After spending two days calming myself down; I offer this submission.
I appreciate the time you took to research the information printed. All very informative. You also stated that Mr. Cherry did not utter the word ‘Immigrant’. At this point, in your viewpoint, I feel your opinion was callous and downright mean. First of all, as a person who chooses ‘to pretend otherwise’; you are saying I am ‘engaging in willful ignorance of the facts’. I just didn’t hear the word ‘immigrant’.
For nearly 40 years, Mr. Cherry has ‘coached’ us about the game of hockey, (especially the safety lessons to ‘you kids out there’); he has always reminded us, with genuine passion and sorrow, about the sacrifice the veterans, and current military men and women; and, in the earlier years, he championed for the Canadian hockey player as the NHL expanded.
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Right or wrong, agree or disagree, Mr. Cherry was born to a different generation than exists today; but he has never lost his pride in being Canadian. Today, my generation must calculate every word before we speak, but we are learning to be more respectful. I suspect many of your readers are guilty of repeating, or laughing, at a racist joke that would be considered very offensive.
Bottom line, I wish you had given an 85 year old man, some respect. There was no need to say “Good riddance, Mr. Cherry. If only this had come 10 years sooner”. Shame on you! Mr. Cherry has done more for this nation, than you, or I, could ever dream of doing. As with Mr. Cherry, you are fully entitled to your opinion regarding the fateful incident. But I take exception to your hateful words in your conclusion.
Don Cherry always closed Coached Corner with the legendary Thumbs Up. I am concluding this submission extending a completely different finger to you!
– Leanne Bryski
