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tmmgmjfm tf mmmm wmxm yis2xmztki sw friends of quebec ldca pair appeal for unified bruce stapley correspondent a latenight lament has led to a local grass roots attempt at easing anglofrench ten sions in canada altona area resident diane kerr and hugh smiley a house guest and close friend have drafted what they are calling a love letter to quebec as their way of bridging the everincreasing gap between quebec residents and the rest of canada and there quest is timely given the current round of toplevel talks between prime minister brian mulroney and the provincial premiers in a bid to save the beleagured meech lake accord if all goes as planned they hope to see canadians from coast to coast send copies of 7 have always had a soft spot in my heart for quebec and it was breaking my heart that the country looked like it was fingbpart their- peace offering to la belle provihceto show that not all canadians hold que bec in disdain it all started one night when i was watching the jour nal focus on the response of people from quebec to the recent outbreak of antifrench resentment says mr smiley who like mrs kerr once lived in quebec there were all the english only movements people wiping their feet on the que bec flag and extreme expres sions of hatred and negativi ty says mr smiley i have always had a soft spot in my heart for quebec and it was breaking my heart that the country looked like it was falling apart i asked myself for a week or so just what a little guy like me might be able to do seeing as all the politics seemed to be out of control the answer cameseveral days later while visiting mrs kerr we were sitting up very late that night sharing our feelings oh the quebec situa tion when i said why dont we write a letter says mrs kerr a love letter to quebec dear quebec together we helped found this great dominion through times of prosperity and hardship we have demonstrated to the world the principle of unity and diversity now as the fog of intolerance and prejudice clouds the vision of mankind in a whirlwind of fear and hatred we along with the rest of the human race are faced with a choice do we stand together once again to bridge the painful rift that grows between us or do we too fall into the chasm of disintegration and selfinterest dear quebec let us rise above the pettiness of ethnocentric bigotry to a new plateau of harmony and understanding in this our hearts go out to reassure you of our appreciation and gratitude for your unique gifts to this country your poetic language rich culture colourful history and effervescent spirit help to make this great nation what it is a canada without you is unthinkable because of the current unrest we are concerned and aware that you may be feeling hurt insulted and rejected this letter is to remind you that not all of your fellowcanadians have renounced you in fact we believe that we speak for the great silent majority who treasure your partnership in this land may all of canada learn to truly value the meaning of the expression vive la difference love a fellowcanadian name and address lettre damour au quebec cher quebec 1 ous ensemble nous avons fonde ce grand pays a travers les epoques de prospente et depreuves nous avons montre au reste du monde le principe de 1unite dans la diversity aujourdhui a lheure ou une vague dintolerance et de prejuges obscurcit notre vision dans un tourbillon de peur et de haine nous avec le reste de la race humairie sommes confronted a un choix devons- nous nous rassembler a nouveau afin de combler la douloureuse faille qui grandit entre nous ou devons- nous aussi tomber dans iabtme de la disintegration et de linteret personnel cher quebec placonsnous au dessus du sectarisme egoiste et atteignons ensemble une ere dharmonie et de comprehension a cet egard nous tenons a taffirmer du fond du coeur notre gratitude pour tout ce que tu as apporte a ce pays ta langue poetique ta riche culture ton histoire animee et ton esprit pdtillant font de cette nation magnifique ce quelle est un canada sans toi serait impensable a cause du trouble actuel nous craignons et savons que tu dois te sentir vexe insulte et rejete cette lettre est pour te rappeler que tous tes confreres canadiens ne tont pas delaisse dailleurs nous parlons au nom dune grande majorite silencieuse qui tient beaucoup a ton association nous unissant a cette terre puisse tout le canada apprendre a veritablement apprecier le sens de lexpression vivela difference de tout coeur un confere canadien nom et adresse do you care about quebec if so please sign and send this letter to the following address toujours ensemble inc 503 se avenue verdun quebec h4g2z2 support good will by sending copies to friends family and colleagues in quebec feel free to make copies for others to do the same etesvous profondement attache au quebec si oui veuillez signer cette lettre et tenvoyer a iadresse suivante toujours ensemble inc 503 5e avenue verdun quebec h4g2z2 appuyez cette bonne volonte et envoyez des exemplaires de cette lettre a vos amis votre famille et vos confreres au quebec nhesitez pas a faire des copies de la lettre afin que vos amis puissent aire de memo les amis du quebec is a nonpolitical group supporting the principle of unity and diversity po box 938 stouffville ont l4a 8a1 les amis du quebec est un organismc apolitique qui soutient le principe de unite dans la diversity po box 938 stouffville ont l4a 8a1 the pair got right down to the business of pen ning their own personal response to the everbuild ing crisis in a style that was straight from the heart according to mrs kerr the letter is an appeal to both quebec and the rest of canada to pull together instead of polarizing it starts by stating how canada has always demonstrated the prin- is an appeal to hiak the rest of canada instead of ciple of unity and diversity to the world do we now fall into the chasm of disintegration and selfinterest it asks it then goes on to applaud the unique gifts language culture and history of quebec call ing a canada without que bec unthink able not all cana dians have rejected que bec it concludes and it is signed love a fellow cana dian the authors say they have received endless support from all who have seen the letter so far and they hope it will lead to a reversal of the negativity which seems to be growing everyday there has been tremendous response people weve showed it to have said oh thats beautiful give me a copy the two have now started a threestep plan to have the province of quebec inundated with their work calling themselves les amis du quebec the pair have printed copies of their letter and are planning other events to unify the country first we are going to talk to the media so we can get the letter published both jn quebec and other parts of canada says mrs kerr then we are going to send copies to all mps across canada and finally the hope we are aiming this as much at separatists as at canadians with antifrench feelings we want everyone to see there are a lot of posittvejhings is that with so many copies published in papers every where people will cut them out sign them and send them if they care about quebec- mr smiley hopes the plan will help stem the tide of mis understanding and animosity which has come to dominate anglofrench relations in canada recently les amis du quebec is a nonprofit group supporting the principles of unity and diversity its essential that we stop playing up all the negativity while countering with the pos itive feelings so many people have for quebec the two stress they are not trying to dress down the rest of canada for the current state of affairs but that they are simply trying to get peo ple to look inside themselves to try to understand their neighbors we are aiming this letter as much at separatists as at canadians with antifrench feelings says mrskerr we just want everyone to see that there are still a lot of positive things to be gained by keeping the country together