This is a continuation of a series of posts on summaries of articles, mainly on education. When I was a French teacher at Ashern Central School, in Ashern, Manitoba, Canada, I started to place critiques, mainly (although not entirely) of the current school system. At first, I merely printed off the articles, but then I … Continue reading Critical Education Articles Placed in the Teacher Staff Lounge While I Was a Teacher, Part Twenty-Four: Are Teachers Part of the Working Class?
Israel as the Junior Partner of the United States
John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, recently posted the following on Facebook: If you want to understand the ability of Washington to decide the parameters of the murderous brutality being unleashed on Gaza or the relationship between US imperialism and the garrison state of Israel, take note of this comment. … Continue reading Israel as the Junior Partner of the United States
Another Post by a Union that Idealizes both International Law and Human Rights: The Case of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
I received the following email from the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the largest union in Canada: A message from Fred Hahn, CUPE National General Vice-President / Un message de Fred Hahn, Vice-président général national du SCFP (Le français suit) On October 7th, Hamas committed a horrific terrorist attack on civilians in Israel. On … Continue reading Another Post by a Union that Idealizes both International Law and Human Rights: The Case of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
The Limitations of a Union Position–and Much of the Left– with Respect to the Israel-Palestine Conflict: The Idealization of International Law
Introduction The second largest union in Canada, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) recently made a statement on the recent Palestine-Israeli conflict: NUPGE Statement on the Escalation of Violence in Israel and Palestine October 12 2023 Like all Canadians, indeed all people, we are horrified by the scenes of suffering and pain … Continue reading The Limitations of a Union Position–and Much of the Left– with Respect to the Israel-Palestine Conflict: The Idealization of International Law
Political Democracy and the Class Power of Employers: Not a Foregone Pairing
John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, recently posted the following on Facebook: John Clarke At the present moment, we can see how fragile the rights of expression and assembly are in this society. Every attempt by those who shape the public discourse is being made to isolate and slander all … Continue reading Political Democracy and the Class Power of Employers: Not a Foregone Pairing
Defiance Needed In the Face of Oppression of the Freedom of Speech: The Case of the Support of Palestine
John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, recently posted on Facebook the following: If we are to defend free speech on Palestine in a situation where it is going to come under very sharp attack, there are two very important considerations to take to heart.Firstly, we must be ready to defy. … Continue reading Defiance Needed In the Face of Oppression of the Freedom of Speech: The Case of the Support of Palestine
Guilty Until Proven Innocent: The Real Assumption of Some Bureaucratic Tribunals, Part Eight
I finally was found not guilty by the bureaucratic organization called the Ontario College of Teachers (after having had to prove my innocence). The oppressive process was at an end. However, since I was informed by one of the vocational counsellors that it would be difficult even to get on the substitute teachers' list, and … Continue reading Guilty Until Proven Innocent: The Real Assumption of Some Bureaucratic Tribunals, Part Eight
Hypocrisy of the Social-Democratic Left Concering the Issue of Violence in General and Between Israel and Palestine in Particular
Michael Roberts, a Marxian economist, on his blog has the following statistics: Michael Roberts blog Looking at these statistics, it can be concluded that the number of Palestinians killed far outnumber the number of Israelis killed. Of course, the context of such killings would have to be taken into account and not just the numbers … Continue reading Hypocrisy of the Social-Democratic Left Concering the Issue of Violence in General and Between Israel and Palestine in Particular
Will the Social-Democratic Left Criticize Their Elected Social-Democratic Idols: The Case of the Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow
John Clarke, former major organizer of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted the following on Facebook: This is so sickening and shameful. Decades of oppression are ignored, the right to resist is dismissed and the mass murder Palestinians now face is rendered invisible. I've tried to be diplomatic and speak in terms that … Continue reading Will the Social-Democratic Left Criticize Their Elected Social-Democratic Idols: The Case of the Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow
Social Democrats or Social Reformers Fail to Recognize Their Own Limitations: The Bullshit Asymmetry Principle Once Again
Tracy MacMaster commented on John Clarke's post This exactly. Thanks John Clarke . To what was MacMaster referring? To Clarke's post concerning the "bullshit asymmetry principle." I quote from John Clarke: A FB friend put up a post that deals with the 'bullshit asymmetry principle.' This holds that 'the amount of energy needed to refute … Continue reading Social Democrats or Social Reformers Fail to Recognize Their Own Limitations: The Bullshit Asymmetry Principle Once Again
The Abolitionary 