[WAY OT] RE: Let me introduce myself

I agree with all Barry's comments.  But I found one comment you made,
Maxime, particularly interesting:

[snip]

> > - social conflicts (there is sometime a conflict about the
> rights of
> > minorities (french speakers, Amerindians, etc.) but it's never very
> > big)
> >
But wait a sec - you're talking about Quebec, not Canada as a whole.  So
how come French speakers are a minority?  I always thought a clear
majority of all those living in Quebec speak French, and a very quick
(and non-scientific) Google search confirms this (perhaps around 80
percent).

The fact that, even if subconsciously, you see yourself as a minority in
your own ethnic homeland, or (alternatively) that you were actually
thinking about all Canada despite your declaration that you see Quebec
as your frame of reference may be part of the explanation as to why you
felt the need to present the long piece lauding Quebec.

Your comments remind me of a joke about Israelis, who are
stereotypically thought to be quite nationalistic.  An Israeli spent
five minutes telling a European (or whatever) friend about all that was
good about Israel - the people are cleverest in the world; the climate
is the most pleasant; the landscapes are the most stunning; the
education system is the most sophisticated; the army is the strongest
and most cunning,,,,, and so on and so on.  And he ended by saying "And
we're also the most modest of people, we prefer to speak in
understatements."  When the European gently pointed out that his friend
has just spent five minutes praising every aspect of life in Israel, the
Israeli replied: "yes, that's still an understatement."

Kabirr pax mix qytsut
Great peace from Jerusalem