Don Cherry Does Not Matter At All ......... But, This Does.....

Like everyone else, I am sick and tired of hearing about Don Cherry.  He never was important to me.  Since I have been an adult, I have called for the return of Peter Puck.  Don is a human being and I wish him grace as he continues on.

What is important is the debate that has existed following his comments.  Debate, I'm going to say, is a bit generous to characterize the discussion that has taken place.  As with many "discussions" today, they occur on social media.  For some reason, digital media has actually replaced human interaction.  I am actually taken aback when I get a live voice on the telephone.  I am so used to getting voice mail that I already have it prepared in my head and a person answering throws me off my game, so to speak. 

/The comments since the end of Coach's Corner have been something else.  Something else like something we would expect to see south of the border.  It is the Trump effect.  He says, or more accurately tweets, outrageous things.  He calls himself a stable genius.  Maybe he is.  Sometimes I think he gives no thought to what he says or tweets, but then, sometimes I think his comments are very calculated.  When the President of the United States can say sexist, racist, homophobic, or xenophobic remarks, it gives permission to those that have that in their hearts to do the same. 

In fact, it is made easier by technology because it feels more anonymous and there is little accountability. 

Somehow, the Don Cherry "incident" became about immigration, white privilege, respecting the West, and what it means to support our Veterans.  In many cases, it went from free speech to hate speech. 

On Monday, I chose to watch American news in the morning.  One of the stories was a familiar one; a number of fraternities being kicked off of campuses all over.  It wasn't for hazing; it was for hate speech.  These are our future leaders that feel it is already to not respect human beings on the basis of a demographic.  It is a lot to process. 

I grew up in a house where my parents had different views about politics and religion and just about everything else.  We had spirited conversations in our house.  But, my parents loved each other very much and they did have fights but never over politics or religion.  It was because my parents respected each other and just about everyone else.  We also had a lot of laughter in our house.  That is what happens in a climate of respect. 

I know we are not respecting each other the way we should.  I have a silly little blog.  Not that important.  Sometimes, I am just amazed at some of the comments of some of my friends.  I don't mind disagreement but when I am told that I am a hateful person and other things, well, that takes me aback.  Of course, I also have to admit that I am not an angel. 

And, those are just the public comments.  I wish I could find the private messages I sometimes get to be funny.  Actually, some of them are pretty funny.  I got one, that I know that person would never say to me in person, what was messaged.  It was so vile that I literally had a panic attack that caused me to exhale quickly and sharply without inhaling.  I am glad that I am almost always sitting down when I read comments.  I am also glad that I have anxiety that is kind to me.  My anxiety wants me to succeed.  So, after about a minute of not breathing, I had a little faint and reflexes set in and I breathed.  My body was still shaking.  I don't know why anyone would want me to go through that.  And, just because I don't like Trump. 

There are two cliques that are common sense but not common practice.  The first is that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.  The second is that in a world where you can be anything, chose to be kind. 

In this was really common sense, then we would not be sick of talking about the "incident" because it never would have happened.