Canadian hockey Commentator Don Cherry in trouble for racist comments

[Segnosaur]

Wasn't sure where exactly this should go. Its about a noted hockey commentator (so it could go under sports), from Canada (so it could go under the 'politics' forum) who made a racist comment (which makes it a social issue.)

Anyone familiar with Canadian hockey probably knows about Don Cherry... Former minor league player who eventually became coach of the Boston Bruins. For the past few decades he has been a commentator, appearing on a segment called "coaches corner" during the first intermission of hockey games, where he comments on various issues: highlighting the actions of certain players and criticizing others. Occasionally his commentary strays into the discussion of other social issues.

Recently, Cherry was complaining about people not wearing poppies (a symbol used to honor veterans) on remembrance day. The trouble is, he mentioned immigrants, and used the term "you people".

"You people that come here, you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple of bucks for poppies or something like that"

This resulted in his firing.

https://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2019/11/people-canceling-sportsnet-don-cherry/

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-don-cherry-fired-over-controversial-poppy-comment

Unfortunately, Don Cherry has allowed himself to be interviewed on Fox News by Tucker Carlson. Carlson is a noted racist, so getting interviewed by a racist over potentially racist comments seems rather counter productive. Cherry should have been more selective in what media outlets he was going to deal with.

https://www.citynews1130.com/2019/11/13/don-cherry-finds-sympathetic-ear-in-fox-news-tucker-carlson/

 

[Belz...]

I don't think his comments were "racist". He railed against those who didn't wear or respect the poppy. I disagree with him on that but I understand his position. He took it too far when he cast that on those who came to Canada, but once again, letting him go for that looks to be an overreaction.

That said, the man's 85 and he's in no financial trouble, I think.

 

[GlennB]

He deserved it.

Meanwhile, 'poppy fascism' has been quite a thing in the UK for some years. Heaven help any public figure that doesn't sport one coming up to 11/11 (Remembrance Day), and even ordinary folk can catch the sharp edge of someone's tongue if they're poppyless.

 

[Belz...]

He deserved it.

Can you explain why, based on what he actually said?



Me, I'll miss his extravagant suits and ties. They were the highlight of the matches.

 

[plague311]

I don't think his comments were "racist". He railed against those who didn't wear or respect the poppy. I disagree with him on that but I understand his position. He took it too far when he cast that on those who came to Canada, but once again, letting him go for that looks to be an overreaction.

That said, the man's 85 and he's in no financial trouble, I think.

Reading on the history of this guy it wasn't some isolated incident, it was the straw that broke the camels back. He's made a career out of being an outspoken jackass. I read the comments on Twitter when this first happened and the bulk of them were something to the effect of "I like Don, he's a straight shooter, and tells it like it is." All fine and well, but when "telling it like it is" results in degrading people then you should expect to get in trouble.

He got what was coming to him, **** 'em.

 

[Giz]

He took it too far when he cast that on those who came to Canada,

Speaking as an immigrant... I think it's entirely reasonable to expect immigrants to be patriotic and supportive of their new country and respect their new country's heritage.

 

[plague311]

In case anyone is curious, here's the quote:

You people love -- they come here, whatever it is -- you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey," Cherry said at the time. "The least you could pay is a couple of bucks for a poppy or something like that. These guys pay for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada. These guys pay the biggest price.

Here's a little history of some of the things he's said over the years. He's insulted everyone from "Swedes" to people who are gay. This wasn't an individual off-the-cuff statement that caused Cherry to have to kick rocks. It's an established history of being a miserable ****.

 

[johnny karate]

Speaking as an immigrant... I think it's entirely reasonable to expect immigrants to be patriotic and supportive of their new country and respect their new country's heritage.

Not that any of this is usually required of someone living in a free society, but do you have evidence that the immigrants in question are unpatriotic or disrespectful towards their new country?

 

[Belz...]

Reading on the history of this guy it wasn't some isolated incident, it was the straw that broke the camels back. He's made a career out of being an outspoken jackass.

Being a jackass is one of the reasons people liked him. I never got the impression that he was a racist or that he hated immigrants.

Speaking as an immigrant... I think it's entirely reasonable to expect immigrants to be patriotic and supportive of their new country and respect their new country's heritage.

