On Friday, Douglas Cardinal, an idiot described in Canada’s mushy media as “a Canadian activist,” applied in the Superior Court of Ontario for an injunction to prevent the use of the word “Indians” before Game 3 of the ALCS is played at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
Cardinal brought the injunction against the Indians, Major League Baseball and Rogers, the company that owns the Blue Jays, Rogers Centre and that will broadcast the home games of the Blue Jays during the post-season play. In addition to the Superior Court action, Cardinal has brought complaints to both the Ontario and Canadian human rights commissions.
The proceedings are an attempt to prohibit the use of the word “Indians” on Cleveland’s uniforms although the team’s away jerseys have “Cleveland” on them. The application also wants the team’s logo, Chief Wahoo removed, and any mention of the word “Indians” during broadcasts of the game prohibited.
Not surprisingly, the frivolous application for an injunction was thrown out by the court. In order to obtain an injunction that would prevent other parties from doing a lawful act, the plaintiff has to show he will suffer irreparable harm if the injunction is not granted. Since the Indians have been playing in Toronto since 1977 with the same name and logo, it was impossible to show irreparable harm if the word “Indians” and the logo was used for Monday night’s game. A ridiculous use of the court’s time.
What started the recent kerfuffle were remarks long time Jays broadcaster Jerry Howarth made shortly after the teams to appear in the ALCS were finalized. Howarth said he received a message from an aboriginal man in Ontario during the 1992 World Series between the Blue Jays and the Atlanta Braves. The letter praised Howarth’s broadcasting of the games but told him how offensive “Braves” was to natives. Moved by that letter, Howarth said he has never used the words “Indians” or “Braves” in any of his broadcasts.
Howarth works for a private company and can use whatever words he wants to as long as his employer is okay with it. But right after Howarth’s remarks were publicized, politicians, former politicians and special interest groups all got into the action. Their opinions are the use of the word “Indians” and the depictions of Chief Wahoo are clearly racist and should not be allowed to be seen or heard in Ontario.
Bob Rae, former NDP Ontario premier, former Liberal MP and now totally irrelevant, got into the act. Rae said Cleveland must get rid of its name because it is “insulting.” Rae also added The Edmonton Eskimos need to change their name because it is insulting to people that are not even referred to as Eskimos any more.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne took time out of her busy schedule of raising hydro rates
Then Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne took time out of her busy schedule of raising hydro rates (when it comes to North American rates, we’re Number 1) and blaming Ontarians for the increase to comment. Wynne said the controversy during the ALCS is drawing attention to the impact “First Nations nicknames can have on indigenous people.”
Wynne used the same argument Cardinal is making. All the problems indigenous people have such as alcohol and drug abuse, chiefs expropriating money meant for bands and domestic violence are because sports teams have names and logos that are demeaning. So now we know.
And of course the Ontario Human Rights Commission put in their two cents, already deciding the issue Cardinal is bringing in his application before that body.
All this by a group of progs with way too much time on their hands. NOTHING has changed since 1977 when the Blue Jays first entered the American League. For 40 seasons, the Cleveland Indians and the Atlantic Braves have been playing in Ontario. During that whole time, the names and logos of both teams have remained the same. But now, simply because Jerry Howarth gave his opinion on the matter, it is dire. It must be dealt with right away. If Wynne cares so much about indigenous people being harmed by the Cleveland team, she didn’t seem interested in the issue before the Howarth statement. The woman who is now in the process of wanting the word “mother” replaced in Ontario legislation, simply used Howarth’s statement to further her progressive agenda.
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If Major League Baseball has any smarts they would try and move the franchise to the United States
The fact the emergency application was dismissed does not mean the case will not be successful when it is heard on the merits. As Justin Trudeau might say, it can succeed “because it is 2016.” And if it fails, the human rights commission action will no doubt succeed showing what a Mickey Mouse province Ontario actually is.
If Major League Baseball has any smarts they would try and move the franchise to the United States where, despite its many problems, the Indians are allowed to be the Indians. Perhaps the team should change its name. As one social media user put it, the name should be changed to the Delhi Indians of Cleveland.
This entire episode is a disgrace.
On Friday, Douglas Cardinal, an idiot described in Canada’s mushy media as “a Canadian activist,” applied in the Superior Court of Ontario for an injunction to prevent the use of the word “Indians” before Game 3 of the ALCS is played at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
Cardinal brought the injunction against the Indians, Major League Baseball and Rogers, the company that owns the Blue Jays, Rogers Centre and that will broadcast the home games of the Blue Jays during the post-season play. In addition to the Superior Court action, Cardinal has brought complaints to both the Ontario and Canadian human rights commissions.
The proceedings are an attempt to prohibit the use of the word “Indians” on Cleveland’s uniforms although the team’s away jerseys have “Cleveland” on them. The application also wants the team’s logo, Chief Wahoo removed, and any mention of the word “Indians” during broadcasts of the game prohibited.
