tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163876234969175446.post5285311329183480996..comments2024-03-22T10:56:23.359+02:00Comments on Land and People: Worker's DayRami Zuraykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14644937988631864952noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163876234969175446.post-3632091811834031772008-05-03T02:47:00.000+03:002008-05-03T02:47:00.000+03:00I had to read in the New York Times, a paper publi...I had to read in the New York Times, a paper published 3,000 miles away (4200 KM) about worker actions in my city, Oakland. On May Day the whole West Coast port system was shut down by a one-day union strike to protest the war in Iraq. The union points out that spending on the war means no money at home for schools and healthcare.<BR/><BR/>Then the Times also featured an article about a teach-in at schools in Oakland - they spent May Day leading discussions on the way the Iraq war affects our schools - we are out of money in California and they want to cut teachers.<BR/><BR/>I blogged the links at http://bedouina.typepad.com<BR/><BR/>US corporate media is as controlling and manipulative as any Soviet-era national press organ. I don't know why the Times chose to cover these actions. <BR/><BR/>At least here's one sign of hope - the reporter Philip Weis has started a Nakba watch on his blog, Mondo Weiss. He has discovered the Nakba, and to his shock he has learned that the mainstream media ignores Palestinian authors, even scholarly, award-winning ones, when they write about the Nakba! But he believes a tide is turning in opinion in this country and he has been documenting the changes, both in public meetings he attends and in the media. <BR/><BR/>http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/<BR/><BR/>It's entertaining to see Mr. Weiss' shock and frustration at US media self-censorship.Leila Abu-Sabahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14161833022292457787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163876234969175446.post-55935375589661571112008-05-01T17:20:00.000+03:002008-05-01T17:20:00.000+03:00Rana Hayek's article is interesting but it has a c...Rana Hayek's article is interesting but it has a couple of flaws.<BR/><BR/>On the historical part, she falls in the Kamal Salibi trap, namely projecting the present on the past. Reminds me of our history professors repeating al tarikh be 'eid nafsaw.<BR/><BR/>The popular revolts of the 18/19th century had many causes, sectarianism was not one of them.<BR/><BR/>Sectaruianism appeared in Lebanon at a latter date. Ussama Makdissi has a good book on the topic.<BR/><BR/>In modern times labor mvt depends on agri. and industry. Agriculture in Lebanon is too fragmented, and industry plays a small role in the economy.<BR/><BR/>The influx of non-unionized Palestinan and Syrian workers also made it difficult for Lebanese ones to be effective.<BR/><BR/>MM.Ms Levantinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04099790210004715335noreply@blogger.com