Category: Bob Small

Swarthmore Protest Silences Israeli Speaker

Swarthmore Protest Silences Israeli Speaker

By Bob Small

We went to the Peace and Conflict Studies Speaker Series on Oct. 24, at Lang Performing Arts Center at Swarthmore College. 

There was conflict, though, and it was not peaceful.

The topic was Israeli Security Policy.   The attempted speaker was Dr. Barak Mendelsohn from Haverford  College and the Israeli IDF

However at the beginning, members of various protest groups  left en masse chanting loudly. though not always in sync. Then continued chanting outside of the auditorium.

They did not have identification on their handouts.  It’s not like we did it in the sixties, eighties, or even this century. The chants were incomprehensible but they made speaker in comprehensible too.

We worried about Jewish students in the audience, who might of felt fearful.

We learned some background from the Swarthmore College Phoenix;

The three listed organizing groups for and Oct. 12 event, and we assume, the Oct. 24 event were Swarthmore Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP); The Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) which is the campus section of Democratic Socialists of America; and Swarthmore African-American Student Society (SASS)

 There were three other unlisted groups implied.

Dr Sa’ed Atshan, the chair of Peace and Conflict series responded by e-mail, to my query about the disruption.

“Thank you so much for being present and for this feedback. We’d love to have you with us again in the future,” he wrote.

He was not present during this event. Frankly, we didn’t see any Swarthmore Public Security either albeit we were later told that they were there.

Now, being nothing if not thorough, I emailed Visualizing Palestine, which was named on the sign expressing my concerns. Visualizing Palestine. The conversation led to a contact with Visualizing Impact.

The best way to explain Visualizing Impact is that they provide the signs for Visualizing Palestine and would equally provide signs for a visualizing Israel group.  They seem not to have any agenda except profit.  For one of many critiques of this kind of group, see Pros & Cons of Data Visualization: the Good, Bad, & Ugly 

Lastly, read  Our Protests Should Be More Thoughtful in The Phoenix.

This said everything that I felt.  Including “ But working to silence someone is never an avenue towards justice.”

I  wanted to hear the questions to Dr. Mendelsohnn from the  protesting group.

Swarthmore Protest Silences Israeli Speaker

Swarthmore Protest Silences Israeli Speaker

Winds of change in Swarthmore?

Winds of change in Swarthmore?

By Bob Small

We attended a  “meet and greet”, Oct. 19, for the two GOP Candidates in the Swarthmore Borough Special Election, Nov. 7. 

This election was necessitated by the resignation of two Democratic Borough Council members, Sarah Graden and Francine Halderman.

It’s been many years since the Republican Party has meant anything in Swarthmore. There was an enthusiastic audience, despite the Phillies playing in the NCLS.

The Republicans are Rob M. Jordan and Bill Pearce.  They explained why they were running in a letter published  in the Oct. 20 Swarthmorean.

“Our Council’s financial decisions are causing great concern.  Overspending, a draw down  of reserves, and the Mayor’s ominous warning of a looming budget crisis have left us burdened with a 9 percent tax hike in 2022 and a 10 percent tax hike this year – with an even higher jump possibly to come shortly.”

They also mentioned  “the erosion of civility and accountability in leadership”.

They noted that the GOP is not merely the “party of grievance”. The candidates said they want to “preserve our cherished Tree Canopy from PECO Deception”.

They said they also want to“increase the exceptional quality of  life that defines our community,” and to embrace “intelligent zoning and forward thinking planning.”

They said at the event they feared Swarthmore would turn into Lansdowne if the current board’s agenda was not checked.

Rob Jordan is a Villanova University Economics Graduate and has worked as a senior healthcare executive.  He is a member of the Don Guanella Park Master Plan Advisory Committee and is president of the Board of Directors of Saint Joseph Family Hope emergency housing center.

Bill Pearce is a graduate of Drexel in Chemical Engineering. He also has a masters of education from Rutgers, and an MBA from Tulane.

After a 35 year career in what he describes as “global business development”, he moved to Swarthmore.  At the time of COVID, he joined the Widener University SBDC(Small Business Development Center) where he is a business consultant and international trade specialist. 

He recently joined the Goldman Sachs 10 K Small Business Program at Community College of Philadelphia.

We’ve had two decades of one-party rule in Swarthmore.  As long as there’s only one choice, whether Democrat or Republican, this  feels more like dictatorship than democracy.

Winds of change in Swarthmore?
Bill Pearce and Rob Jordan,

MSG IS Anti-Left Democrat From Connecticut

MSG IS Anti-Left Democrat From Connecticut

By Bob Small

Mark Stewart Greenstein (MSG) is a Connecticut Democrat who posits himself as an “anti-left” Democrat. On his web site, he lists reasons for Republicans to vote for him, including, but not limited to the following: “elimination of the income tax, faster dismantling of Obamacare, faster immigration reform, and forced socialism”.

