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Letter: Cherry was wrong but shouldn't have been fired

The Editor, I honour my grandfather’s, father’s and father-in-law’s service in the First and Second World Wars respectfully.
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Don Cherry

The Editor,

I honour my grandfather’s, father’s and father-in-law’s service in the First and Second World Wars respectfully.

I have always worn a poppy and attended Remembrance Day ceremonies for decades, when the veterans and dignitaries outnumbered the attendees.

Nevertheless, I could not disagree more with Don Cherry’s comments.

My experience as a teacher allowed me to witness first-hand, particularly from immigrant children, a deep and often first-hand understanding of war and sacrifice — an understanding far greater than I could ever imagine.

Having said this, I believe that firing Cherry was wrong. If my father fought for anything, it was to allow me the choice to wear or not wear a poppy, think or not think the same as my neighbour.

The firing shows a glaring inability of Canadians to engage in dialogue on sensitive issues.

This could have been a teachable moment. Instead, it will only serve to cement beliefs of the extreme right. It is showing intolerance for the intolerant. Am I the only one who sees the irony in this?

You cannot change opinions if you don’t have open debate.

As I posted on Facebook before Cherry made his comments: I do not have the right to deny the benefits of veterans’ sacrifice to anyone.

Roger Ford, Port Coquitlam