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October 13, 2008 8:45:42 AM CDT

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A Weekend for 2 Nations to Celebrate

Posted Jul 3, 08 7:39 AM CDT in World,  US,  Opinion 

(Newser) – Tomorrow is Independence Day, but north of the border today marks the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City, the first settlement of New France and one of the oldest cities in Canada. David Hackett Fischer, a historian writing in the New York Times, uses the occasion to explore a different vision of North America, one predicated not on freedom, but on diversity and exchange.

Samuel de Champlain, the founder of what's now Quebec, was horrified by the violence and exploitation of Spanish colonists, and wanted his New France to be different. He made informal alliances with multiple Indian tribes that endured for generations; Frenchmen and natives lived side-by-side in "amity and concord." As much as Jefferson, Champlain's vision of humanity, exploration, and tolerance should inspire all North Americans this week.

Source New York Times

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  • Quebec City Celebrates 400th

    Jul 3, 08 5:10 PM CDT
    Quebec City Celebrates 400th Canadians celebrated the 400th birthday of Quebec City today, the Toronto Globe and Mail reports. In a rain-drenched ceremony, Prime Minister Stephen Harper praised the adventurous Quebecois spirit and the city—“the most beautiful city in Canada, the most enchanting"—where explorer Samuel de Champlain landed on July 3, 1608. More »

In this file photo from Oct. 23, 2003, the Chateau Frontenac rises above the fortified walls of Quebec City, Quebec.   (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Chateau Frontenac and its fortifications in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.   (AP Photo)
Today is the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City.   (AP Photo)
Both the US and Canada are celebrating their founding histories this weekend.   ((c) pocketwiley)
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Canada  • history  • independence  • Native Americans  • Thomas Jefferson  • Quebec  • Samuel de Champlain


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