Ontario union calls for ban on Israeli professors

[Cameron]

Ontario's largest university workers' union is proposing a ban on Israeli academics teaching in the province's universities, in a move that echoes previous attempts to boycott goods and services from the Jewish state.

The resolution, proposed by CUPE's Ontario University Workers Coordinating Committee, is in protest against a Dec. 29 bombing that damaged the Islamic University in Gaza.

However, Mr. Ryan said the resolution was a reasonable response to Israel's attack on the Islamic University, which he likened to the torching of books by Nazis during the Second World War.

The Link

This is going to far. Banning teachers to try and stop the war...Again this demonstrates why I dislike unions. Wasting time and causing more problems than actually solving a problem.

I don't think Israel really cares if Ontario gets involved.

[JB Globe]

The Link

This is going to far. Banning teachers to try and stop the war...Again this demonstrates why I dislike unions. Wasting time and causing more problems than actually solving a problem.

I don't think Israel really cares if Ontario gets involved.

Brilliant, let's ban all Israeli Profs - even the peace activists opposed to this war.

Great idea.

[kimmy]

This isn't the first time some public sector union has taken a rather provocative political stance regarding Israel, and I'm trying to remember what the previous one was. I'm sure it was discussed here at MLW, though. Anybody have a recollection of that issue?

-k

[M.Dancer]

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.

Why stop there Sid? Why not ban all profs who don't march in lock step with your demands?

Because the last thing you want in a University is diversity of opinion.

[White Doors]

This isn't the first time some public sector union has taken a rather provocative political stance regarding Israel, and I'm trying to remember what the previous one was. I'm sure it was discussed here at MLW, though. Anybody have a recollection of that issue?

-k

I think it was the head of CUPE's Ontario chapter...

sounds related to this one.

Edit, it's the same yahoo: Sid Ryan, president of CUPE Ontario.

Edited January 6, 2009 by White Doors

[kimmy]

I think it was the head of CUPE's Ontario chapter...

sounds related to this one.

Edit, it's the same yahoo: Sid Ryan, president of CUPE Ontario.

Yes, that appears to be the case. I did find the earlier thread on this subject that I was thinking of, and it does relate to the earlier boycott as mentioned in the original post.

I'm not sure whether targetting Israeli professors rather than Israeli goods is exactly upping the ante, but I suspect the earlier boycott of Bar Rafaeli swimsuit calendars and gefelte-fish didn't produce as much leverage as it was expected to.

-k

[Smallc]

He shouldn't be the head of anything after suggesting that.

[capricorn]

Ryan is a regular panelist on Michael Coren's show on Fridays. I look forward to seeing him try to defend CUPE's position in this matter. Given the negative press and nasty emails he's been receiving, I wonder if he will be "unavailable" to appear on this Friday's show.

Ryan was an NDP candidate for MPP in Oshawa a couple of times. In 2007 he lost to the PC candidate by 2,200 votes. I'd rather see this nut job at CUPE than in the Legislature.

[Muddy]

I look forward to watching Syd Ryan on the Coren show. He will get his just rewards there for him and his unions racist stand.

[Rue]

Brilliant, let's ban all Israeli Profs - even the peace activists opposed to this war.

Great idea.

No its even better then you think. According to Sid Ryan, his union will allow Israeli professors to teach in Canada PROVIDED THEY DENOUNCE ISRAEL'S ACTIONS IN GAZA.

So in effect he is proposing a loyalty test, a political oath they must first take.

I was listening to Sid Ryan on AM Talk Radio in Toronto this morning and it is clear he has lost it. It was embarassing. He kept interupting everyone. He kept stating Israel should negotiate with Hamas which even for him is bizarre considering Hamas has made it clear they will not negotiate with Israel or recognize its right to exist and in any truce offered to them they will not stop firing missiles.

I think Sid Ryan is an example of a left over wing of Trostsykites, Marxist-Leninists, and Maoists who were very active in trade unions in the 1960's and still have a rump of supporters in the academic field-they are still to be found in various units of CUPE.

I doubt they represent the mainstream CUPE members but they are extremely vocal and well organized. They do not distinguish in their comments between Israel and Jews in many of their comments and for example Mr. Ryan has repeatedly referred to Israel as engaging in genocide and Nazi behaviour a classic example of engaging in comments that attack the memory of all holocaust survivors and demonize all Israelis-he does not discuss Israeli actions in terms of policies but in terms of an entire people behaving in an evil manner, something that is very destructive and incites hatred whether its done to criticize Israel or for that matter the Palestinian people, i.e., referring to Palestinians and Hamas interchangeably.

Sid Ryan is an unfortunate example of the wing nuts that surface with very extreme views and it is actually embarassing to hear him speak. He sounds like he is in a manic phase. He speaks in a rapid fire scream.

The sad thing about the Sid Ryans of this dialogue is they never speak in specific terms. So for example they will say Israel should or Israel should not, but then when you ask them to give specifics as to what they should do, he changes the subject. If for example you ask him, how does Israel speak to Hamas when Hamas has indicated they will not stop firing missiles? His standard answer is stop apartheid and occupation of Palestine.

When you then say to him that Israel is not in Gaza and left he then says they are guilty of an embargo. when you say but the reason for the embargo is because of weapons being smuggled into Gaza he then says Hamas has the right to defend themselves against occupation. When you then state but Israel is not in Gaza he then repeats the same comment about the embargo.

What Sid Ryan has not been honest about is the true agenda he supports. He is part of a vocal group that believes Israel should be ended and turned into a non Jewish democratic state. When you then ask him how is that possible when Hamas has made it clear it pursues orthodox Sharia law which would not recognize non Muslims in the state as equals, he won't respond.

