The Parti Québécois government and the minister
for democratic institutions, Bernard Drainville, have presented recently the
Charter of Quebec Values. The main points of this charter are ‘’to entrench the
religious neutrality of the state[1]’’
and to ‘’limit the wearing of conspicuous religious symbols by public employees[2]’’.
This emotional PQ project causes a division of point of views in the
population. As far as I am concerned, I am fully against this charter; however,
I understand the concerns on which the charter is based on.
Globalization has brought people of all around
the world to emigrate. Now, multiculturalism defines most of the occidental
countries. Some people are afraid that our society is losing its identity and
find the need to clarify our values. This is legit and normal. But, how far can
we go in the name of cultural identity?
First, I think the charter is not fair for
every citizen. It is made for some specific religious minorities: Muslims, Jews
and Sikhs[3].
Only them wear ‘’conspicuous’’ religious symbols. This is exactly what disturbs
some people. Yes, too big Christian cross are forbidden too, but seriously who wears
one foot wide cross? Of course, little cross jewelry is allowed (one of the
only thing Christians wear), the crucifix at the National Assembly remains, Christmas
trees in offices are allowed and people swears on the bible in court[4].
If this is not discriminatory, I do not see what could be. The charter only
goes halfway. If we want the complete neutrality of the state, fine, but is has
to be for everyone.
Second, I do not think, to prove the neutrality
of the state, public employees have to leave home their religious symbols. Job
and beliefs are two separated things. For example, a Jew doctor is not there to
convert his patients to Judaism. He is there to treat them. His religion has no
effect on the purpose of his job. When someone choses to wear a religious
symbol, it is a personal decision for his personal life. There is a difference
between the state and its members. The state is neutral as a whole, but its
members believe in what they want. Furthermore, how can we expect people to
leave their beliefs at home? When someone believes in something, he believes in
it all the time, not after five pm and before eight am. For some religions,
symbols come with the belief.
Third, I do not agree, in the name of gender
equality, we should banish the headscarf of our public institutions. Julius
Grey, a human-rights lawyer, said in the Globe and Mail: ‘’Quebec proclaims
gender equality as a predominant ‘’value’’. It is indeed very important, but
does it necessarily carry more weight than racial equality?[5]’’.
The PQ government wants to forbid the headscarf in the name of gender equality,
but they forbid women to wear a cultural symbol as well. In the name of gender
equality, discrimination is right? I do not think so. I think this measure has
the opposite effect on gender equality. Women who wear the headscarf will not
remove it one day with no afterthought and go to work. They will not give up
their beliefs because it is in the law. They will have no choice but to quit
their job. Those women will become housewife and will depend on their husband.
Great progress for the gender equality…
Fourthly, we will lose employees. Like I just
explained, people will quit their job. They will probably go to work in another
country. Yet, we need those people. Who will replace them? Additionally, it is
not moral and constitutional to force people to choose between their
convictions and their employment[6].
To conclude, I disagree with the Charter of
Quebec Values because it does not apply equally, there is no link between
people wearing religious symbol and the neutrality of the state, it will
decrease the gender equality and it forces people to make a choice.
‘’The time
has come to rally around our common values. They define who we are.
Let’s be proud of them.’’ – Bernard Drainville[7]
People who
have other cultures are proud of their values too. They define who they are
too. Why ‘’Quebec values’’ should supplant the people personal values?
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