Editorial

IMAGECOVER Issue 4

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{May Day and Labour Day have represented in North America the two faces of working-class political tradition, one symbolizing its revolutionary potential, the other its long search for reform and respectability. With the support of the state and business, the latter has predominated but the more radical tradition has never been entirely suppressed.

Kareem Dabbagh

Kareem Dabbagh

{It remains to be seen how much of the world and the media will remember or mark this 10th anniversary of the NATO intervention. We expect there to be little recognition of this date that does not recapitulate the standard nationalist, pro-neoliberal and pro-NATO lenses we reject.

The former Yugoslavia, the site of the violent 1999 NATO inter-vention that killed 2000 and displaced one million.

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How ndia?is I

Indeed, the idea that politics is unrelated to business and vice-versa and that business has the tools and the ethos to solve major social problems has been a critical element of the normative order of neoliberalism, in India and worldwide.

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In April and May, 714 million Indian voters headed to the polls in a country polarized between millionaire candidates and over 200 million people who are chronically hungry.

Reuters

By Ananya Mukherjee Reed

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What is likely to replace the Left, or dent its prowess, is not a progressive pro-people political con guration but a constellation of opportunists of various shades. The latter has no agenda for growth or development, industrial or otherwise.

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By Julie Hollar

Media outlets such as The New York Times have covered the Darfur crisis almost four times as much as they have the crisis in Congo, even though Congolese war victims were dying at almost ten times the rate of the genocide victims in Darfur.

Graph: John Emerson

{ "What seem to be more important than anything else, though, are U.S. political interests. Darfur t neatly into the Bush administrations war on terror narrative, with the story (inaccurately) framed as Arabs versus black Africans; Chinas increasing business ties to the country also threaten U.S. interests in a region with substantial oil reserves."

Open SalonThe situation in Congo is often dismissed as being just another tragedy of war and poverty, while Darfur is given more attention as being a human-in icted genocide.

...Most editors have decided that running the occasional chin-scratching piece about lack of coverage will suf ce in place of coverage itself. The Congo is not a forgotten country; its an ignored country.

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By Zubaira Hussaini

We dont want a Taliban law, we want a democratic law and we want a law that guarantees human dignity{

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By Mike Krebs

{ Almost all indigenous land was expropriated, and the vast majority of indigenous people were forced onto reservations.

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By Tyler Shipley

Naturally, after a long strike and back to work legislation, some degree of exhaustion and disillusionment was bound to set in. But rather than working to maintain and rebuild the ghting spirit of the local for the next round of bargaining, the new leadership seems prepared to choke out any hint of the activism that has long characterized CUPE 3903.

{Edward Wong

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Thomas Moore, an Indigenous boy, before and after his placement into the 'Regina Indian Residential School' in Saskatchewan in 1874.

Library and Archives Canada

By Tom Malleson

{The basic reason is that the government doesnt actually want to get rid of these people for the very simple reason that they provide invaluable services: they do the work that no one else wants to do, at wages that no one else would accept and pay taxes in to a system they do not derive any bene t from.

When immigration authorities descended on workplaces in southern Ontario, they followed US protocol to the letter. The workers were gathered in a large cafeteria. They were separated into two groups good and bad, us and them, legals and illegals, with status and without.

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Kareem Dabbagh

Kareem Dabbagh

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By Nona Willis Aronowitz

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{The fact is, society is still not very kid-friendly, and that extends to activist circles. A tangible way to get moms more involved in feminism--or any kind of activism--is to make children more welcome in public spaces. If more organizations provided free childcare at events and conferences that would be a start.

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The Smith Sophian

By Shaunga Tagore

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{While Im not saying that patriarchy and sexist violence does not exist in other places of the globe, we should also be asking ourselves how liberated we can actually be here in the West, when an audience of three hundred people can laugh so hard about rape and abuse.

Material in comedy acts such as Sugar Sammys is more than of-fensive, it reinforces oppression of women.

By Laila Rashidie

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{CODEPINK has become famous for their creative confrontation which consists of wearing pink-coloured clothing and displaying pink protest material when disrupting major political and business leaders testimonies.

A CODEPINK activists with her hands painted red, confronts Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as she testi es before congress.

CODEPINK activists raise their red painted hands, a symbol of remem-berance for Iraqi civilian deaths, as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice testi es before congress in 2008.