Sure, but look: I'm a Canadian and I never wear one. It doesn't mean I don't respect those who fought for my freedoms or against tyranny. It's just that I don't think wearing a fake flower is an important demonstration of that respect.

 

[Giz]

Not that any of this is usually required of someone living in a free society, but do you have evidence that the immigrants in question are unpatriotic or disrespectful towards their new country?

Sure!

They couldn't be bothered to spend 2 bucks on a poppy.

 

[plague311]

Speaking as an immigrant... I think it's entirely reasonable to expect immigrants to be patriotic and supportive of their new country and respect their new country's heritage.

Awesome! Were there immigrants that weren't doing that? Was it becoming an issue? Does it have **** all to do with hockey? Did it need to be said on television? Were the military complaining?

Respecting heritage is nice and all but again this wasn't an isolated incident from Cherry.

Sure!

They couldn't be bothered to spend 2 bucks on a poppy.

I need a link or a source to show evidence that "they" weren't buying poppy's. Thanks.

 

[plague311]

Being a jackass is one of the reasons people liked him. I never got the impression that he was a racist or that he hated immigrants.

That might be true...for you. It doesn't appear that way to, apparently, several others. The show was losing money, and according to the article I posted the network got positive feedback from the canning of Cherry.

So while you might not have got that impression it would appear a large number of your countrypeople aren't in agreement.

 

[Belz...]

That might be true...for you. It doesn't appear that way to, apparently, several others. The show was losing money, and according to the article I posted the network got positive feedback from the canning of Cherry.

So while you might not have got that impression it would appear a large number of your countrypeople aren't in agreement.

Come on, Plague. You can do better than that. "I can find a handful of people who disagree" is an argument for precisely nothing.

Respecting heritage is nice and all but again this wasn't an isolated incident from Cherry.

Incident of what? Zealous patriotism? The horror!

 

[Giz]

Sure, but look: I'm a Canadian and I never wear one. It doesn't mean I don't respect those who fought for my freedoms or against tyranny. It's just that I don't think wearing a fake flower is an important demonstration of that respect.

And if the response to Cherry had been "Well Don, there are a number of ways you can be a patriotic citizen without wearing a poppy" that would have been an entirely different matter. But that doesn't seem to have been the way it was handled.

 

[Delphic Oracle]

Speaking as an immigrant... I think it's entirely reasonable to expect immigrants to be patriotic and supportive of their new country and respect their new country's heritage.

Be patriotic, supportive, and respectful is fine.

Wear this specific item or be denigrated is not.

I'm going to cloak my regressive beliefs in vague sentimentality is, sadly, par for the course any more.

 

[johnny karate]

Sure!

They couldn't be bothered to spend 2 bucks on a poppy.

Sorry, but I asked for evidence that they were unpatriotic or disrespectful, not evidence of an unwillingness to engage in a hollow gesture of virtue signalling.

 

[Giz]

I need a link or a source to show evidence that "they" weren't buying poppy's. Thanks.

That's actually an interesting point!

Was Cherry fired for being factually inaccurate, or for saying something accurate that folks took offense at being pointed out?

 

[johnny karate]

And if the response to Cherry had been "Well Don, there are a number of ways you can be a patriotic citizen without wearing a poppy" that would have been an entirely different matter. But that doesn't seem to have been the way it was handled.

You should apply for a job in the HR department at the company that fired him, and maybe next time, you'll be in a position to do just that.

 

[plague311]

Come on, Plague. You can do better than that. "I can find a handful of people who disagree" is an argument for precisely nothing.

In reply to an argument of "I liked him and didn't think he was racist", I'd say it's just as good as anything you've provided. All I said is it was obvious everyone didn't share your viewpoint.

You provided nothing in your statement other than you liked him, which means **** all. I provided nothing in my statement other than "other people don't agree". Did you say something I had to provide evidence to refute?

Incident of what? Zealous patriotism? The horror!

Being an outspoken douche to minorities of people including immigrants, gays, etc. Did this really need to be laid out? I posted a ******* link for Christ's sake.

 

[plague311]

That's actually an interesting point!

Was Cherry fired for being factually inaccurate, or for saying something accurate that folks took offense at being pointed out?

My guess? Both. He had nothing to support his statement that "you people" aren't buying poppy's that people took offense to on the grounds it's both unverifiable and, since it can't be verified, is just an old man bitching at the clouds about immigrants.