Les yeux bridés

André Boisclair’s use of this term, meaning “slanted eyes” to refer to students (at a certain university) of Asian descent has caused quite a stir both locally and further afield. (M. Boisclair is the leader of the Parti Québécois)

He claims that in French the term is not derogatory, and that he uses it all the time without considering it a racist epithet. Other people here have said similar things to me over the last few days, and I have a few thoughts on the matter.

Firstly, how a term is considered by those who use it is probably not a good basis for judging the term offensive or not. Not too long ago it was natural and normal to refer to black people as 'niggers', to call black men 'boy'. Most of the people guilty of this would probably have also claimed to not see the offense in their words. 'Slanting eyes' was once considered the be inoffensive in English also. Perhaps if ‘yeux bridés’ is not now regarded as offensive, it should become so for the exact same reasons for the change in English. Secondly, it is not really the words (their exact definition nor nuance) that are the problem. It is the objectification, the focusing on characteristics and making generalisations designed to segregate the population into ‘us’ and ‘them’. It may not be that the word ‘bridé’ is offensive, but I assure you that calling out different groups by their attributes (physical, mental, spiritual, sexual, etc) most certainly is.

Mr “I am not a racist but” Boisclair, you do a disservice to your cause with your words, and more so by your self-defence after the fact. Let us not revisit hard fought battles of old over words - if someone is offended by your words, consider them offensive. Admit that you, as a white male in modern society, have ingrained racism (sexism, etc.). Racism that we all have been indoctrinated with from our earliest experiences. I feel it in myself. We are indefensible on that front. The best we can do, all that we can do, that which we must do with every ounce of strength within us it to fight these tendencies of ours, curb our words and deeds (as we can but hope to curb our thoughts). Then perhaps there is some hope for generations future. Hope that they will have not the slightest idea what racism might have been. It is the only way.