By Carolyn Hibbs

At the CUPE National Bargaining Womens Equality Conference in Montreal in March, participants discussed the fact that CUPE locals still have predominantly male bargaining teams, although women make up over sixty percent of CUPE members.

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By Jessica Yee

Our Bodies Ourselves{Were still reeling from 500 years of colonization, and have only started to come out of it and begin the healing process in the last 50. We need to re-learn our culture and who we are as a people, and no longer be ashamed of the means and processes we do to get there.

YWCA TorontoJessica Yee, pictured, discusses being Asian, Aboriginal and Canadian.

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By Corey Purdy-Smith

{ Pro-Choice means exactly what it sounds like. It is about choice in the truest sense of the word.

sgpolitics.net

Women Political Links Northern Ireland

FEATURES16

How and why are Judaism and Zionism confused or intertwined? Can you please brie y de ne and distinguish between Zionism and Judaism?

Jordy: Zionism is a political movement and ideology that grew out of 19th century romantic nationalism, with similar roots as other nationalisms, predicated upon a sort of mystical connection to the land. Judaism is a religion. Im an atheist but I strongly identify with the secular and political currents of Jewish culture and still participate in some of the ritual.

Judaism and Zionism are often confused since Zionism and the state of Israel claim to be acting on behalf of and for the Jewish people. Many Jewish people draw a sort of anti-universalist lesson from the holocaust instead of saying never again to anyone, it became never again to us. This in turn created a state and ideology that took advantage of this natural post-holocaust existential anxiety and translated it into support for a project of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. So Zionism is how many Jews live their Judaism.

Michael: Judaism and Zionism are currently intertwined within certain religious elements of the Jewish diaspora. While Zionism began as a secular movement, it seems that many Conservative

and Hassidic Jews have now been fully converted to the Zionist cause. My understanding of this is limited, though from talks with several people who are Hassidic and Zionist, it seems that the link is rooted in certain interpretations of the Torah and the perceived importance of the structures on the Temple Mount to Judaism.

For a long time, many Hassidic Jews and more religious elements of the diaspora were opposed to Zionism, though it seems that much of the religious community has joined the cause since the Holocaust. My general understanding of why Zionism has become so ideologically dominant among the

various elements of the Jewish community, including among many of the religious, is because of the argument that Jews will always be in danger of another Holocaust if they do not form their own Jewish state that can protect them from the forces of anti-Semitism. It is in this way that Zionism depends on and actually bene ts from anti-

Semitism.

How would you respond to the critique that to be critical of Israel is to be anti-Semitic?

Michael: This is a very weak argument, as it is equivalent to saying that being critical of the United States is being anti-American, which is unfortunately a well-known argument that has been used against those who have spoken out against the imperialist actions of the United States over the years. Arguments of this nature, whether based on ethnicity or not, are usually used to promote a type of nationalism and class unity that bene ts the ruling class

of particular states and the capitalist class as a whole, which is de nitely true in this particular case. While many socialist Jews

have been won over to Zionism, their brand of socialism is very weak and unrealistic, as their support for Zionism puts them in a coalition with the ruling classes of Israel and the United States. This type of socialism also tends to divide the working class in the Middle East along ethnic and religious lines, aiding the nationalist ideological projects of the ruling classes in Arab states and the State of Israel.

Jordy: It is becoming increasingly discredited, even amongst the Zionists. Case in point at a recent CUPE 3903 General Membership Meeting, we effectively re-af rmed our support of the BDS campaign. While there was a small group of people who opposed our policy, there was not a single cry of anti-Semitism, unlike past years, from what I have been told by other CUPE 3903 members. Even the most fervent Zionists no longer make that accusation. These folks realize that charge doesnt cut it especially when there are so many Jewish people on our side.

It should be noted that many Jews historically and still disproportionately represented on the Left - took the opposite Never Again from the holocaust Never Again to anyone! It is no accident that many of the most prominent white supporters (from Noam Chomsky to Joel Kovel and Lenni Brenner) of the Palestinian struggle are and have been Jewish.

