LETTER

The ‘Don Cherry Affair’ 

I wonder if our attention is focused on the wrong problem – doesn’t zeroing in on Don Cherry miss the mark? I am sure that many new Canadians do not wear a poppy.  The question is ‘why not’?

Could it be that they are from countries where this ceremony is not followed?  How would they know that it is a respectful thing to do? Yelling at them will not encourage them to wear a poppy. But when they arrive on our shores is there is an information program which includes wearing of the poppy? When we go to a foreign country, are we aware of all their celebrations if we’re not told?  For example, the Cinco de Mayo in Mexico.  Lots of us travel to Mexico  but do we really know the history behind the parades and costumes?

It’s worth remembering that the brave men and women for whom we wear the poppy, fought and some died to give us the right to make up our minds freely without big brother oversight. I do wear the poppy. 

Jim MacKenzie,

Aylmer