Protocol Debacle
What an unsavoury turn of events. This is truly outrageous, a travesty, not.to.be.countenanced, s h o c k i n g, HORRIBLE! In the nation's capital, no less. How can we live this down? We will become an international laughing stock. Condemnation will stalk the land. And most certainly, La Belle Province will be in one helluva huff. And we're just worn out with all those huffing and puffing pure laine Quebecois.
Ottawa has no official bilingualism policy per se, it is not written into a municipal by-law that oral and written statements and events must be bilingual in nature to reflect the nature of official bilingualism, itself a polite reflection of the two 'founding' nations. The city has a courtesy-policy of holding itself to a standard whereby most communications will most often be bilingual. Tippy-toes over eggshells.
What a slip up! however, when the Olympic torch ceremony that took place at City Hall was conducted in !sheesh! English only. Now, it can be argued that there would be few people living within this city who are not comfortable with English. It is the language of the majority, although to be perfectly fair there exists a substantial number of first-language-French Ottawans.
Who still speak and understand English. Yes, of course, it is seen as impolite not to have transcribed the proceedings into French for the pleasure and edification of a goodly proportion of the cheering crowd. But really, must we get our undies into another knot over yet another presumed slur? Oversight, then. Seems the city manager has been dusting the floors of City Hall, creeping about on his knees, begging forgiveness from all and sundry.
Those sundries and all, in any event who have taken huge umbrage. Well, oops, and damitall, if they didn't do it again! Despite avowing this would never, ever again occur :
"It should have been a proud moment for us all. Unfortunately, the success of the event has been undermined by the omission of French from the official ceremony", grovelled Kent Kirkpatrick.
"I want to assure council that we are aware that it should not have happened and that an apology is not enough. We are taking immediate action to ensure that all future events hosted by the city respect our bilingualism policy." Obsequious to a fault, so who could fail to forgive and forget? "...taking immediate action to ensure that all future events ..." This.is.final. We have erred, never to repeat that error.
Wot? Mr. Kirkpatrick's memorandum of explanation and future recognition sent 'round to the councillors appeared in English only? Gotta be kidding...? Oh, it was speedily followed by a second one, with a French translation. PLUS t.w.o apologies from Mr. Kirkpatrick's aide. Will heads roll?
Egad, we hope not!
Ottawa has no official bilingualism policy per se, it is not written into a municipal by-law that oral and written statements and events must be bilingual in nature to reflect the nature of official bilingualism, itself a polite reflection of the two 'founding' nations. The city has a courtesy-policy of holding itself to a standard whereby most communications will most often be bilingual. Tippy-toes over eggshells.
What a slip up! however, when the Olympic torch ceremony that took place at City Hall was conducted in !sheesh! English only. Now, it can be argued that there would be few people living within this city who are not comfortable with English. It is the language of the majority, although to be perfectly fair there exists a substantial number of first-language-French Ottawans.
Who still speak and understand English. Yes, of course, it is seen as impolite not to have transcribed the proceedings into French for the pleasure and edification of a goodly proportion of the cheering crowd. But really, must we get our undies into another knot over yet another presumed slur? Oversight, then. Seems the city manager has been dusting the floors of City Hall, creeping about on his knees, begging forgiveness from all and sundry.
Those sundries and all, in any event who have taken huge umbrage. Well, oops, and damitall, if they didn't do it again! Despite avowing this would never, ever again occur :
"It should have been a proud moment for us all. Unfortunately, the success of the event has been undermined by the omission of French from the official ceremony", grovelled Kent Kirkpatrick.
"I want to assure council that we are aware that it should not have happened and that an apology is not enough. We are taking immediate action to ensure that all future events hosted by the city respect our bilingualism policy." Obsequious to a fault, so who could fail to forgive and forget? "...taking immediate action to ensure that all future events ..." This.is.final. We have erred, never to repeat that error.
Wot? Mr. Kirkpatrick's memorandum of explanation and future recognition sent 'round to the councillors appeared in English only? Gotta be kidding...? Oh, it was speedily followed by a second one, with a French translation. PLUS t.w.o apologies from Mr. Kirkpatrick's aide. Will heads roll?
Egad, we hope not!
Labels: Human Relations, Ottawa
posted by Pieface @ 4:51 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home