The holocaust is what made me an anti-capitalist, for example. I

saw the connection between big business and the Nazis; America wouldnt bomb American-owned factories in Nazi Germany, and Canada had a policy of none is too many Jewish refugees in Canada. Learning this, I later found out about many of the disgusting deals I would call it collaboration between the Zionist movement and fascism. This is well-documented, but a particularly gross example is when some mainstream American Jewish organizations wanted to and had some success pushing for a BDS campaign against Nazi Germany in the 30s, Zionist organizations successfully lobbied AGAINST boycotting the Nazis and wanted the Nazis to transfer Jews to Palestine. As well, during the war, some groups on the Zionist right fought for the Axis against the British, who they perceived as the greater enemy. My anti-Zionism is not just because of what the Zionists are doing to Palestinians now, it is on the basis of the movements sins against Jewish people.

In some w a y s Z i o n i s m rep l i ca tes the logic of anti-Semit i sm. A n t i -Semites like W i n s t o n C h u r c h i l l were early champions of Zionism. Churchil l , in the 20s, wrote about how there were good national Jews (Zionists) and bad international Jews (Marx and Freud).

It is no accident, seeing many if not most Jewish people workers, bourgeois, intelligentsia - as among the broad Left before and after WWI and as participants in revolutions like the Bolshevik Revolution and in more visible roles, such as the tragically aborted German Revolution. Capital supported and supports Zionism in order to push Jews away from the Left.

The struggle against anti-Semitism is a struggle of the Left. Anti-Semitic far-right parties are booming in popularity in East Europe, especially in the face of the economic crisis, where one hears stereotypes about Jewish bankers. The continued

connection in peoples minds between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism moves people away from this important struggle including some progressives who, sick of hearing the charge of anti-Semitism, dont realize that it is still a major problem in many parts of the world.

What are some of the obstacles and/or rami cations for people who are Jewish to be critical of Israel, both in and outside of the Jewish community? What are some of the differences if this is a public position or one that is only known amongst family members or friends?

Michael: As a Jew, being critical of Israel is very dif cult, both

within and outside of the Jewish community. I would say that it is harder within the Jewish community itself, especially if many of your friends, family members and community authority gures are committed Zionists. If it is a public position and you somehow become well-known as an anti-Zionist Jew or a Jew who is simply critical of some of Israels actions, I assume that your relations with Zionist community members and family members could become quite strained. While some people in my own family are Zionists, I have never experienced any intimidation from family members to conform to their position, though I have gotten into some small arguments.

Outside of the Jewish community itself, being critical of Israel can be a tough position to take for a Jew, as some may say that you are betraying your people or that youre self-hating. These accusations can really hurt, especially for those who feel that being a Jew is a big part of their identity.

Jordy: I can speak here from personal experience. It is dif cult, but not as dif cult, I would assume than when I rst publicly became pro-Palestinian. At that time, as an undergrad at Concordia in the late 90s/eary 2000s, I got death threats from community members and strong disapproval from some family members as well Like many communities, there is a strong sense of insular conformism among some of the Jewish community there are often Jewish neighborhoods where some Jews grow up only with other Jews, and this means that there are unwritten rules. I would say though, that the taboo against being critical of Israel is increasingly losing ground, especially after the recent massacres in Gaza. Some family members who criticized me for my position ten years ago now share them.

If one isnt Jewish, one often sees the most visible elements of the Jewish community as Zionist organizations. It is unfortunate that Jewish campus organizations are run by Zionists, for example. Where is the progressive effort to take-back Hillel? This is unfortunate, because Jewish culture should be maintained in a space in which Zionism isnt a necessary component of membership.

What advice would you give for members of the Jewish community to overcome some of these challenges?

Michael: An important way to overcome these challenges is to link up with others who share your positions, including friends and acquaintances, socialist groups or parties, the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA), and Jewish anti-Zionist groups like Not In Our Name.

Jordy: As I said, progressive

Interview with Carmen Teeple Hopkins

Self-hating Jews?

Activists against Zionism

Michael Romandel is a graduate student in Environmental Studies at York University. He is involved with Fightback, which is part of the International Marxist Tendency. Through his work with Fightback and the broader Left, he sees the achievement of socialism as being linked to the pro-Palestinian struggle.

Jordy Cummings is a graduate student in Political Science at York University. He is an unaf liated Marxist and active on the left wing of CUPE 3903 and the broad York Left. He helped mobilize to re-af rm CUPE 3903s position on the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) campaign and has published over a dozen pieces on the just struggle of Palestinian people.

Participants

{What must be emphasized is that bourgeois nationalism is never in the interests of the working class, as it divides the working class and prevents the achievement of workers democratic control.