But he also lists reasons that Democrats should vote for him, such as his dislike of the two-party system, the fact that he “likes Bernie but prefers he stays in the Senate” and the fact that he is “not enamored with any of the staged candidates”. 

Lastly, he seeks the Independent vote as well, stating that he’s a candidate “who prefers small government” and “who wants to return to Constitutional governance”.

MSG IS Anti-Left Democrat From Connecticut
Mark Stewart Greenstein

It’s pretty evident that his stances — only a quarter of which are stated above –are fairly contradictory. Many, for example, would say Bernie Sanders stands for “forced socialism”.

MSG takes so many contradictory stances that he could probably debate himself.

In an insanely long meet-the-candidate article from his run for the Connecticut State Senate — 26 pages printed out; take on a train ride to read — we learn that MSG is a graduate of the University of California Berkeley School of Law. He founded and currently runs Ivy Bound, a company that helps prepare students for the ACT and SAT college-entrance exams and does academic tutoring.

During this state senate campaign, one of MSG’s goals was to bring an NHL team back to Hartford, Connecticut — previous home of the Hartford Whalers, as you no doubt knew — and the slogan was “Make Connecticut SKATE again”.

 Greenstein was the first Democratic candidate for the presidency to file in New Hampshire.

RFKJ Is Breath Of Hope

RFKJ Is Breath Of Hope

By Bob Small

Most of the time, I read about history, but a week ago, Oct. 9, I was at the National Constitution Center as history unfolded.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.  generated excitement among the highly diverse crowd in attendance, many, like me, returning to Philadelphia for the first time in many years. It felt like a combination of rock music, politics, and sports. It was a time to let hope overcome fear and regain belief. It was a new time feeling like some old times.

We may think we know about this Kennedy but on his website, you will discover how many times he has fought big corporations  including Ford, Mitsubishi, Mobil, along with various departments of our own US government, while representing the under-served American Indians, family farmers, Mexican fisherman, and migrant workers.

A film that highlight one of these batttles is Mann V. Ford (TV Movie 2010) – IMDb 

One part of his philosophy is to disengage from empire building. 

“We have to stop seeing the world in terms of enemies and adversaries,” his website says. “As John Quincy Adams wrote, ‘Americans go not abroad in search of monsters to destroy.'”

RFK Jr. will revive a lost thread of American foreign policy thinking, the one championed by his uncle, John F. Kennedy who, over his 1000 days in office, had become a firm anti-imperialist. “

The speech was a good hour long and we spent almost two hours standing, cheering, singing, talking, listening, and hoping.  When was the last time a candidate spoke and gave you hope?

Mostly, people vote for better than, the “lesser of two evils”, “he won’t start a nuclear war”.

There was a saying among us Greens “vote your hopes, not you fears”, knowing that Ralph Nader, etc. could never win but we wanted to hope.  

Now here was a candidate that giveas us hope and whom we think, just maybe, could win.

This is not to say that he doesn’t have some negatives, but we’ll leave that for the Democrats, and  Republicans to point out. 

Just for now, for one bright shining hour, hope is allowed.

RFKJ Is Breath Of Hope

RFKJ Is Breath Of Hope

Separate League Is Latest Transoversy

Separate League Is Latest Transoversy

By Bob Small

The latest transoversy: Should there be separate leagues for transexuals engaged in amateur athletics.?

One reason for this is purely statistical.  Shouldn’t we have four lanes for stats;  i.e., men. women, MTF and FTM, or do the numbers really matter?

Well, even amateur sports declare a champion and winners of individual meets, so, rightly or wrongly, most societies emphasize winning, and, mostly, in what is considered a “fair” manner, without any performance enhancing drugs or operations, etc .

“If you go through male puberty you should not be able to take away medals away from females,” said Trans Activist Caitlin Jenner. At the same time “Trans women who transitioned before male puberty do not have a performance advantage”.  

My addition to this is that, however you do it, it should be post op transexuals.

TheWorld Boxing Council believes this also.

Two of many dissenting views are Trans Girls Belong on Girls’ Sports Teams – Scientific American  and Myths About Transgender Girls in Sports | ACLU of Iowa 

Note “The Olympics have had trans-inclusive policies since 2004, but a single openly transexual athlete has yet to qualify.

