It's been quite interesting the past few weeks as far as what's been going on and the blogosphere's reaction towards the happenings. I thought it might be a good idea to ask some questions and see what the responses are. I have my own thoughts, of course, but it would be interesting to see yours and the reasoning behind them.
1) How do you feel the blogosphere handled the Gaza 21 incident with Cynthia McKinney amongst others?
2) How do you feel about the government's (US) reaction to the incident?
3) On the coup in Honduras:
A) Was it approved by Washington or not, and if so was it a wink type approval or was it a case of actually helping to plan the coup?
B) Should the elected President be returned to office?
4) Is the 'Green Revolution' over in Iran? Was the effort actually a popular uprising, or was it orchestrated? Will there be another 'revolution' which arises from popular will which will not be orchestrated?
5) What's the next step for the workers at Stella D’Oro? Would a factory occupation achieve anything?
I'm sure there's lots of stuff to write about. What questions do you have?
Monday, July 6, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Free the Gaza 21!
It's rather interesting to read various 'progressive' and left blogs about the capture of the Gaza 21. Let's face it, the response has been splotchy at best. There have been several, such as Dandelion Salad, which have made the right choice (IMHO) on the issue. They're calling for the release of the Gaza 21. I think they also understand that if it were any other crisis which this happened in, everyone not on the right would be calling for their release.
Of course, the glaring reason some blogs give is that it's an I/P issue. It is, of course, tangentially. The Gaza 21 were trying to deliver supplies to Gaza. The Israeli navy stopped them, arrested them, and promise that the supplies will reach Gaza eventually. To me, this is a bad joke. The moment the Israelis captured and arrested the Gaza 21, it became an international issue.
The other glaring reason blog reactions have indicated in such a splotchy response is, of course, that Cynthia McKinney was one of the passengers arrested. Good Democrats hate McKinney, much the way they hate Cindy Sheehan. She had the temerity not to toe the center-right line which the Democratic Party has ensnared itself into. McKinney isn't center-right. She also had the temerity to leave the Party after it's, at best, lukewarm support on her last race for Congress.
This leaves one main question for those who find it reasonable not to be calling for the freeing of the Gaza 21, and this goes particularly for those who consider themselves activists:
Why wasn't your ass on the boat? In fact, why wasn't your ass in the convoy when it went through Egypt a couple of months ago? While we're at it, why wasn't your ass on the boat the first time it tried to bring supplies to Gaza?
Now, if your an activist and are supporting the release of the Gaza 21 (despite the lack of leadership from Washington Democrats, including BO), this doesn't go for you. If you're an activist who realizes that the Gaza 21 were taking action instead of sitting on the sidelines, this isn't for you. If you're fundametally opposed to supplying aid to Gaza, this isn't for you. If, however, you consider yourself an activist but 'under the circumstances...', this is meant for you. What have you done to equal the attempts of the Gaza 21 (including the successful convoy)?
This is written in the hopes that some pondering happens. I don't expect this to change any minds. I'd be happy if some introspection comes from it.
Of course, the glaring reason some blogs give is that it's an I/P issue. It is, of course, tangentially. The Gaza 21 were trying to deliver supplies to Gaza. The Israeli navy stopped them, arrested them, and promise that the supplies will reach Gaza eventually. To me, this is a bad joke. The moment the Israelis captured and arrested the Gaza 21, it became an international issue.
The other glaring reason blog reactions have indicated in such a splotchy response is, of course, that Cynthia McKinney was one of the passengers arrested. Good Democrats hate McKinney, much the way they hate Cindy Sheehan. She had the temerity not to toe the center-right line which the Democratic Party has ensnared itself into. McKinney isn't center-right. She also had the temerity to leave the Party after it's, at best, lukewarm support on her last race for Congress.
This leaves one main question for those who find it reasonable not to be calling for the freeing of the Gaza 21, and this goes particularly for those who consider themselves activists:
Why wasn't your ass on the boat? In fact, why wasn't your ass in the convoy when it went through Egypt a couple of months ago? While we're at it, why wasn't your ass on the boat the first time it tried to bring supplies to Gaza?