The struggle against anti-Semitism is a struggle of the Left. {

The Rustbelt Radical

Kareem Dabbagh

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...being critical of Israel can be a tough position to take for a Jew, as some may say that you are betraying your people or that youre self-hating. These accusations can really hurt, especially for those who feel that being a Jew is a big part of their identity.

{Artintifada

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Kareem Dabbagh

What is important to think about is that what links all of these struggles is a ght against oppression modern capitalist imperialism. It is no accident that among movements based on class struggle labour for example you nd a plethora of people from all walks of life seeing the ght for Palestine as a component of the international class struggle. The worker, after all, has no country.

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despite his own lack of scholarly credentials, Singer will become a powerful arbiter of the quali cations - most importantly scholarly achievement - of all candidates for academic appointment, promotion, and tenure, which is clearly an academic function.

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{There are troubling signs of forces at work in YUFA as well as in the administration intent on undermining collective bargaining. It will be dif cult to make our voices heard in upcoming contract negotiations if members do not take charge of their union.

By David Noble

The York Democratic Forum website provides a space for critical perspectives and alternative views on governance and academic

life at York and more broadly at universities across Canada.

Visit the forum at http://www.yorkdemocraticforum.org/

What will you choose?

U. of Colorado

Not only is it indefensible or un-warranted, but it is also ignorant to assume that all Tamil people are Tamil Tigers

Not only is it indefensible or un-warranted, but it is also ignorant to assume that all Tamil people are Tamil Tigers

Instead of a tenured professor applying re-search in their eld to class material, students are taught by underpaid, overworked contract facul-ty, rushed into the course at the last minute, and often forced to teach from a generic textbook.

Instead of a tenured professor applying re-search in their eld to class material, students are taught by underpaid, overworked contract facul-ty, rushed into the course at the last minute, and often forced to teach from a generic textbook.

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By Natalia Crowe & Dave Vasey

Only 2 other major Western democracies still use the awed FPTP electoral model, USA and Britain, com-pared to 75 democratic countries that use the more accurate electoral system of proportional representation.representation.

Zig Zag 2009

These projects compromise tradi-tional culture, as hunting, shing and gathering are sacri ced in the name of a seventeen-day party as noted by Chris Shaw of 2010Watch and author of Five Ring Circus

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By Ali Abbas M. Hirji

North Shore News

To read a translatable experience for the rst time, is an experience in itself and the exchange of culture broadens our experience of the human condi-tion.

To read a translatable experience for the rst time, is an experience in itself and the exchange of culture broadens our experience of the human condi-tion.

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By Rad Mups

It is disturbing that one can-not even have peace in the washroom without being con-fronted with advertisements on the inside of stalls.

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By Jerome Paul

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By Ronak Ghorbani

Persephone: this early Archaic image from Crete may represent a version of the Minoan goddess that has been identi ed with Kore or Persephone. The statue postdates the end of Minoan culture by 700 years.

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The Jonas Brothers perform at the Kids Inaugural: We Are the Future concert at the Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C.

TFAC

By Lishai Peel

Kent Monkman's "Si je taime prends garde toi," 2007.

Artist: Dustinn Craigago.net

For me this was about representing lesbian couples. Some will tell me that these photos tend to show a stereotypical representation of women-women relationships, therefore supporting the tendency for the uninformed onlooker to focus merely on the sweet aspects of these relationships. Included in this is the idea that to be a woman is to be soft and to be a man is to be strong and brutal. Consequently, there is little space for those outside of these categories. I am aware of such critiques.

I do not claim to have created a revolutionary representation of lesbians. I have, however, poured much love into this work in order to present these women as totally hermeneutic to the world. On one hand, because society neglects their desires and rights, leaving them to sleep in the closet; but on the other, because in return, these couples deny the very existence of the viewer. They sleep, they

have nothing to declare, and they exist, despite everything.

As if they were statues, these women are frozen in time; their power cannot be taken from them. In actual size these photos are about 2m by 3m and they thereby impose the very presence that they represent: lesbians!

Pauline Haller is a young graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Brussels. She is a multi-faceted artist who specializes in video and installation. First and foremost, she subscribes to a particular intellectual framework. Hallers ideas often focus on form or a conceptual aspect within her work: conceptual yet permeable. She prefers to interrogate the viewer on her/his foundational perceptions rather than on what s/he sees.

Pauline Haller currently lives in Paris.

myspace.com/paulinprogress

Photos de couplesEnglish Traslation of p. 23

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