Another voice for separate competitions is Let Trans Athletes Have Their Own Sport Competitions 

“What about male transsexuals? Are they to have no competitive arenas of their own? Due to their use of estrogen, they are weaker and less competitive than otherwise would have been the case, but still far stronger than undrugged girls. And their female to male counterparts are stronger and thus more competitive than they were before, thanks to doses of testosterone, but still nowhere near the level of males. No, they should not be banished from sports rivalry. They, too, deserve to experience the joys of competition. They should be allowed to organize their own events, whether in high school, college or the Olympics. We already have the Paralympic Games. Why not also organize athletic games for transsexuals? 

However, there have been some FTM exceptions (see below)

https://podtail.com/en/podcast/dear-schuyler/

https://us.srichinmoyraces.org/archives/1989/24hours/Whiting

Ethics Explainer: The Other – THE ETHICS CENTRE 

One more voice;

An 8th Grade Girl Explains Why Male Athletes Should Not Be Allowed in … 

In March of this year, the WAC (World Athletics Council) voted to exclude male athletes who have undergone male puberty from female World Ranking competition”.

Lastly, can we advance to the place where we are no longer “otherizing” Transexuals, athletes or not, once we’ve found agreement on the above issues.

Separate League Is Latest Transoversy

Separate League Is Latest Transoversy

A Friend From Carolina

A Friend From Carolina

By Bob Small

If we’re looking for a bald Republican candidate for president, look no further than Brian Friend of North Carolina, whose slogan is “America Reborn 24;”

Friend moved to Kure Beach, NC in 1987 and received his bachelor’s in accounting from UNC-Wilmington, while washing truks for $4.50 hour.  

He also has a masters degree from the former Jones International University in Forensic Accounting/Advanced Taxation.

He heads Port City Insurance which he started in 2003.

In some ways, his campaign is boiler plate GOP, describing it as

Pro God,
Pro Military,
Pro Law Enforcement,
Pro 2nd Amendment

And he adds the statement that “America needs to be baptized”.

However, he sees the need for other changes.  He is for affordable housing, choice for vaccination, school choice, cutting healthcare costs and trade schools

He also wants Americans “stranded in Afghanistan and Yemen” to be returned.

He is also anti-digital currency and defends bail bonds saying, “it is essential to . . . to keep dangerous criminals off the street, but also to let criminals that are not dangerous  the opportunity for release.”

See also  Brian Friend – Ballotpedia 

A Friend From Carolina

A Friend From Carolina

Alternatives For DVD Fans With Netflix DVD’s Passing

Alternatives For DVD Fans With Netflix DVD’s Passing

By Bob Small

Since Netflix DVD has ceased to exist as of, today, Sept. 29, we have begun to investigate alternatives.

These are two of the mail-order alternatives; one is Scarecrow Video of Seattle. It offers a humongous list of titles.

Then there’s Cafe DVD, for which you can even pay for your DVD’d by check if you want to be really old-school.

Scarecrow and Cafe are two of the most recent listings of alternatives to Netflix.

Here are some lists of others.

7 Alternatives to Netflix for Renting DVDs – MUO

Five DVD Subscription Services to Replace Netflix – How-To Geek

With all of these alternatives, it may be helpful to check out CNET or another site that presents aggregate reviews. For the next month, many of these services will probably get a rush of customers and will have to learn to adjust.

If you’re ready to travel within Delaware County, there is a great old-timey store called Goodies that offers DVDs and even unopened videotapes for sale. Of course, stores such as Goodies also offer the opportunity for socialization. Many of us have been inside too long and would welcome the chance to meet and talk to other people who are also interested in movies.

There are also various thrift stores that offer DVDs and videotapes.

Here are some links:

THE BEST 10 Thrift Stores in Delaware County, PA – Yelp

Family Thrift Shoppe – 1011 Macdade Blvd – Foursquare and 

NANA’S ATTIC – 23 Photos & 16 Reviews – Yelp

Dollar stores sometimes sell DVD’s, although my friend Peggy observes that “you can’t buy anything there any more for a dollar!”

Then there is the Delaware County Library System, which has the added advantage of letting you search online before you go to the library.

Of course, there’s always Redbox, possibly the least social option for finding movies to watch.

Alternatives For DVD Fans With Netflix DVD's Passing

Alternatives For DVD Fans With Netflix DVD’s Passing

Effigy Burning Is An International Tradition

Effigy Burning Is An International Tradition

By Bob Small

Recently, New London, CT revived the Burning Benedict Arnold Festival, in remembrance of the Sept. 6, 1781 raid on that town, burning most of it to the ground. Derron Wood, organizer and also Artistic Director of New London’s Flock Theatre calls it the “Original Burning Man Festival”.

Victor Chiburis, also of Flock Theatre, said that one year, there were mock Arnold Supporters butit usually is very peaceful and historic.

According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, hanging in effigy was a common form of political protest in the 18th and 19th centuries. 

