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[The above photo is posted at the Globe and Mail. I think it is a great portrait. We can see Nadeau-Dubois' arrogant superiority in his expression. The rock behind him, which symbolizes his unrelenting, stubborn position, looks bright on his half, but the other half is dark and foreboding, giving us a glimpse of his character and position.
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Quebec's student "revolt" looked like the whining of spoiled brats, but it is becoming much larger than that.
At one time, Quebeckers marched on their streets to try to achieve some modicum of independence. But they always tried to latch on to Canada in some way, and their "independence" quest was never a complete detachment from Canada, but something that would give them their own "identity" under the umbrella of a larger Canada. They, in effect, demanded all the "good" things from Canada, while obtaining what they wanted: Their own independent French culture to thrive alongside English Canada.
This perspective has rubbed off in a big way on the newest generation of Quebec's demonstrators. The marches are their dissatisfaction at how they are being billed for their university education. Here's some background on these protest marches, dubbed as "strikes" by the media [Source The National Post]:
The Quebec Liberal government wanted to increase tuition fees at post-secondary schools by $1,625 over five years. The hike worked out to $325 per year, although the government has since offered to modify the increase to $1,775 over seven years. In an attempt to assuage demonstrators, the government explained the hike works out to 50 cents per day after factoring in the tuition fee tax credit...The official news describes this "movement" as being the organization of a few "radical" groups. Yet, we saw thousands of students on the streets of Montreal, which hardly constitutes a "radical" group. Granted, there is a small, violent component to these demonstrations, but its members would not be doing all the violent protests, including physical damage to buildings and streets, if the majority doesn't allow them to continue. However quiet and "civilized" the majority seems, it is accepts the radical component of its movement.
Striking student groups...argue tuition fees in other provinces are already too high, and Quebec’s increase would erect another barrier to education...
Even if the tuition hike goes through, Quebec students will still have cheaper fees than any other province in Canada. For the 2011/2012 school year, Canadian undergraduates paid an average of $5,366 in tuition, according to Statistics Canada.
B.C.: $4,852
Alberta: $5,662;
Saskatchewan: $5,601
Manitoba: $3,645
Ontario: $6,640
New Brunswick: $5,853
Nova Scotia: $5,731
Prince Edward Island: $5,258
Newfoundland and Labrador: $2,649
Quebec: $2,168
[...]
CLASSE (Coalition large de l’association pour une solidarite syndicale etudiante), a group that represents about half the students on strike, is ultimately pushing for free, universal access to post-secondary education.
Quebec students currently pay about half of what other Canadian students pay on average.
I saw an interview of the leader of this group. He has small stature, delicate features and a quiet voice. But his language is frighteningly violent. He is a true fascist. His name is Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. Here is a brief background on him:
With his private-school education and generous university scholarship, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois is hardly your typical struggling student. But as the Quebec student strike over tuition fee increases drags on, the telegenic 21-year-old history major has become the most prominent face of the protest movement...I've said before, privately and publicly, the only solution to the Quebec problem is to isolate the province and remove it from the Canadian confederation. No alliances, economic unions, half-hearted political compromises. The consequence of this compromise and accommodation has been characters like Nadeau-Dubois, with their endless incitements of marches and demonstrations, which could very well turn to regional civil unrest at some point in the future.
[H]is writings and speeches leave little doubt that he sees himself waging a battle not just to keep university cheap but also to overturn the economic order. In an April 7 speech, which he began with his fist raised in the air, Mr. Nadeau-Dubois declared that the student strike has “indelibly marked” Quebec history...
Speaking following a protest outside Premier Jean Charest’s Montreal office Tuesday, Mr. Nadeau-Dubois said that his fiery speeches are meant to convey the message that "this struggle is not strictly for students but is part of a broader struggle."...
In editorials in the organization’s newspaper, Ultimatum, Mr. Nadeau-Dubois clearly staked out his position as far back as 2010.
"From today, from tomorrow, and every day until 2012, the resistance will be more firm and the indignation will rumble more," he wrote. "The pressure tactics will increase along with students’ anger, with the anger of the entire Quebec people: disruptions of MNAs offices, economic disruptions, national protests, etc. And this until the government backs down."
Simply say to them: 'You're on your own. Welcome to the North America." Let fascists like Nadeau-Dubois deal with the consequences.