Someone wrote me recently to tell me that Yunel Escobar was trash and needed to go back to Cuba. Zaun got a little personal on Connected and went after Escobar’s upbringing. Bob McCowan trounced YE as well, making comments on a race and culture he may not have the right or insight to make, some of which could potentially be considered racist if held under scrutiny. Meanwhile, in the background, the beat of tolerance drones on.
I’m not going to make a case for how hypocritical it is use a perceived personal attack as an opportunity to make more personal attacks. As if Yunel’s intent was to call to arms every white knight atop a social media stallion he could. All of them riding out to crush him in battle, hungry for blood, the peaceful flag of tolerance billowing in their wake.
I’m not even going to touch how appalling it is to hear someone say that Toronto is a town of acceptance which, is why someone like Yunel should be shipped back to Cuba as soon as possible, and why Cuban baseball players need to learn how to fit in with the rest of the world before leaving their island.
Instead I would simply like to say that one of the fundamental traits of tolerance is forgiveness. It is the ability to understand error, even outrageous ones. It is the ability to understand other cultures. It is the ability to show grace. It is the ability to extinguish burning unrest with peace quickly and mercifully. Do not speak of tolerance while espousing your own intolerance. Do not talk about acceptance when you refuse to grant forgiveness. Instead, show me the care that defines a truly great and tolerant culture: learn from this event, accept the justice rendered, and let it pass in favor or a verdant, peaceful and more tolerant future.