Martin Le Acadien said:
We are American Citizens by reason of birth and why were we born here? Because we were sent here.
It is terrible that 15,000 Acadians were expelled from Nova Scotia; it is terrible that many things happen in this world. However, I do not feel that the Canadian government, who represents me, should formally apologize. There are peoples who have suffered far greater injustice, but yet have moved on and rebuilt without carrying animosity and hatred through generations.
Many years have pasted since the incident, including years where Canada had a very open immigration policy and Acadians could have returned if they wanted to.
Besides, I suspect the culture in Acadian New Brunswick and Cajun Louisiana is very different; you really aren't the same people now, so really I bet most Cajuns would rather remain in Louisiana (only my opinion).
We rebuilt, carried on through the generations and you will not find a more kind or loving people without animosity than the Acadien People, but we did not forget, we understand the anguish of the holocaust, we do not like the idea of secret prisons, punish our enimies in plain sight but let them have their say, we are a humane people, we usually vote blue in the sea of red.
Our culture in Le Pays de Saguine et le baie de chaleur is the same, it is haunting to us in Louisiana to walk the streets of Le Sud-ouest de Novelle Ecosse and to hear our language and idioms used the same! Our families are being put together as we meet cousins who tell us of the past and we tell them of our travels! The language is common, the culture is common and the music is the same! I just met some snowbirds from Nouvelle Brunswick last night at the store and we visited until the early hours of this morning! Different, little cultural differences have crept into the scene but we still speak French, worship as Catholic, dance the same dances and play music with the same lyrics!
DasFX, the acadiens did not go off into the dark of night and fade away into the meltingpot, we thrived, but do not try to keep us down! Do come to the Congres Mondial Acadien in 2009 on the Bay de Chaleur and hear our songs, see us greet family members and eat the same foods. Rappie Pie, Bouie, pate frite and other good things, we are teaching the northern Acadiens about Gumbo, Jambalaya, Ecrivisse, and Oysters (Le Huitres). New seasonings are being demonstrated and the adaptation is uncanny.
Would we want to stay in Louisiana, most would, but I suspect my daughters might drift North, you see, one is in love with a boy from Dieppe, NB and I can only seperate them with a crowbar! The little fellow comes to visit Louisiana and he loves the culture because it remind him of home, his parents could not believe that they could walk into the Bank, Post Office or Store and be served in French! All my children speak French and was educated in immersion school and we get the latest from the Maritimes since it is beamed in for the Cable system here. You see, most of the 60-70+ crowd here only speaks and writes in French! Our news and entertainment comes from Acadie (The Maritimes) since we identify very heavly with our Acadian Cousins!
In the 60's and 70's many people here tried to immigrate but the laws did not favor non-Anglophones in Eastern Canada and discrimination was rampant! We are not asking for a knee groveling apology but an admission and offer to allow freedom of travel and living!
If there is any injustice, do whatever you can to make it right, I would not want it to be said that I remained silent! It only condones more injustice.
