Excerpt of Why I Am a Separatist by Marcel Chaput
This is a translated excerpt of Pourquoi je suis séparatiste (Why I Am a Separatist) by Marcel Chaput first published in 1961. This is an original and unofficial translation for this site.
Preface
The world is made of separatists. The man who is master is his house is separatist. The 100 nations of the Earth which seek to preserve their national identity are separatist. France and England are mutually separatist, even before the Common market. And you who desire the patriation of the Canadian constitution, you are separatist. The only difference that exist between you and me is that you want the independence of Canada vis-a-vis England and the United States whereas I want the independence of Quebec with relation to Canada. In mathematical terms, the independence of Quebec is to Canada what the independence of Canada is to the United States and England. However, Quebec has more reasons than English Canada to assert such a particularism since of all four territories, Quebec is distinct by its culture while English Canada, the United States and England are identity by their language.
In spite of all this, separatism has always received bad press in Quebec. The term "separatism" itself is doubtless partly responsible for it. It is negative. It does not appear to invite to the construction of something.
And still, for the person who stops and thinks about it, separatism lead to great tasks: to that of Independence and Liberty, to the Blossoming of the nation and French grandeur in America.
It is fashionable in some circles to call separatists dreamers. Thank God if there are still men an women in French Canada who can dream! But to grasp the distinction between the realizable dream and the utopia we must first be able to detach ourselves from a certain subjective dogmatism which immediately rejects the independence of Quebec before it has even been thought out.
It is true that independence is more a question of character than logic. Because is not independent who wants to be. More than reason, one needs pride.
If you have this pride of which free men are made, if you can rid yourself of all preconceived ideas on the subject and bring to the discussion a sincere mind capable of judging, then and only then, let us sit and talk.
Plan
6 sections, 21 books
THE SIX DIMENSIONS: Historical, Political, Economic, Cultural, Social, Psychological
THE FIVE SOLUTIONS: Assimilation, Integration, Autonomy, Confederation, Independence
THE FOUR QUESTIONS: Legitimacy, Viability, Opportunity, Possibility
THE THREE OBJECTIONS: Minorities, Isolation, Immaturity
THE TWO OPTIONS: Minority, Majority
THE ONLY REASON: Dignity