The New Democratic Party, of which I’m a reluctant member, is holding a leadership race to replace Jack Layton, who died of cancer in August 2011.

Here are my thoughts about the NDP in general. They are all still true.

Romeo Saganash is Cree, he’s a lawyer and MP, and he is a survivor of residential schools, the active colonial structure in which legal, spiritual, emotional and sexual violence was perpetuated on Aboriginal children and youth up until 1996, when the last residential school closed.

1996.

That’s 16 years ago. That’s not ancient history.

Disgusting and shameful.

Romeo Saganash is running for the leadership of the NDP. He was elected to Canadian Parliament in May 2011 for the riding of Abitibi–Baie James–Nunavik–Eeyou, in Northern Quebec.

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This is What Revolution Looks Like by Chris Hedges

Occupy the NYSE: Huge Crowd Overwhelms Financial District to Kick Off OWS Day of Action by Sarah Jaffe

On state violence, white male privilege and “Occupy” by Nancy A. Heitzeg

Stephen Colbert celebrates the demise of Occupy Wall Street (video)

An open letter to the 1 per cent: You cannot evict an idea whose time has come by Derrick O’Keefe

Racial Fractures and the Occupy Movement by Bridget Todd

I never heard of Dennis Prager until an article of his popped up in my Facebook feed last week.

He has a lot of opinions and thoughts about schools and the education system. Hey, so do I!

I’m going to reproduce his article from July 2010, found here, and intersperse it with my commentary. This should be FUN!

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A good friend of mine has a blog at blackcoffeepoet.com.

Today he posted a piece called Stepping Out From Behind the Wall: Acknowledging Male Privilege & its connection to violence against women

I’m going to post a few exerpts here, but please go to his blog to read the entire article. And bookmark his blog too!

Privilege is unearned power which gives certain groups economic, social and political advantages.  In our society white males benefit from this the most but all males benefit from this just by being born.

Stoh:lo feminist, activist, and acclaimed writer Lee Maracle defines male privilege as, “A head start, a larger entitlement in the social, economic, and personal arena.”

He lists a “male privilege checklist” that is worth a look, and something I’ll be using in workshops and trainings.

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On the College streetcar heading to the people’s procession today, I pass Native Child and Family Services, holding an art sale. They’re raising funds, of course, for the organization, or a specific program. Toronto Police Headquarters is right next door. They aren’t having an art sale or a garage sale. They have all the funds they need.

………

At Queen and University I wait for my friends at the side of a building, crouched in some stingy shade, hiding from the hot sun until the last possible moment. Around me people wear orange. I pull out the flimsy orange, brown and white scarf I bought in Chinatown yesterday. It’s too girly for me to put it in my hair, so I tie it to my purse.

The police are here. On bikes, leaning against patrol cars. I look at them and think “I remember”.

One year and two months ago. I remember.

I jot down badge and car numbers just for the hell of it.

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