The Propagandist is pleased to present a six-part feature series dealing civil rights, freedom of speech, particularly in regard to criticism of Israel, and how conspiracy theories undermine our democracy. These essays resulted from a public forum in Vancouver presented as a "face-off" over free speech and the definition of anti-Semitism.
The latest installment of our series of satirical cartoons of a certain religious figure we have no intention of offending. He's dead, so I'm pretty sure he can't take offense. But one can never be too careful.
You're reading the third part of The Propagandist's series reporting on a Vancouver event promoted as defending freedom of expression, led by 9/11 truther Michael Keefer, co-author of "Antisemitism. Real and Imagined". Hilarity ensued, along with a healthy dose of obsfucation and indoctrination.
Let's get something out of the way right away. Criticism of Israel or Israeli policy is not anti-Semitic. No one to my knowledge has ever claimed that such criticism was anti-Semitic, constituted hate speech or ought to be censored and sanctioned by the state. The phrase is a staw man worthy of the Wizard of Oz.
There are plenty of critics of Israeli policy who are obsessed with prefacing their statements with the expression, criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitic. Some critics, like Counterpunch contributor and resplendent douchebag Michael Neumann, even put that phrase right into the headline of their articles, so no one will miss it. These types of critics tend to do this right before they slam the state of Israel for myriad "war crimes" and "human rights abuses" in order to justify...More >>
This is part 2 of a series about free speech, civil liberties and criticism of Israel based on what took place at a live forum in downtown Vancouver billed as a face-off by 9/11 truther Michael Keefer against equating criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic hate speech.
The focus of the talk on Thursday night was all about an alleged conspiracy by Zionists and Zionist-friendly conservatives to label criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic (and potentially punishable as hate speech). It was suggested that the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism (CPCCA) was going to come up with a recommendation for a law to do this, and this would be rammed through the House of Commons (a minority parliament, it should be reminded). Yet throughought the evening, neither speaker actually defined what specific sorts of phrases might get you tossed into the clink.
Michael Vonn, policy director for the BC Civil Liberties Association was asked whether the phrase, “Everyone in Israel over the age of 18 is a legitimate target to be murdered.” In Canadian law or international law, is...More >>
First, a little background. Last night, Vancouver's swanky SFU Harbour Centre campus hosted an event billed as a face-off between the relatively unknown 9/11 truther Michael Keefer and the world-famous Harvard professor and human rights advocate Alan Dershowitz.
Dershowitz actually spoke in Vancouver on Monday, speaking for a fundraiser that had nothing to do with Keefer or his new book: "Anti-Semitism. Real and Imagined". Meanwhile, the Guelph English professor spoke on Thursday in a completely different venue. This didn't seem...More >>
The Propagandist brings you our latest recommendations from around the Interwebs. Our contributors and allies are making things awfully tough for the enemy. Links, awaaaaaaaay!
Now, these same regimes, which do not tolerate racial or cultural minorities within their own borders, now suggest that this concern among many Westerners is at heart, an expression of racism. Fine. Quick question. If Islamophobia is racism, what race is Islam?
Here is a random sampling of photos from a Muslim dating site. Can you spot the Muslim race? I must confess, I'm a bit stymied.
Even if someone wanted to discriminate against a Muslim because of their race, how would an actual racist identify them?
This ought to be self-evident to anyone who has lived in a multicultural country in North America or...More >>
One critic of the Libyan regime's human-rights trampling regime, who's brother was imprisoned and tortured to death. He asks why Libya is an elected member of the United Nations Council on Human Rights. Naturally, the Libyan representative asks to have the testimony deleted.
As Iran's leader - our old friend Ahmadinejad - ratchets up the bravado to stare down any attacks on his country's nuclear facilities by Western forces, his country is showing its own colors by letting a Canadian citizen rot in its prisons.
The strange saga of a Toronto-based blogger jailed in Iran on propaganda charges took an alarming twist Tuesday after his supporters said prosecutors requested the death penalty.
Hossein Derakhshan is known as the Iranian “blogfather” for launching the dissident Persian blogosphere — an act of defiance he committed from Toronto, where he lived for eight years after becoming a Canadian citizen.
Toronto was the launching pad for his most daring cyber-caper, when he visited Israel on his Canadian passport and blogged from inside Iran for a massive Persian-speaking web following.
“Hoder,” as Derakhshan calls himself online, was arrested after returning to Iran in the fall of 2008 and jailed for almost two years before facing trial this June. Family and supporters learned
Will the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks end up like all of the previous efforts that failed to resolve the big issues? Perhaps part of the problem comes from just who's involved with getting the neighbors to work together.
Why should this process be primarily an American or European-led process? With the right incentives coming from a newly-engaged China, taking up real responsibility for one of the world's most important international peace and security issues, perhaps we'd get a different result. It wouldn't even take much of a grand strategy. It really comes down to a financial accounting issue.
That morning, an utterly forgettable American envoy named Joe walked into the room and sheepishly addressed the Israeli and Palestinian leaders. He turned out to be an accountant. Querulous introductions followed. Next, he outlined some harsh truths.
“Look, the U.S. just can’t afford to keep pouring money down the drain and neither can
The Propagandist is pleased to present a six-part feature series dealing civil rights, freedom of speech, particularly in regard to criticism of Israel, and how conspiracy theories undermine our democracy. These essays resulted from a public forum in Vancouver presented as a "face-off" over free speech and the definition of anti-Semitism.
You're reading the third part of The Propagandist's series reporting on a Vancouver event promoted as defending freedom of expression, led by 9/11 truther Michael Keefer, co-author of "Antisemitism. Real and Imagined". Hilarity ensued, along with a healthy dose of obsfucation and indoctrination.
This is part 2 of a series about free speech, civil liberties and criticism of Israel based on what took place at a live forum in downtown Vancouver billed as a face-off by 9/11 truther Michael Keefer against equating criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic hate speech.
Freedom of expression has gotten a rough ride this week. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was entitled to vomit forth 
The Propagandist brings you our latest recommendations from around the Interwebs. Our contributors and allies are making things awfully tough for the enemy. Links, awaaaaaaaay!
As Iran's leader - our old friend Ahmadinejad - 
Will the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks end up like all of the previous efforts that failed to resolve the big issues? Perhaps part of the problem comes from just who's involved with getting the neighbors to work together.
