Category Archives: Uncategorized
Reading Wolin, Part 1: Philosophies, Theories and Ideologies
In the world of political thought, philosophies, theories and ideologies are traditionally viewed as distinct entities. A philosophy is considered a systematic and logical understanding of the world arrived at primarily through reason and intellect. A theory is also said to be systematic and logical, but aims to represent empirical data and observed evidence. In […]
A Review of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road
I have a rather ambiguous opinion of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. On one hand, it’s a beautifully phrased novel, full of powerful images and rich language. On the other hand, the plot is rather pedestrian, and the author’s defiance of writing conventions is tiresome. There’s no doubt that McCarthy is a gifted writer. Many passages […]
An Exchange on Multiculturalism
I pulled myself into a discussion of multiculturalism and had a surprisingly civil discussion with another respondent. I say “surprising” because it was in the online discussion forum for Maclean’s magazine, a place I normally avoid. [The extremism of the current editorial board has really taken its toll on a once venerable institution.] I suppose […]
Things You Learn On A Ferry Trip!
Things you learn on a Wednesday evening ferry trip! You know things aren’t right when… … you hear your ferry is canceled when you’re already half way there. … your alternative ferry terminal, Horseshoe Bay, is so windy that you don’t leave your vehicle to go to the bathroom. … you find out your 5:00 […]
Anatomy of a Murdered High School Course
On Sept. 22, The Tyee published an articled called “Anatomy of a Murdered High School Course“. Here is the text of my response: ………………….. I appreciate the article, Nick. As an English 12 teacher and part-time college instructor, I can certainly sympathize with your point of view. I’d like to add a few thoughts to […]
Jane Jacobs and Gentrification
In a recent review of Anthony Flint’s book on Jane Jacobs (Wrestling with Moses: How Jane Jacobs took on New York’s Master Builder and Transformed the American City), Jason Epstein* argues that Jacobs has had a remarkable effect on urban planning and development in North America. Her triumph over Robert Moses and James Felt (New […]
My letter on multiculturalism is used by the Globe and Mail
On Aug. 25th, a short letter I wrote to writer Daniel Stoffman was used at the beginning of his Globe and Mail question and answer session on multiculturalism. In response to his earlier article, I made the simple point that multiculturalism is not as central to the Canadian fabric as some people believe because there […]
Neil Boyd … Criminologist in the Clouds
On August 6th, Neil Boyd, a widely quoted criminologist from SFU, wrote an opinion piece that decried those who criticize him and other academic commentators on the issue of crime. Here’s a brief response. ……………….. Neil Boyd, a well known SFU criminologist, seems puzzled that people “don’t like what academics have to say” about crime. […]
Wheat from the Chaff : My Review of Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?
Susan Moller Okin’s Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women? is a fascinating application of liberal feminist theory to a major issue in western politics. Okin starts with the proposition that many ethnic minorities in multicultural societies do not believe that women are equal to men. This poses a particular problem for those who fight for equality […]
My goodness! Canwest is suddenly interested in private energy production!
Though I avoid Canwest newspapers like the plague, I occasionally read The Province and The Sun when time permits. Today’s issue of The Province is a travesty. After largely ignoring run-of-the-river hydro projects during the recent election (when I did follow the two Vancouver dailies), the newspaper has finally decided to run a series of […]