In 1765, the patriots of Boston lynched the British Imperial Taxman

There were also traditional burnings in effigy of Robert Lundy, who betrayed the defense of Derry with Ian Paisley describing Margaret Thatcher and David Trimble as “Lundies”.

In present times both Joe Biden and Donald Trump have been hung in effigy if not burned. These deeds are protected by the First Amendment. Similarly, Mexicans were also burning Trump effigies.

The Times of India indicates burning a politician in effigy is not considered a crime except for “rash and negligent handling of fire or combustible matter”.

Going further back in history, we have the “burning of Judas” and the last known case of that was in Liverpool, England in 1971. To my knowledge, it’s not a practice in any US Churches.

Any discerning fan of horror cinema is aware of the Hammer Studios Contributions, and The Wicker Man (1973)   is actually based on Druidic legend

The final citation is not a person burned in effigy but Covid 19

One wonders whether there should be an unofficial US  Effigy Day, perhaps every Sept. 6, as an unofficial day of protest against whatever tyrants groups choose.

The choice, of course, would be up to the group.

Effigy Burning Is An International Tradition

Jimmy Cooper Of Georgia Runs for President

Jimmy Cooper Of Georgia Runs for President

By Bob Small

Maybe we should call them SPD’s, or Second Party Dems, because they don’t have any realistic chance of reaching the Democratic Party debates.

The Democrats are having debates, aren’t they?

Anyway, there are a lot of SPD’s, and some of them express really innovative and challenging ideas. One such candidate is Jimmy Cooper of Georgia, not related to Tennessee Congressman Jim Cooper, or any other Jim Cooper.

Cooper mentions on his website that he is being treated for a recently diagnosed multiple myeloma. 

He ran as a Green, for the US House representing Georgia’s 8th District in 2018 and 2020, and for the State of Georgia’s 145th District in 2022. He also volunteered in the campaigns of both Bernie Sanders (D) and Jill Stein (Green).

Green Party presidential nomination, 2024 – Ballotpedia

Jimmy Cooper Of Georgia Runs for President
Jimmy Cooper

Though the Green Party Presidential Convention isn’t until Aug. 22, 2024, Cornell West seems to be the presumed candidate, and others need not apply.

This situation is similar to that of both the Dems and the GOP, where only one person is being considered for each.

By the way, the Libertarian Party Convention is May 24-26, 2024.

Though Cooper is running as a Democrat this time, his Greenness can be seen by perusing his 20 pages of issues. Among the ones worth mentioning are the following:

  • Abolish the Electoral College
  • Repeal GATT, NAFTA, and Taft-Hartley
  • Initiate A Basic Income (currently a hot topic in the UK and elsewhere)
  • Guarantee 100 percent of the necessary medical care that wounded veterans need to heal
  • Enact House Resolution 568, or the Unhoused Bill of Rights
  • Statehood for D.C.
  • Require that police actually live in the communities in which they serve

His other initiatives are available in the twenty pages of issues listed on his web site.

Lastly, he favors Marianne Williamson for president, but only if he doesn’t win.

For Jimmy Cooper’s past history, see Jimmy Cooper declines qualifying fee to run as Democrat Secures ..

Anti-Semitic Podcast Hosted By State Department Worker

Anti-Semitic Podcast Hosted By State Department Worker

By Bob Small

“If we don’t believe in free expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.” — Noam Chomsky

Hate speech, as long as it’s only speech, is reprehensible and regrettable, but not illegal, at least in the U.S.

Now we get to  Bloodandfaith.com, a podcast by Fritz Berggren.

Six years of “The Jews worship Satan and they’re Satan’s own children” just might qualify as hate speech.

So why does this particular hate speech matter more than other?

Berggren is a long-term employee of the U.S. State Department. He was removed from the Bahrain embassy after complaints from fellow workers yet he remains working to represent America’s interests abroad.

This is despite 70 members of Congress in 2021 and 2022 urging he be canned.

More than 70 State Department staffers in 2021 called on Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who is Jewish, to take action.

Nothing happened.

Berggren received a PhD in 2001 from the University of Miami. He is married with four children.

His connections with the U.S. State Department were outed by Politico.

We recently saw The House on Carroll Street which was based on Operation Paperclip, in which the government brought 16,000 former Nazis into America in the 1950s. entailed the US Government bringing approximately

Berggren is also anti-LGBTQ, anti African-Americans, and anti anyone who is not a white Christian supremacist. His belief is that “Jesus Christ came to save the world from the Jews” — ignoring the fact that Jesus himself was Jewish, as was made very clear to me when I was being harangued by a chapter of Jews for Jesus.

Possibly the U.S. State Department is constrained by the First Amendment. Any thoughts?

Anti-Semitic Podcast Hosted By State Department Worker

Anti-Semitic Podcast Hosted By State Department Worker