Quebec Takes Flak For Bringing In Secularism To The Province Poem by Gayathri Seetharam

Quebec takes flak for bringing in secularism to the province
-Gayathri B. Seetharam
I shall begin by saying that I have no partiality for Quebec in my heart
For I do not know French and the province has a strict language code
Of the official language being French
I love Toronto and Ontario but revel in the cultural atmosphere of Montreal
However, I don't think it can light a candle to the multiculturalism of Toronto;

PM Justin Trudeau among others were the Province of Quebec's worst critics
On CBC's The National and I did say in another poem of mine on Facebook
That banning religious head gear and religious garb for Muslim women
Is fighting for their feminist and feminine rights;

I did wonder at the fact that all of it would be banned in the workplace
But please do bear in mind that British Columbia is introducing a strict code
Of work clothes in the provincial offices
And despite vocal criticism against this policy
And this sort of work code
Would affect me in the summer months
I am still supportive of both laws;

The other change introduced by Quebec in the name of secularism
And I originate from Bangalore in India which used to be a proudly secular constitution
But now they do begrudge other religions the freedom of living
But have still not changed the constitutional law,
Is the fact that they removed the religious cross in the National Assembly
Which is the legislative body of the province of Quebec;

This move is a statement of religious freedom for all its residents
For the cross is symbolic of Christian faith
And the removal of it in a governing body
Is a blanketing statement that the province
Will function on intellectual principles rather than religious doctrines.

Acknowledgements:
1. Cambridge Dictionary
2. Wikipedia
3. Google
4.My son
5.The Globe and Mail
6.CBC's The National
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Please note: The picture included is that of the Papineau subway, the place of the beginnings of Justin Trudeau's battleground in the past.