|
...when I get back from yelling at the school board committee member in Manchester who didn't want free books about Nelson Mandela and Frederick Douglass because it was pushing a political agenda of "multiculturalism,"...
SMH. Of course, at one of the libraries where I work there is half a shelf in the kid's section on Mandela, and MLK gets a shelf and a half (along with about a foot of Coretta). Which is good! Don't get me wrong, I'd never begrudge their shelf space (keep in mind, a kids' book is usually less than 1-2 in. wide so that's a lot of books!). But it'd be nice to see more stuff on Shirley Chisholm, A Philip Randolph, etc. At this point, MLK is up there with Washington and Lincoln as "people we learn a few facts about in school" and I don't see how kids can really see themselves in positions of leadership if we don't present them with a wide variety of leaders to emulate.
I believe the other two biographies objected to were of Jackie Robinson and Amelia Earhart.
What can I say? It's New Hampshire.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
This thread is helping me grok what George Orwell is going on about in "Homage to Catalonia" (the book I'm reading now).It was a bit 'Judean People's Front', versus 'People's Front of Judea', wasn't it?
I always thought that bit was a documentary.
Amelia Earhart? Srsly? Did he object to her support for ERA or the fact she married a divorced man? Or the fact she flew airplanes? Or the unpardonable fact that she was a woman?
He didn't spend much time on her. From the comments I heard, he spent most of his time on Nelson and Fred and contrasting them with the bios he had read as a kid, such as Alexander Hamilton and Andrew Jackson. (I mean, for real?)
Tbh, though, I'm not sure how it went down. There was a video of the whole meeting, I only watched a minute and a half, and then there were comments that he made on his radio show, which I didn't listen to.
Article I found, but it doesn't mention the books. There were other things going on, too.
Protesters seek to draw attention to diversity initiatives in Manchester
The Communist Manifesto: Weapon of War--A Talk with Historian Doug Greene
In which we finally convinced Maoist-Inclined Independent Red Historian Rival for the Affections of La Principessa (Since Vanquished) to lecture in Lowell.
And he gets the lecture published before he even gives it. Now who's gonna come?!?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
So, I'm totally coming here as a refugee from the election thread, because I'm finding my political views this cycle bizarrely aligning with a lot of what Comrade Doodlebug was saying over there, which really sort of makes me think.
Evidently I'm now only a very bad stooge of the plutocracy. (And strangely glad of it.)
EDIT: And if I spend too much more time in that thread, Citizen Robespierre Betts' obnoxious, humorless zeal will coerce me into voting for Trump just to spite him, which is a piss-poor reason at best and not to be contemplated.
So, I'm totally coming here as a refugee from the election thread, because I'm finding my political views this cycle bizarrely aligning with a lot of what Comrade Doodlebug was saying over there, which really sort of makes me think.
Evidently I'm now only a very bad stooge of the plutocracy. (And strangely glad of it.)
EDIT: And if I spend too much more time in that thread, Citizen
RobespierreBetts' obnoxious, humorless zeal will coerce me into voting for Trump just to spite him, which is a piss-poor reason at best and not to be contemplated.
sneaks in the door behind Kirth Gersen before it closes
Agreed, Citizen Gersen.
I've found Comrade Anklebiter's willingness to take Citizen Robespierre to task quite refreshing. Needless to say, I've been catching back up with Comrade Anklebiter's thread here since.
{quietly locks clubhouse door from the outside, begins piling up firewood, and sends a pugwampi to buy a 5-gallon can of gas}
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Welcome, one and all, to the Comrade Anklebiter's Fun-Timey Revolutionary Socialism Thread, now, on fire!!!
As regards the other thread, I have no idea who Gandhi would vote for, but I'm certain Robespierre wouldn't vote for Hillary.
Anyway, debate went pretty well. Mr. Comrade killed it and Young Gay Comrade opined that "it was the best meeting he'd ever been to."
Later we collected all the comrades and kids went to Comrade Who Was Published in Jacobin's house and watched The Lion King.
{quietly locks clubhouse door from the outside, begins piling up firewood, and sends a pugwampi to buy a 5-gallon can of gas}
HEY! Some of us are only in here to talk about beards!
I have heard that there are heretics who claim that Karl Marx was born without his glorious mane.
I have heard that there are heretics who claim that Karl Marx was born without his glorious mane.
Ewww ... imagining the clean-up time at birth ... *shudders* ;)
Did someone say things were on fire?
EDIT: And if I spend too much more time in that thread, CitizenRobespierreBetts' obnoxious, humorless zeal will coerce me into voting for Trump just to spite him, which is a piss-poor reason at best and not to be contemplated.
