Canadians - anti-Americans. What they do, we don’t. But this isn’t a comparison discussion between neighbours. This is about freedom of expression and patriotism we both hopefully share. But ironically we can start this post off with one thing “anti-American” which is “pro-Canadian” and that is hockey.

We are too sensitive

Hockey Night in Canada’s Don Cherry has been fired for his “offensive” comment. A Canadian legend NHL coach, retired professional ice hockey player and ice hockey commentator. Has been fired on Remembrance Day for making a pro-Canadian comment. His comment is geared towards those who choose not to wear poppies, showing respect towards our soldiers and veterans who fought for our native land. He said:

“You people that come here... you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that... These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada, these guys paid the biggest price."

Social Media at it again

According to the news, this was apparently a rant on immigrants! I don’t know about you but this was taken out of context as I can understand his point of view. He is not talking exclusively here. He is talking about everyone here, including Canadian born. The new generation who has moved passed traditions. The reason why I can understand exactly where he is coming from is because he sounds like my grandfather! You know old people, who lived very different lives back then. They can see the difference in today and reflect upon it. How old is Mr.Cherry? 85. . . They fire a 85 year old Canadian legend who is acknowledged for making hockey popular in Canada. Is fired for paying respect to our veterans and troops. Fired for making a social observation. And is fired for using his freedom of expression. All on Remembrance Day. . .

We technically did.

Fans of Cherry’s commentary would know that he was full of catchphrases like “All you kids out there. . . ” and. . . wait. Noticed something? Like a pattern? Go back and read what I quoted above again that caused him to get fired. Look at the many times he says “you.” In fact, here are some of his popular statements. All involving “you.” "Everybody wants to know what you think." “You have to realize the CBC is government owned.” “You have to say the government was against [the invasion of Iraq].” “ you left-wing kooks.” "Well, what can I tell you? Don’t invite me. You don't invite a pit bull. If you want a pit bull, you get a pit bull."

You means YOU

It looks like whenever he says the word “you” it causes publicity. I’d say he’d make some great one-liners in the movies. I guess there is a reason why our English teachers wanted us to avoid using pronouns like you in our essays. It is because you refers to everyone. But if we are naive then we can choose to ignore our English teachers and write whoever we have in mind when we are using the word you. Because the reader thinks you are talking to them when you are saying you, when in the writer’s mind they think like the media. See how we can take things out of context?

What did I say?!

Now, I know what you are saying, but read the way he says “you people that come here... you love our way of life . . “ It sounds like we can make the judgment that he is talking specifically about immigrants and not Canadian borns. Well, can I also say that everyone who is born here also comes from somewhere else and is an immigrant. It is not about being an immigrant, but it is about culturally being a Canadian. And in the culture we celebrate Remembrance Day by wearing a poppy. Do you really think that Canadian borns are all wearing poppies? Can we then classify them as
“you people that come here... you love our way of life . . ?“ How many Canadians know their own geography regarding all the provincial, territories, and capital city names? Do they know them better than the immigrants who became citizens? How many Canadians know both of the official languages?

How many Canadians does it take to occupy the second largest country in the world? 36 million.

Sorry for going off a tangent over here, but what I want to say is no one is perfect. And no one is forced to wear a poppy. What Mr.Cherry wanted to say here is a statement towards the new generations. Why I want to say new generations is because stereotypically speaking we don’t give a shit about culture. Now that doesn’t mean that all of us can be classified that way. It is just in this generation it is a social observation to be seeing less people wearing poppies today than it was in the previous generations. And at the end of the day, it really comes down to some of us taking our freedom of rights for granted. And that was the main message Mr.Cherry was trying to say, but unfortunately instead of him trying to make a positive message. It got turned into a negative effect. But would you know that Canada has a thing for firing one-liners? Stay tuned next time for part 2 of my home and naive land.