Point final

Premier Jean Charest said Saturday it doesn't matter if Canadians in other provinces don't agree that Quebec is a nation. "For us, Quebec is a nation," Charest told reporters after a regional meeting of his Quebec Liberals to prepare for a party convention next March. "There has never been any doubt in my mind," he added. "And by the way, neither do I believe that Quebecers have any permission to ask from anyone to be who they are. Period."

Quite so. So let's drop the subject, d'accord? ON SECOND THOUGHT: Or perhaps the premier's subtle argument deserves elaboration. Quebecers are who they are. They will always be who they are. They have a right to be who they are. On the other hand, they are not who they are not. No one can force them to be who they are not. Or not to be who they are. Because they are not who they are not. They are who they are. Period.