The Power of the Documentary
Although traditionally avoided as a rather staid and boring genre, the documentary has enjoyed a real resurgence in popularity over the past couple of decades, no doubt in part do…
Lorne
The Power of Non-Violence
Never an advocate of violence, I have been recently thinking of the power of its opposite, non-violence or passive resistance, especially in light of the contemptible yet very casual pepper-spraying…
The Battle of Sayed Shah Sharifi Continues
The Star continues its excellent coverage of the plight of Sayed Shah Sharifi, the brave young Afghan interpreter who has been betrayed by the Harper government, despite glowing Canadian military…
The Occupy Movement: More Wisdom From Star Readers
I wrote the other day that I normally refrain from excerpting large chunks of text from other sources, but here I go again, this time a reproduction of letters from…
A Former Goldman Sachs Partner Pontificates on the Real Reason for Our Sorry Financial State
For those who can stomach hypocrisy, I highly recommend this video in which we are told by a wealthy banker that the true source of our troubles is socialism: Recommend…
The Globe and Mail Reports on Asbestos
I have written many times on one of Canada’s biggest shames, the export of asbestos, something of grave concern to all right-thinking Canadians. It is therefore gratifying to see that,…
Star Readers and Harper Government’s Injustice to Sayed Shah Sharifi’s
While I rarely excerpt long passages from other sources fro my blog, I am making an exception today to print the reactions of Toronto Star readers to the cruel abandonment…
The Umbrella Man – A Cautionary Tale
Germane to nothing in particular, I highly recommend this six-minute documentary by Errol Morris, made for the 48th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It explores the…
Today’s Globe Editorial on Occupiers
Ever the arbiter of all things significant, it is hardly surprising that in its latest editorial, The Globe and Mail has the arrogance to assume to speak for all when…
Bill O’Reilly on UC-Davis Pepper-Spraying: No Big Deal
I don’t think the following video needs any commentary on my part: Recommend this Post
A Message From the UC -Davis Faculty of English
The following can be found on the UC – Davis website, a followup to the brave letter written by untenured Assistant Professor Nathan Brown. The faculty of the UC Davis…
Two Monday Morning Links
There are two pieces on the Occupy Toronto situation that are worth reading in today’s paper. The first is the editorial in the Toronto Star examining the possibilities for the…
The roots of the UC-Davis pepper-spraying
That’s the title of a searing and insightful analysis by Glenn Greenwald as he examines both the mentality and the effects, both intended and unintended, of the excessive and brutal…
A Blogger’s Blogger
Although I have made reference to him before, Dr. Dawg continues to inspire my admiration. Although most of you probably read him already, I especially recommend his recent posts on…
A Premeditated Act of Police Brutality
In this video, a group of college students are huddled on the ground in a defensive position at UC Davis on November 18. An officer, later identified as UC police…
More From Paul Watson on Sayed Shah Sharifi
The older I get, the longer I live, the more I realize that true justice is uncommon, and that evil frequently prevails over good. The case of Sayed Shah Sharifi,…
Jason Kenney Responds to His Critics
In a move that can hardly be described as surprising, Jason Kenney is fiercely defending his immigration officials and their decision to refuse a Canadian visa to Sayed Shah Sharifi,…
My Letter to Jason Kenney Re: Sayed Shah Sharifi
Dear Minister Kenney, I am writing to express both my shock and my disappointment over Canada’s failure to honour its word to Sayed Shah Sharifi, the brave Afghan interpreter who…
Canada’s International Reputation Continues to Deteriorate
Once looked upon as an honest-broker middle power which enjoyed the respect of almost the entire world, Canada in recent years has seen a steady deterioration in its reputation for…
This Is What Revolution Looks Like
That is the title of Chris Hedges’ latest column on truthdig.org. Despite the attempts to dismantle the Occupy encampments, attempts that seem eerily coordinated, Hedges suggests that this is only…