Sid Ryan is from an old school of thought that believes Israel is a colonial puppet. You can actually find all his platform by reading the 1960's KGB manifestoes which formed the basis for the platform of the groups in Canada and in Europe and the United States when they used to issue their pamphlets and essays.

It actually has not changed at all. Its remarkably stagnant and unoriginal. So for some of us we simply see Sid Ryan as a dinosaur but a dangerous one. He is so convinced his views are the only correct ones he would engage in McCarthyism of the worst kind.

If nothing else Sid Ryan shows a complete lack of disrespect of the freedom of expression in the Canadian Charter of Rights and I think any attempt his union would make to try single out certain political views and assure people have them would be an absolute violation of the Canadian Charter not to mention are irrational.

I mean imagine if someone took this man's proposal seriously. Then what. Do we really think Sid would use it in the same manner to screen out Hamas extremists, holocaust revisionists, people who support Sudan's actions, etc.?

Mr. Ryan's position reeks of hippocracy and selectivity precisely because he has been silent on all human rights issues outside Canada except Israel's actions.

More to the point one must ask what the hell is an Ontario union's leader doing? Is it his mandate to incite criticism of Israel foreign policy? How is that the mandate of his union? Its a classic case of an individual who grew bored with his union activities, is unchallenged within his own union and so is free to rave and rant.

I doubt he can be reigned in by the federal office of CUPE due to the constitution of CUPE which gives its provincial heads great powers to do what they want. He also has a very loyal cell that keeps him protected and immune from criticism within his own union. I know union memebrs who have called me for legal help claiming they were being harassed at work for refusing to speak out against Israel by Sid Ryan's circle.

Its a sad day for freedom of speech when people like Ryan can get so much air play.

But in one sense it has a benefit. Hopefully it shows people the dangers of extreme views and how they lead people to become so extreme they scream out demanding selective censureship of only some people but not others.

It is the very extreme bias of Sid Ryan that ultimately will expose him as a nut bar.

In the meantime we all have to try engage in debate on both sides of any issue and do so in a manner that avoids personal attacks and negative general characteristics on an entire people.

in Mr. Ryan's case some are now accusing him of having hidden agendas and motives and of being anti-semitic precisely because his comments now attack all Israelis and all Jews.

Interesting Mr. Ryan has been silent on whether this oath of allegiance he wants from Israelis to say they are against Israel's actions in Gaza will apply to Israeli Christians, Israeli Muslims, Israeli Druze, Israeli Bahaiis.

More to the point will he then start screening professors from countries other then Israel and make them say the same oath or simply stop with Israelis.

Clearly this power Mr. Ryan wants to have to control people's political views is an illustration of his own out of control sense of importance and righteousness.

If I did not know better from what I heard this morning on the radio I would swear he is manic depressive and in a manic phase and is off his medication. He speaks in classic hyper disconnected language that distorts values and misidentifies differences as being threatening and in need of control and pattern, classic symptoms of a person in a manic phase.

Edited January 7, 2009 by Rue

[kimmy]

Ryan was an NDP candidate for MPP in Oshawa a couple of times.

That explains a lot. I am not referring to his political affiliation, but rather his political aspirations.

It didn't seem to make much sense for a union leader to involve his union in something like this. However, if the guy has political aspirations, then perhaps he sees something like this as a springboard.

No its even better then you think. According to Sid Ryan, his union will allow Israeli professors to teach in Canada PROVIDED THEY DENOUNCE ISRAEL'S ACTIONS IN GAZA.

So in effect he is proposing a loyalty test, a political oath they must first take.

I had a professor with an Arab-sounding name. It didn't occur to me to ask what his political views on the middle east were. As he was a math professor, it didn't seem particularly relevant. He was quite good at instructing mathematics.

-k

[capricorn]

It didn't seem to make much sense for a union leader to involve his union in something like this. However, if the guy has political aspirations, then perhaps he sees something like this as a springboard.

-k

This seems to confirm what you say.

Sid Ryan was awarded the Canadian Arab Federation's Social Justice Award at their 40th anniversary dinner held in Toronto on June 16th, 2007

That same month:

In June 2007, Ryan stated that CUPE resolution against Israel "was heard around the world. While it taught me how vicious a campaign can be against those who speak out for peace and social justice, it is gratifying that support for our stand came from organizations and trade unions across the globe."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Ryan#Awards

You have to wonder whether Ryan's actions and words regarding Israel, in 2007 and at present, were meant to stroke the Arab community and the Arab Federation for having given him an award. IMO the timing of his bigoted actions and vitriol is very suspect. Everything points to the fact that this man is very shallow and will stop at nothing to curry favour with an ethnic population.

He will surely run again for elected office in Ontario. Individuals of his ilk who crave power just don't give up.

[Wilber]

Ryan was on the Buzz Cuts segment of BNN's Squeeze Play the other day. He was roasted by both Hargrove and Lang on the issue and didn't look too comfortable.

[KeyStone]

Is Sid advocating this as head of CUPE or just on his own?

Because I see no reason why his union needs to pay dues so he can go after his own agenda.

Plus the idea of collective punishment against all Israelis profs seems a bit silly. At least limit it to those that are funded by the government.

However, he's not being racist.

1) Jews are not a race.

2) The policy targets Israel - not Jews (therefore Israeli Arabs would not be allowed either)

3) Policies limiting interactions with people from specific countries is not a new concept.

4) The Hitler thing was stupid but not racist. No good can come out of Hitler analogies.