebec before I moved to Montreal three years ago. Still, there are many things that, based on questions people ask me, it is clear that Americans just don’t get. Canada is a large country, even larger and wider than the US. Montreal is not particularly close to Toronto—it is about 400 or so miles from here to Toronto, New York, or Boston—and 3000 miles to Vancouver. Also, Montreal is a predominantly French-speaking city. This means its culture has differences from that of English Canada. It does not mean, though, that Montreal is especially like France or pro-French. Quebec has been separate from France for almost 250 years. While Québécois certainly do read some French books and watch French films, they also watch American TV and films. Moreover, they have their own writers, their own TV shows, their own filmmakers (Oscar-winner Denys Arcand being the most famous), their own newspapers and their own customs. Quebec French is as distinct from the French of France as American English is from British English.