Canadian couple sues Air Canada (and wins) because they were not served in Frenc

[Texacon]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1519807

FLAprogressive  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-19-11 04:15 AM
Original message

Canadian couple sues Air Canada (and wins) because they were not served in French
 
A couple of French language 'extremists' have won an £8,000 payout after airline staff spoke to them in English.

Michel and Lynda Thibodeau sued Air Canada for not respecting their right to be served in their mother tongue during a flight from the country's capital Ottawa.

Despite speaking fluent English, Mr Thibodeau complained that he was not greeted in French when the pair checked in for their flight or at the airport's boarding gate.

He also branded the airline's employees 'malicious, oppressive and reprehensible' for not answering his questions in French.

The pair also complained that when they ordered a 7Up drink on the plane, the English-speaking air hostess brought them a Sprite instead.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2016305/Michel-...

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This reminds me of that Canadian lesbian couple who sued a comedian and won because he made jokes about them. So ridiculous.  

Wow.  This whole thread is bizarre.

Warren Stupidity  (1000+ posts)        Tue Jul-19-11 07:02 AM
Response to Original message

8. Yeah just because it is the law and a major part of the reform that
 
kept Canada one nation instead of splitting into two over the language and culture issue is no reason to enforce the law.

hack89 (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-19-11 08:26 AM
Response to Reply #8

10. Trivializing an important principle eventually causes more harm then good
 
once they have enough ridiculous, trivial and petty examples to point at, it becomes easy for opponents to undermine support for the law.

Ya know, Texas just killed a frickin' piece of shit who was claiming Mexican citizenship.  Y'all were for the letter of the law at that point.  What's changed?

WatsonT (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-19-11 09:22 AM
Response to Reply #8

15. While I'm sure that hearing another language was emotionally devastating to this poor man
 
it is in fact something many people have to tolerate.

Why in cities in the US you can often walk a few blocks and hear 2, 3, even 4 (!) languages that are not english.

As absurd as it may seem the citizens of these cities have developed a coping mechanism for this sonic assault on their cultural identities: they ignore it if it bothers them that much.

 

Whoa, whoa, whoa there my dear Watson.  This is CANADA you are speaking of!  NOT the USA.  They can do no wrong, remember, they have nationalized health care.  Sheesh.

FLAprogressive  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-19-11 07:47 PM
Response to Reply #15

20. Exactly. No one should be forced to communicate or provide service in a any language.

What?!  Wait, I have to have my agendas and postings for our local elections printed out in English and Spanish PER LAW!  I live in the United States, what's different about Canada?

Wow, the double standard here is amazing.

KC

[compaqxp]

Yes they should have been offered service in French, but these people drive me insane. they get worked up over stuff like this when the likely could have gotten French service if they asked for it, although they might have had to take the time to find someone. I can't picture them not being given French service if asked for.

Then again if I were Air Canada staff and a fluent English speaker demanded French service, I might not want to waste my time either. These people just like to complain for the hell of it.

These types of people are very tiring and annoying for just about everyone else.

They can do no wrong, remember, they have nationalized health care.

why bring that into this?

[GOBUCKS]

Some day we may allow the English-speaking parts of Canada, especially the provinces west of Ontario, to join the Union. Then the frogs can starve.

[Freeper]

Yes they should have been offered service in French, but these people drive me insane. they get worked up over stuff like this when the likely could have gotten French service if they asked for it, although they might have had to take the time to find someone. I can't picture them not being given French service if asked for.

Then again if I were Air Canada staff and a fluent English speaker demanded French service, I might not want to waste my time either. These people just like to complain for the hell of it.

These types of people are very tiring and annoying for just about everyone else.

why bring that into this?

Because to most liberals nationalized health care is what makes a country perfect.

[seahorse513]

Wait, what are the ratios of Canadian provinces speaking english versus french?? Which is considered the primary language?

[GOBUCKS]

Wait, what are the ratios of Canadian provinces speaking english versus french?? Which is considered the primary language?

Quebec is the only French-speaking province, but even there, anyone worth talking to speaks English. The rest of the country is wimpy English,
kissing the asses of Quebec separatists.

[seahorse513]

I found this link...

http://canadaonline.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=canadaonline&cdn=newsissues&tm=41&gps=194_241_999_354&f=10&tt=11&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/html/stats_e.php

I realize it is kinda long(how do we shorten those btw?)