Believe me, Kirth, I wish the election mattered little enough that I could laugh at it more, but I can't. This election simply isn't doing a good job of putting the positive aspects of our national character on display.
Regardless, I'm sorry that my zeal comes across as obnoxious. Being a political firebrand is just a part of who I am, and I'm okay with that even if others don't appreciate it. I'm sure some in this thread can identify.
{quietly locks clubhouse door from the outside, begins piling up firewood, and sends a pugwampi to buy a 5-gallon can of gas}
I could only get a 20-gallon can. Will that do?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
{quietly locks clubhouse door from the outside, begins piling up firewood, and sends a pugwampi to buy a 5-gallon can of gas}
EDIT: And if I spend too much more time in that thread, CitizenRobespierreBetts' obnoxious, humorless zeal will coerce me into voting for Trump just to spite him, which is a piss-poor reason at best and not to be contemplated.Believe me, Kirth, I wish the election mattered little enough that I could laugh at it more, but I can't. This election simply isn't doing a good job of putting the positive aspects of our national character on display.
Regardless, I'm sorry that my zeal comes across as obnoxious. Being a political firebrand is just a part of who I am, and I'm okay with that even if others don't appreciate it. I'm sure some in this thread can identify.
When you educate, you do it well in my experience. :)
I have heard that there are heretics who claim that Karl Marx was born without his glorious mane.
Owoowoowoowoo.
Man, all kindsa new faces!
Some more events this week:
Vote No on 2 Lowell- Events/Activities
Speakout: Justice 4 Terrance, Tyree, & Keith: Jail Killer Cops!
and, of course, Saturday's talk on The Communist Manifesto.
Next Thursday's got an interesting one, but it'll be at the same time as the Rock Against Racism show, :( :
The Murder of Darren Seals: the Truth about Ferguson
And now for something completely different:
Witches Allegedly Stole Penises and Kept Them as Pets in the Middle Ages
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Soviet Estonian ad for Chicken Schnitzel
49 kopeks? That's one hell of a bargain, tovaritj!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
When observing someone as "going medieval", it is impressive how short they fall of that state. Shvantz trees ... wow.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
One more way in which the classics are superior. As we know from Apuleius, Roman witches not only did not steal that particular organ but could even increase its size, with only the most insignificant side effects.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
At least they didn't do what the Chinese claim to have done, which is somehow splice dog-dink segments, chopped off at a moment of High Excitement and preserved in magic wine or something, in.
Or maybe they did? Over to you, Coriat.
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
While I appreciate this may not be considered by some on the thread, to be sufficiently left wing news; can we agree that Jeremy Corbyn deserves a round of applause, for this weekend's events?
For not simply retaining his leadership of the UK Labour Party, in a second landslide victory, but actually increasing his share of the vote, despite a campaign of dirty tricks from his rivals, that would have made the DNC gag.
The 62% vote share being touted around the news would actually be nearer 75-80%, if the disallowed new members, undelivered ballots, and spurious suspensions were taken into account.
I, and many others, will be sure to cry 'objection', and correct any government propagandist or neoliberal infiltrator, if they attempt to downplay the result to a mere 62%.
They have to have their failure exposed at every opportunity, and they'll never learn, unless we rub their faces in it, like a dog being dragged back to a puddle of its own piss.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Big, long weekend of communism. Won't bore you with details, but, yesterday, while I was at work, as always seems to be the case, the BLM NH peeps had a speakout about the recent spate of police killings and were visited by a half-dozen fascists.
Europe’s Newest Vigilante Group Lands In The U.S.
The Soldiers of Odin have established 42 state chapters in the U.S. since February.
What the f+%@ is going on in NH?
What the f+@! is going on in NH?
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Big, long weekend of communism. Won't bore you with details, but, yesterday, while I was at work, as always seems to be the case, the BLM NH peeps had a speakout about the recent spate of police killings and were visited by a half-dozen fascists.
Europe’s Newest Vigilante Group Lands In The U.S.
The Soldiers of Odin have established 42 state chapters in the U.S. since February.
What the f%*@ is going on in NH?
Time to revive the spirit of the Battle of Cable Street.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
What the f+@! is going on in NH?The Free State Project
Might be movin' to New Hampshire soon
Just to raise me up a crop ofLibertarians.
Raisin' 'em up
Waxin' 'em down
Tyin' 'em to the Porcupine,
In the middle of town!
It wouldn't make no odds if they were shaved or hairy 'uns
I'd be raisin' my lonely
Libertariuns.
