Matt Render | Contributor
Featured Image: York’s students have mixed responses to Don Cherry’s Remembrance Day comments. | Courtesy of Global News
After comments made on November 9, Don Cherry has been faced with outrage from the media.
Cherry, a man formerly heralded as a great Canadian, is now in the hot seat following his discriminatory speech on wearing poppies.
In his remarks, Cherry’s use of the phrase “you people” was intuited by many to be disparaging to Canadian immigrants for not wearing poppies on Remembrance Day. As a result of his comments, Cherry was promptly fired and has since been under scrutiny.
Despite the many negative reactions, the public’s opinions are still divided. When asked about their feelings towards it, York students revealed how wide the spectrum of perspectives really is towards the situation.
And although the vast majority of responses have been negative, Cherry does have his defenders within the York student body.
“I know that he’s known for his controversial comments, and this was probably not the most ‘shocking’ thing he’s ever said on live TV,” says fifth-year dance student Matina Zahar.
“However, I think his choice of words and how he stated his feelings could have been said differently. It comes down to the whole thing about how ‘freedom of speech comes with consequences.’”
Zahar adds that, although Cherry was out of line in his comments, the media reaction was unwarranted, and the public reaction was “over the top.”
“He may have had a good point, it just wasn’t communicated properly.”
As an immigrant in Canada, Zahar says that she and the rest of her family did not feel personally attacked by the comments.
“Whether you’re new to the country or someone who has been here forever, the poppy is not being worn as much as it used to be. This statement could have been directed to anyone from anywhere, of any background, living in Canada.”
As someone with an affinity for history, Zahar adds: “I know what the poppy means to me, and why I wear it.”
Fifth-year psychology student Ken Horner echoes these sentiments.
“The way I see it, he was targeting people in Toronto as a whole, not specific groups”.
“People from smaller towns, like Cherry, are just more patriotic, especially from his generation,” adds Horner.
Horner saw the comments as being directed at the younger generation of Canadians rather than from a xenophobic standpoint.
“Typical old-guy rant,” he says. “Just pointing his finger at you ‘young’ people!”
The range of responses throughout the York community is indicative of how complex the question of free speech really is in today’s society.
Nevertheless, actions have consequences, and whether or not those consequences are warranted is always subject to further discussion.