[Skul]

Parlay vuw bulle sheet?
Stupid PC at its best.

[seahorse513]

someone needs to seriously needs to teach me how to shorten those long URL's

[GCBill]

someone needs to seriously needs to teach me how to shorten those long URL's

http://bit.ly

[seahorse513]

http://bit.ly

ok thanks, but sometimes you will sub the word link for the URL, how do you do that?

[thundley4]

ok thanks, but sometimes you will sub the word link for the URL, how do you do that?

You copy the url you want to insert into your post, then click the button up above the reply box that looks like this.  .  Paste the url in the first box then paste the word or words you want in the second popup window.

[seahorse513]

You copy the url you want to insert into your post, then click the button up above the reply box that looks like this.  .  Paste the url in the first box then paste the word or words you want in the second popup window.

you guys rock!!! thanx!!

[thelaughingman]

I fear that unless America adopts English as its sole official language, this kind of shit will quickly come here.  Not having any official language will simply be an open door to people who speak any language to pull this crap.

[diesel driver]

When I went to Wisconsin for a service training school, I met some Canadians from Ontario.

They couldn't stand people from Quebec either.   

[whiffleball]

I fear that unless America adopts English as its sole official language, this kind of shit will quickly come here.  Not having any official language will simply be an open door to people who speak any language to pull this crap.

We have had Mexicans come into our charity and get very pissy when I tell them No Habla Espanol.  It's as if not only do we have to provide them with payment for utilities, two boxes of food and clothing for the entire family, but it should be done in their mother tongue.

[VivisMom]

When I went to Wisconsin for a service training school, I met some Canadians from Ontario.

They couldn't stand people from Quebec either.   

The only people who like Quebecois...are other Quebecois.

http://youtu.be/WULsZJxPfws

[Karin]

When I lived in Maine, I had transplanted Quebec people as neighbors.  Horrible people with a horrible little kid.  Big fat ugly hairy dude wore a speedo while tooling about the yard.  Not to paint with a broad brush, but I'm going to do it anyway. 

[Boudicca]

When I went to Wisconsin for a service training school, I met some Canadians from Ontario.

They couldn't stand people from Quebec either.   

Can't say as the British Columbians were very happy with them either, judging from what I heard while on vacation!  Of course, most of the French have no love for your average Parisian either.  There's something rotten, not just in Denmark, but in France and Canada as well.  Wait for some illegal alien Spanish speaker to sue an American airline now for being greeted in English.

[Rebel]

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPKSw1OeK2w[/youtube]


Somebody had to.

[thelaughingman]

When I lived in Maine, I had transplanted Quebec people as neighbors.  Horrible people with a horrible little kid.  Big fat ugly hairy dude wore a speedo while tooling about the yard.  Not to paint with a broad brush, but I'm going to do it anyway. 

Given your description of him, you'd kind of have to, wouldn't you?  I mean, you don't use a brush for painting models for painting the wall, do you?

[vesta111]

Some people have class. 

When Jack took Jackie to France she gave a speech in Perfect France French, She seldom spoke a word in English to anyone but her staff and husband while in France.   

The people loved her, everyone in the service industry to the hotel maids fell in love with Jackie.

Then England has a most beloved son in line for the throne.   Wild Willey has grown up and married and when in Canada he gave  a speech in perfect fluent Canuk French to the wild cheering of the French.    Style and class.

Now who was it who went to Berlin and tried to tell the people in German that he too was a Berliner but unfortunately put the  em-pha-sis on the wrong sil-ab- le and told the cheering crowd he was a Donut.

This brings back one of the funniest Judge Show on t.v.   I believe it was the red head with a Cuban Family that had to decide a case where a bride and groom were suing a DJ at a huge reception.  The people were from Mexico and the DJ from PR, a last minute fill in.

When the wedding party was introduced, the little chubby flower girl was introduced as very ugly in Mexican Spanish.   In PR Spanish the word was charming, sweet, some other compliment.

Poor DJ was counter suing for having the bride beat him all up.  He lost, the Judge said the word he used in Cuban meant big butt-----or other such meaning.

BTW, My Pepe was Canadian French spoke the language as his mother tongue but had a heck of a time understanding France French.. This is where all the hand and arm waving comes in

It would be like someone from Georgia trying to figure out what someone speaking as Shakespier did in his time.  Yo Man, you need a what ???????