This news release really had me shaking my head:
CUPE Ontario to recommend support for ban on Israeli academics in response to Gaza bombings
TORONTO, Jan. 2 /CNW Telbec/ – CUPE Ontario’s university workers committee will bring a resolution to its annual conference supporting a ban on Israeli academics doing speaking, teaching or research work at Ontario universities as a protest against the December 29 bombing of the Islamic University in Gaza.
“In response to an appeal from the Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees, we are ready to say Israeli academics should not be on our campuses unless they explicitly condemn the university bombing and the assault on Gaza in general,” said Sid Ryan, president of CUPE Ontario. “It’s a logical next step, building on policy adopted by our provincial convention in 2006.”
Resolution 50, adopted in May 2006, supported boycotts, divestment and sanctions aimed at bringing about the Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories and a just peace in the region.
“Clearly, international pressure on Israel must increase to stop the massacre that is going on daily,” said Janice Folk-Dawson, chair of the CUPE Ontario University Workers Coordinating Committee, whose conference is scheduled for February. “We are proud to add CUPE voices to others from around the world saying enough is enough.”
Ryan and other CUPE representatives will join in the demonstration against the Israeli assault on Gaza at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, January 3 at Dundas Square in Toronto.For further information: Sid Ryan, President, CUPE Ontario, (416)
209-0066; Pat Daley, CUPE Communications, (416) 616-6142
The suggestion that individuals must hold a particular opinion regarding a very complex and divisive issue, or lose their job is completely outrageous, and this public statement tells me all I need to know about the leadership of CUPE.
I would like someone to tell me when in history has any individual been singled out and asked to make a public statement of “outrage” based on their nation of origin? Sid Ryan has lost his mind.
Update: It looks like Hugo Chavez is getting in on the act, issuing this statement today:
“Now I hope that the Venezuelan Jewish community speaks out against this barbarism. Do it. Don’t you strongly reject all acts of persecution?” Chavez said. Source.
What worries me even more, is that a union official is making academic demands on a learning institution. And that other union members are not standing up and voicing dissent, fearing that they too could be ostracized for any associations or beliefs that they may hold.
Not to mention, that Mr. Ryan is making demands for Canadians for the benefit of the Hamas and their political survival.
Great post Tracey, I thought we subsidized our Universities to teach our children academic subjects not indoctorine them into Islamist’s Policies and Ideology. Furthermore why do teachers need to form groups that include only certain religions and races? This reeks of Hitler’s earlyest policies to descriminate against Jews, is what CUPE doing legal under our anti-discrimination laws?
What’s next on CUPE’S Political Islamists’ list of enforcement, forcing female students to be subservient to Sharia Law? Mandatory Head Scarfs or else, far fetched you’d say well not really considering it’s none of the Union’s business what religion, race or ideology a Professor is. Free will seems to have died today in Canada’s Universities.
[...] Andrew Keyes: I would like someone to tell me when in history has any individual been singled out and asked to [...]