I never thought I’d see this but in a hockey pre-season tilt in London, ON, a black player was the recipient of not one but two banana peels, one of them reaching the ice. That player, Wayne Simmonds, took this vile racist act with class, saying, “I’m not going to dwell on that. It’s over with now.”
The incident happened as Simmonds, who is black, took part in a shootout during his team’s pre-season game against the Detroit Red Wings.
One report said bananas were actually thrown at Simmonds twice during the game, but that it was only during the shootout that one reached the ice.
Racism is not new to the NHL, dating back to the days of pioneer Willie O’Ree. But I never thought in the modern era, I would see such blatant racism exhibited in Canada.
Makes you wonder what is going on these days in this country, where the Conservatives are planning to give potheads stiffer penalties than child rapists. Where dark skinned people are treated differently and poor people, women and children are considered second citizens.
Something is going here, definitely. It doesn’t so much to do with the NHL, hockey players or London, ON as much as it has to do with the rightward tilt Stephen Harper is determined to administer to Canada, for better or worse. Mostly worse.
You’re right, Mr Harper, I no longer recognize this Canada. And you haven’t even started. I certainly don’t want to be around when you’re through with it.
