Inside Job: Where is the Outrage?
A review of the documentary Inside Job, along with some relections on the lack of popular outrage in North America over current economic events.
Category Archives: American History
“You’re gonna be glorified, unified and filled-with-pride”: Movie Review of Five on the Black Hand Side
A review of the Blaxploitation film Five on the Black Hand Side.
Technology and the Post-War Presidency
What is the relationship between presidential popularity and technology?
The Toronto Star’s Lackluster Coverage of the American Civil War Anniversary
By Matthew Furrow Let me tell you about a newspaper article I just read and what it taught me about history. Apparently, this week marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War. (The war started because southern forces fired the first shot, although it’s not clear why). This is a “Big Deal,” at least to certain… Read more »
Upcoming Approaching the Past Workshop: Teaching the War of 1812
The next Approaching the Past workshop will be held on Wednesday April 27th at 7:oo pm at Toronto’s historic Fort York. The theme of this workshop is “Teaching the War of 1812,” and will feature a tour of Fort York and two short presentations by Karen Dearlove and Carolyn King. Karen will be discussing the upcoming Ontario Visual Heritage Project… Read more »
Stewart Brand and the Nuclear Renaissance that Should Not Be
By Lisa Rumiel Note: Again, the author would like to thank Linda Richards for her helpful comments and suggestions in preparing this article. It is time to stop claiming that a nuclear renaissance is the solution to the current environmental crisis. I’m talking to you, Stewart Brand. A sort of Nostradamus of technological and environmental thought, Brand is one of… Read more »
Why “I Used to Love H.E.R,” Why I Still Love H.E.R: Hip Hop THEN, Hip Hop NOW
While Hip Hop’s socio-political consciousness has faded, the examples in this post denote that it is not dead. However, even as some employ its ethos to confront material realities, others invest only it its promise of wealth, power and pleasure. Thus the reason why the time is ripe for this reminder: Hip Hop wields much power, but with that power comes responsibility.
Quite the World, Isn’t It? Why Wisconsin Matters to All of Us
It’s one thing for a political leader to take a principled stance against the power of public employee unions in state and local politics. It’s another thing entirely when you threaten to unleash a military force against them. And in raising the specter of calling out the National Guard in a possible showdown with public employees in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker has touched one of the most painful scars in American labor history.
The Revolution Will Be Rubbernecked
While the recent protest movements in the Middle East reveal much about the present state of civic community among the people of those nations — Iran, Tunisia, and Egypt (and a growing list of others) — our reaction to them reveals more about ourselves than we should perhaps find flattering.
Buy Domestic, Buy Local, Buy Union? Historical Lessons for Today’s Consumer Activists
A look at some of the problems with current consumer activist campaigns and some lessons we can learn from the past.