Now, if your an activist and are supporting the release of the Gaza 21 (despite the lack of leadership from Washington Democrats, including BO), this doesn't go for you. If you're an activist who realizes that the Gaza 21 were taking action instead of sitting on the sidelines, this isn't for you. If you're fundametally opposed to supplying aid to Gaza, this isn't for you. If, however, you consider yourself an activist but 'under the circumstances...', this is meant for you. What have you done to equal the attempts of the Gaza 21 (including the successful convoy)?
This is written in the hopes that some pondering happens. I don't expect this to change any minds. I'd be happy if some introspection comes from it.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Total Victory At Lindsey
Original article, by Steve Kelly,UNITE London Construction Branch member, via Socialist Appeal (UK):
When workers stand together, the oligarchy quakes!
Kelly then explains why the bosses folded: The workers, those who actually produce the results (in this case, construction) which the bosses take credit for, told the bosses that it was all of the workers or none of them. It was quite simple, really. With support from other work sites which were striking in solidarity with the Lindsey workers, the bosses were faced with united opposition, and the crumpled. Three cheers for the Lindsey workers, their brothers and sisters who joined in solidarity, and even the unions (who came on board after the strike had started).
And what does a strike in England and the UK have to do with us in the States?
Take Republic Windows and Doors, for starters. You remember Republic, don't you? The window factory in Chicago that was occupied by workers after the bosses started to take away equipment and then said they were shutting down the factory? Now, the workers won their fight over the bosses trying not to pay what the workers had earned and the severance packages which were mandated. This in and of itself was a victory for the workers. Guess what? The company was bought out and the new owners are rehiring all of the workers! Can you say total victory? I thought you could. Note: There was a really good documentary which was previewed at Socialism 2009 called Workers' Republic. Look for it when it comes out!
When workers stand together, the oligarchs tremble. When workers stand alone, the oligarchs jump for joy. This is a lesson which all workers, blue collar and white, need to learn and to understand. When you don't stand together, you work at your bosses whim. Period. Not fighting for your, and your fellow workers, jobs means that many, if not most or all, of those jobs will disappear. Fighting for your, and your fellow workers, jobs means having a chance to keep those jobs. It's as simple as that.
On Monday 29th June the workers at Lindsey agreed to return to work with heads held high.It was a magnificent result and all those involved deserve a great round of applause. The dispute began when 51 scaffolders were sacked at Lindsey and refused employment with another contractor on the site. They were regarded as troublemakers by management.The rest of the workers immediately downed tools in support of them.
When workers stand together, the oligarchy quakes!
Other workers on other sites around the country took solidarity action, when 670 workers were then sacked at Lindsey the fight was really on.What a brave fight the workers took on.Their demands were simple: all to be reinstated and no victimisation against any of the other workers involved in solidarity action.
Kelly then explains why the bosses folded: The workers, those who actually produce the results (in this case, construction) which the bosses take credit for, told the bosses that it was all of the workers or none of them. It was quite simple, really. With support from other work sites which were striking in solidarity with the Lindsey workers, the bosses were faced with united opposition, and the crumpled. Three cheers for the Lindsey workers, their brothers and sisters who joined in solidarity, and even the unions (who came on board after the strike had started).
And what does a strike in England and the UK have to do with us in the States?
Take Republic Windows and Doors, for starters. You remember Republic, don't you? The window factory in Chicago that was occupied by workers after the bosses started to take away equipment and then said they were shutting down the factory? Now, the workers won their fight over the bosses trying not to pay what the workers had earned and the severance packages which were mandated. This in and of itself was a victory for the workers. Guess what? The company was bought out and the new owners are rehiring all of the workers! Can you say total victory? I thought you could. Note: There was a really good documentary which was previewed at Socialism 2009 called Workers' Republic. Look for it when it comes out!
When workers stand together, the oligarchs tremble. When workers stand alone, the oligarchs jump for joy. This is a lesson which all workers, blue collar and white, need to learn and to understand. When you don't stand together, you work at your bosses whim. Period. Not fighting for your, and your fellow workers, jobs means that many, if not most or all, of those jobs will disappear. Fighting for your, and your fellow workers, jobs means having a chance to keep those jobs. It's as simple as that.
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