Anti-Jewish Prejudice Yesterday and Today

Editors’ note: “Anti-Semitism” is a much misused and much misunderstood concept. This epithet is often wrongly applied to opposition to the Israeli state’s apartheid-like policies—such as the statement in defense of Palestinians adopted by the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ Ontario convention in May. Yet anti-Jewish prejudice remains deeply rooted in capitalist society and continues to pose a deadly threat to all working people. Suzanne Weiss explained its origins and present character in a talk given to the Socialism 2006 conference, organized by Socialist Action in Toronto, on April 29, 2006. This article is based on that talk.

In 1919, V.I. Lenin, the great leader of the Russian Revolution, gave a brief talk on anti-Semitism that was recorded for use among the Russian peasantry. Continue reading Anti-Jewish Prejudice Yesterday and Today

Time for Labour to Act in Defense of Medical Care

Supreme Court Decision Opens the Door to Deeper Attacks

29 June 2005 – The Supreme Court of Canada’s June 9 decision overruling the Quebec government’s ban of private health insurance for services covered by the public health care system is a significant move toward a two-tier medical system, with inferior care for working people and high-cost, higher quality care for the rich. The decision, adopted by a 4-3 majority, is another step in a lengthy government offensive to reduce social benefits for working people and give greater tax and other fiscal benefits to the wealthy class. Continue reading Time for Labour to Act in Defense of Medical Care

First -Hand View of Cuba Exposes U.S. Lies

Oct. 1960 – As a member of YSA delegation to the Latin American Youth Congress in Cuba this summer, I wanted to see for myself what changes the revolution had wrought in the country, to meet some of the Cuban students, workers and peasants, and to try in whatever way I could to convince them that there are people in the United states who support the Cuban revolution despite the barrage of slanders in the press.

One of the first things the delegation did was to attend the 26th of July celebration in the Sierra Maestra Mountains where the Revolution was born. The site of the celebration was the grounds of a giant “school city” which will eventually house 20,000 students from peasant families. Already 500 youngsters who never had the chance to attend school before are living, working and studying in the completed sections. Continue reading First -Hand View of Cuba Exposes U.S. Lies