 You know what you never hear? You never hear anyone saying, "Man, I wish I spoke only one language," or "Being bilingual really sucks." Nobody regrets being able to communicate in two separate languages or having direct access to two different cultures. It's enriching and mind-opening, and door-opening too. I will always be grateful for having grown up in a francophone community with just enough of us anglophones in it to support a couple of small English schools.
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 There are many "visions" out there for how society should be organized. Under an authoritarian regime, one person or small group imposes a vision on the rest of society. In a democratic country, "the people" decide who will get to impose which vision. Should "we" repair the roads or build more mass transit? Accept more immigrants or drive away those who are here? Beef up the army or train more doctors? Give welfare to single moms or to sclerotic corporations? Cast your vote, then live with the results.
 The Academy Awards are tonight, and as usual, I've only managed to see a few of the films nominated for the main prizes. But as much as I enjoyed Gravity (thrilling and touching), American Hustle (highly entertaining), Blue Jasmine (Hawkins was fun, Blanchett was mesmerizing), and The Lego Movie (no nominations? really?)—and as much as I want to see others, especially 12 Years a Slave—I will be rooting for Jean-Marc Vallée's Dallas Buyers Club this evening.
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