Category — Québec

A municipal judge in Montréal has determined that a man who yelled “Fuck you” at police officers during a confrontation cannot be punished for swearing at an officer.  While English Canadians would definitely get the book thrown at them (and possibly a beat down) if they did the same, in Québecois culture,

“while generally recognized as wrong, impolite and coarse, the words ‘fuck you’ do not at all constitute a blasphemy, since a blasphemy by definition invokes God or sacred things”.

This reminds me of my grade seven homeroom teacher, who was the first to explain this concept to me.  In Québec, while it might be rude to use sexual or excretory terms in polite conversation, it’s not really swearing, for the reason quoted above.  If you really want to offend a Québecois, start angrily spouting the names of things in the Catholic Church.  Câlice!  Tabernak!  Sacrament! Vierge! (apologies to any Québecois readers out there) These are the words that will get you stabbed on the mean streets of Montreal (or, more likely, in northern rural Québec).

Fine, the word fuck doesn’t carry the same weight in Québecois culture, I get that.  It still seems odd that a judge would let this slide.  Clearly, while the man wasn’t using the most culturally potent terms, the intent on his part was clear, and part of me thinks he should be punished appropriately.  If he was shouting the word in English, that means he clearly understood its meaning in the context of English usage, so how can it really be excused?  I don’t buy the judge’s explanation that to the defendant, the word ‘fuck’ is equivalent to the French word ‘phoque’ (a seal).

The Québecois love to complain that English culture is creeping in and diluting their distinct identity.  I suppose this judge’s decision is defined by that fact (just as it defines much of their worldview).  I think in a case like this, rather than try to protect the traditional definition of swearing, they should recognize that regardless of the language or cultural context, the word was used in a disrespectful manner towards a police officer, and punish it appropriately.  Unless of course the cop was being a prick, in which case il peut se faire enculer!

Source: The Globe and Mail