EDITOR:
We’ve just seen a man fired for saying something he didn’t actually say. On Nov. 9, Don Cherry pointed out that hardly anyone in downtown Toronto was wearing a poppy to honour our veterans. (A survey showed only 10 per cent.)
Major media, sports figures and some political leaders, immediately accused him of “singling out new Canadians for an angry anti-immigrant rant,” and remarks that were “hurtful, discriminatory and flat out wrong.”
The story grew and morphed. His words “you come here” became “you come OVER here.” That’s not the same meaning. Likewise “you love our milk and honey” became “you TAKE our milk and honey.” He was called hate-filled, despicable, a disgrace. A CBC commentator even warned, “His weaponization of (the) poppy dangerously perverts Canada’s national identity.”
Yes, Cherry did say “you people who come here.” But he didn’t actually mention immigrants at all. (The original videos and reprints are on line.)
So maybe he meant other Canadians who move to Ontario? We all know a lot of Maritimers living there. That could be why Newfoundland writer Mark Critch said, “It’s WE people … that aren’t honouring the vets.” Toronto columnist Joe Warmington pointed out, “Don Cherry doesn’t care if you are new to our country or born here, you should wear a poppy to honour our veterans.”
Cherry was fired anyway. Not for what he actually said, but for what some mind-readers declared he meant.
So who’s the next mind-reading victim?
Doreen Beagan,
Charlottetown
