Just a Link Today. Perhaps not the Best Way Towards Wage Equality, but Awarness Matters, and on this Issue it Isn't Where it Should Be

 


http://www.bkmag.com/2015/06/30/brooklyn-bar-to-sell-drinks-to-women-for-77-cents-on-the-dollar/

A Thank You of Sorts... To Jon Stewart?

This link is time sensitive, sorry for that, but it essentially links to Jon Stewart saying he will be stepping down from the anchor desk of The Daily Show, in a few months.
http://thedailyshow.cc.com/

Generally speaking I am very Luxembourgian in my reform vs revolution thinking, and capitalist apologizing liberals are not people I admire.  Stewart to my knowledge has never apologized for capitalism, and I honestly believe that leftist educators owe him a debt of gratitude. 

Many of my students over the years have got most, if not all of their national news from The Daily Show, and Jon Stewart (with his writing staff ) has never been kind to the absurdities (class based and otherwise) present in the American experience.  I honestly believe that many manifestations on the left, by academics or otherwise have been given more room to blossom by The Daily Show. 

For the cultural space fought for and often provided, in the minds of students, and in our society in general, a sincere thank you to Jon Stewart.  I prefer the world that you were a part of to one without you.  Best of Luck.

Did I Read This Right?

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/26/opinion/paul-krugman-ending-greeces-nightmare.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region&region=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region&_r=0

Long term readers readers will know that I usually don't support mainstream economics by mentioning it in a non-critical light, and certainly not by linking to it.  This case is a little different.  A squinty eyed reading of the last four chapters of Krugman's Times piece this morning might actually be construed as calling for economic revolution in Greece.  A stretch maybe? 

The election of Alexis Tsipras of Syriza as Greek Prime Minister is a joyous sign, the winds are blowing back in our direction dear leftists.  Can we put aside our petty differences and focus on what makes us the same? In the United States the shattered left has a long way to go.  Can Greece lead the way?  Honestly I doubt it, a movement back to social democracy does not address underlying economic and class issues, and is certainly not a revolutionary economic shift, but it is certainly preferable in my mind to an austerity program.

Solidarity and Hope on a soon to be snow filled morning.

Status Quo in a White Man's World...

Thanks to Adrian for reminding me of the MLK quote.

On the dawn of a new day after the decision of the grand jury not to charge (white) officer Darrin Wilson with the shooting of (black) teenager Michael Brown all, and I mean all, the news coverage is about the aftermath.  I know the case has been covered, but the tone of the reports this morning sadden me greatly.  Do we shake our heads when discussing the French revolution and say things like... “I really don’t have any hesitation in telling you that I didn’t see a lot of peaceful protest out there tonight, and I’m disappointed about that,” Jon Belmar, the St. Louis County police chief, said early Tuesday at a news conference. “I’m not saying there weren’t folks out there that were out there for the right reason — I’m not saying that wasn’t the case — but I am saying that, unfortunately, this spun out of control.”

So this is tricky, am I condoning violence and riot? 
I'll leave it to MLK on this one....
have a peaceful day everyone...

"It is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots. It would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These conditions are the things that cause individuals to feel that they have no other alternative than to engage in violent rebellions to get attention. And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear ...that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity." "I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Council of the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to 'order' than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: 'I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action.'"