(Raisin' my lonely
Libertariuns)
What the f+@! is going on in NH?The Free State Project
And don't forget our opioid crisis!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Sexy Vampires and Existential Philosophy
With a joke at my expense.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
A (published) poem about Corbyn, by Nicholas Murray:
Corbyn's no knight in shining vest,
Or bright Messiah from the West,
(He'd say)
But someone who has found a way to voice,
A fractured country's need for choice,
To say we'll make another kind of noice noise -
NO WAY!
I disagree. I think Jez is a knight in shining vest, which is why it's going to be somebody's job to stat him up as a Paladin.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Yesterday, in Cambridge,
Strike looms for Harvard dining hall workers
Fun time. UNITE-HERE Local 26 is also attempting to organize the dining hall workers at UMass Lowell. It was kind of a secret, up until recently, so I never posted about it before, but the Nigerian Princess and other 20-something members of my commie club did some door-knocking. Mr. Comrade and I were deemed "too old" to participate by the leader of the local queer labor mafia, which hurt our feelings. :( But if the workers go out on strike, they won't be able to stop us from coming!
(Also, UNITE-HERE's using our headquarters as their office, so Comrade Longears and any other donors to our headquarters may rest assured that we are continuing to use their money wisely in the cause of international proletarian socialist revolution.)
Also, Thursday witnessed the relaunch of CAJE at the Rock Against Racism show. I don't know, just looked like a lit table to me, but, happily I was approached by the ever-delectable Second Generation Semi-Celebrity Leftist Heartthrob Alex Early and asked if I would like to accompany her next week, along with two Honduran refugees, to Representative Niki Tsongas's office and demand that the latter stop voting for bills to fund Latin American death squads. I realized that Rep. Tsongas is a Massachusetts Democrat whom I haven't been in the same room with, so I think I'll go.
Basta ya!
Second Generation Semi-Celebrity Leftist Heartthrob Alex Early and asked...
Woops. Screwed up the link and it's too late to edit. :(
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Time to revive the spirit of the Battle of Cable Street.
Off by a day:
4 October 1936 - The Battle of Cable Street
EDIT: With a video!
In three days: 100th anniversary of the Standard Oil strike in New Jersey
Harvard dining hall workers strike started off alright, if Facebook pictures can be believed. I'll take the commie club down there tomorrow night.
Tomorrow morning, go with Honduran refugees to Niki Tsongas's office. Here's the article the organizers sent me, but I haven't read it yet:
End U.S. Support for the Thugs of Honduras
Friday, Bernie comes to Nashua to shill for Hill at the community college. Can't believe it's been over a year since I peddled papers to his fans there last summer. This time, I'm bringing the BLM NH women to meet up with the Jill Stein fans and we'll all protest the Democrats. Huzzah!
Next weekend, trek out to the leafy western end of Massachusetts for a final goodbye to Comrade Omar. [Sniffles]
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Idiots Who Run Harvard Let Their Low-Wage Workers Go On Strike
I like this article, but I believe that Harvard dining hall workers make over $25/hour.
EDIT: Average is just under $22, apparently, but they don't work when school's out of session netting them around $30k a year, according to The Boston Globe.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Couldn't make it to the Harvard lines today, alas.
This morning was a downer. We didn't end up meeting with Niki Tsongas, we got one of her aides instead. Everybody spoke Spanish except me, so they didn't bother translating the refugees' speeches, which I was fine with. I took Spanish in high school so I understood enough of it to know that I didn't really want to understand more. "Muerte" was said a lot, and, at one point, one of the women, whose son had been killed, said "brazos" while making chopping gestures at each of her shoulders. One of the Spanish-speaking gringos had to leave the room and I was tearing up and I could only understand, like, every sixth word. Later I was informed that the speaker was talking about a 13-year-old who was killed and mutilated for demonstrating to draw attention to underfunded schools in their village.
Anyway, it was a bummer, but earlier, when we all met at the coffee shop, Second Generation Semi-Celebrity Leftist Heartthrob Alex Early was making introductions between the refugees (one of whom was the former head of the Honduran teachers union) and the gringos and she asked me what kind of activism I was involved with. "Uh, unions, anti-racism, socialism." She turned to the refugees and said "Sindicalismo, something something, socialismo." "Socialismo?" one of them repeated, and then they got animated, smiled at me and gave me the clenched fist salute. They spoke rapidly amongst themselves and then started laughing. "No," Ms. Early said in English, "We probably shouldn't bring up Castro or Chavez when we meet with Representative Tsongas."
Later, when we took photos, one of the refugees corrected me when I posed with my right fist in the air and told me it should be my left one.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day!
Well, not here, anyway, not yet. Still, I look forward to when I will be making double time and a half for working on IPD instead of Columbus Day.
U-nion! U-nion! U-nion!