Comments on: CUPE’s Latest Gimmick: Just Plain Wrong

By: Blaise Alleyne

Blaise Alleyne — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:01:50 +0000

Right. Thanks for the corrections.

By: Christopher Robinson

Christopher Robinson — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:42:18 +0000

…”here” not “hear”

sorry,
chris

By: Christopher Robinson

Christopher Robinson — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:41:38 +0000

Although I’m not in favour of the boycott/ban, because it sounds like McCarthyism (see below) but you and most of the posters hear urgently need to know some background and some basic info:

1. This sort of thing was used successfully in the 80′s against South African apartheid, where there were multiple boycotts and bans including academics. The current ban proposal (which looks like it hasn’t passed yet) is not against “jewish” profs, but academics who are Israeli nationals (or nationals who don’t denounce the bombings that is).

2. The Charter of Rights does not apply to people who aren’t Canadian citizens. The proposed ban isn’t on Canadian citizens.

3. The Charter of Rights limits government agencies, and not businesses, organizations, etc. You are thinking of the Human Rights Code, which only applies to non-citizens in a limited way and is different in different provinces.

The problem with the ban is that is smacks of McCarthyism (at least the way it is currently drafted). In the early 50′s the US forced people to sign an oath condemning Communism. People who refused to sign it on a matter of principle were not hired for government jobs (and famously, film and TV jobs too).

Hope that helps.

Chris

By: me

me — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:32:48 +0000

Torntoist seems to be stuck for content because its just reprinting your stuff.

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:54:55 +0000

Aws, it is impossible to hold a single event seperate like that. You are forgetting that Hamas uses civilian buildings to launch their bombs at Israel. Not only did Israel have intelligence that there were attacks originating from there, but there are many Palestinian witnesses who can attest to seeing rocket fire. It is unfortunate that Hamas hides behind civilians to further their extremist agenda, but to stop terrorism sometimes something like this has to happen.

The real question, I think, is not whether we want people on our campuses who support bombing universities, but rather do we want people in the head of important Canadian organisations who support extremist organisations whose only goal is to wipe an entire country off of the map, and condemn that country when it begins to defend itself?

Also, I think the terms allowing Israeli professors to stay are inherently prejudiced, not even because they single out people by their race/birthplace, but in the first place because they assume right from the start, that every Israeli feels the same way about the bombings. Even with the antisemetism aside, that in itself is prejudiced.

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:27:47 +0000

The Constitution only binds government action. It does not bind CUPE Ontario, though it binds most of the workplaces of CUPE Ontario members.

I am considering boycotting CUPE Ontario in turn. Does anyone have a list of workplaces whose employees are affiliated with CUPE Ontario.

By: Blaise Alleyne

Blaise Alleyne — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:23:58 +0000

True, as a non-governmental organization CUPE is not legally bound by the charter…

Wait… what? The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is in our constitution. It applies to everyone, to all organizations, not just to government organizations.

Unless I’m missing something huge? How can anyone be exempt from the Constitution?

By: Julia Bolotina

Julia Bolotina — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:09:05 +0000

Thanks for your comments! I see your point, Aws, but there is a difference between supporting bombing and not denouncing it.

By: D

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:45:30 +0000

Thanks for bringing this to attention. I had no idea.

By: Aws

Aws — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:37:38 +0000

I understand the conflict with the charter here. But the question is, do we want people on our campus who support bombing universities?