City Council

The Subaltern Cannot Speak?

EdwardW — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 07:42:32 -0800

The Subaltern Cannot Speak?

In response to Rob Ford's refusal to appologize and his continued defence of his comments, Victoria Shen, Co-President of the Chiense Canadian National Council has posted an excellent critique and call for people to challenge Ford.

http://www.blogto.com/city/2008/03/open_letter_re_rob_ford/index.php

While as a friend commented it is hardly shocking to see an elected-official being racist, it is quite unsettling to see the number of, at least they claim, asians and Chinese coming to the defence of Ford. Is this indicative of how sophisticated systems of oppression currently in placea are? Have subjugated peoples internalized their position?

As usual with any internet website, a plethora of illogical comments have been posted...

Quote:

So now the word "oriental" is racist, because Victoria Shen attributes negative stereotypes to it?

Or is only when a white guy says "oriental" that it's racist.

Toronto Councillor Rob Ford Makes Racist Comments Against Asians

EdwardW — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:16:08 -0800

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/310088

"Mayor David Miller sharply criticized Councillor Rob Ford today for “outrageous and absolutely unacceptable” comments about Asians during a council debate.

Speaking last night during a debate over expanding business openings on holidays, Ford said, “Oriental people are slowly taking over.”

Ford went on to describe people from the Far East as workaholics. “Those Oriental people work like dogs … they sleep beside their machines.” he said. “They’re hard, hard workers.” "

Activists Demand for Action in Aid of The Homeless

EdwardW — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:47:23 -0800

On Tuesday, as a result of the death of another homeless person, an Aboriginal man who froze to death in a stairwell at Yonge and Charles, the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty organized an emergency action at Toronto City Hall. According to Gaetan Heroux, an OCAP organizer, city officials laughably claimed that there were adequate shelter spaces and service provisions for the homeless, defying claims by the very people, social workers and others, staffed at the shelters.