On Being an Ally
I’m not sure how to say this without being blasted, but I’ll try: I might understand a little piece affecting Rachal Dolezal decision to present as black rather than be…
Marie Snyder
OITNB
I read some review somewhere of the first episode of Orange is the New Black on the weekend before I dove into a marathon session of the entire season. It…
On Measuring Well
In Plato’s Protagoras, Socrates and Protagoras argue over the language Protagoras uses to explain what happens when, as he describes it, pleasure overtakes reason and people make horrible choices. Socrates…
Upset Them at Your Peril
Professor Edward Schlosser wrote an interesting piece in Vox about, in part, the power his students have to call the shots these days. I can attest that it’s at best,…
Revolution, the Film
I saw and wrote about this movie two years ago, but it’s being released to a wider audience now. About ten years ago, Rob Stewart was making the film Sharkwater…
On Sublime Madness
“You don’t fight fascism because you’re going to win. You fight fascism because it is fascist.” – Jean-Paul Sartre, The Age of Reason I previously intended to write about Hedges’…
The Moral Imperative of Revolt
I prefer Hedges’ subtitle to his title, Wages of Rebellion, but this post isn’t about him per se. Morally, we have to revolt against this corrupt system – like when…
Squelching Thought
Hedges and Chomsky both complain about the education system of the universities being neo-liberal proponents of the free market schema that tell students what to think instead of how to…
On Thinking
I’m not even talking about critical thinking here, just plain ol’ thinking. It’s funny how many seem unable or unwilling to do it. While I was in a discussion group…
Cassandra’s Curse
Climate scientists are reporting higher incidents of depression. It could be from living like the mythological Cassandra, who had the gift of prophecy but was cursed by Apollo for refusing…
Mad Max: Reality Road
It was so close. First, a mini-comparison: It wasn’t as gripping and shocking as the original Road Warrior, and my son called it before we went in: more explosions and…
On Privilege
I saw Chris Hedges speak again at the Tommy Douglas Institute / Community Worker Program followed by smaller discussion groups. I was so pleased that he doesn’t have a set…
Either Side of the Fence
This brief video compilation shows Harper’s views when he was Leader of the Opposition only just over a decade ago, and at a recent press conference. Opposition Leader Stephen Harper…
On Progress
If you’re walking towards a meeting point far away, every step is progress. But if you happened to take a wrong turn, and now you’re getting further from your meeting…
It’s Just a Joke
This week wasn’t the first time I talked to my class about the FHRITP phenomenon. But the fact that one guy lost his job and another was fined $400 has…
If I May But Touch His Garment
I went to see Chris Hedges speak last night. His words brought forth a mix of devastation and elation, with some in the congregation compelled to applaud after every few…
Sex Ed Redux
The papers are full of stories about the fight for and against new sex education legislation. Wynne seems to be holding her ground this time, though, so I’m not sure…
On Misinformation
What do we do when people build their beliefs on misinformation? At least some of the people protesting the new sex ed curriculum have some shocking ideas of what Wynne…
On Helping People Get Outraged
John Oliver’s show about surveillance is a must see: Amazing, right!?! But what sticks with me most, as a teacher and an environmentalist, is this line: “Is this a conversation…
On Final Exams
A recent article in the National Post suggests that exams are passé. Joseph Brean writes, Psychologists have a quip about IQ tests — the only thing they measure is your…