Lumpy, Grumpy and Frumpy: 2011

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Thanks for visiting

I started this blog in 2009 as a way to tell people about the pro- and anti-Israel events I was witnessing in Toronto but I've decided it's time to close up shop.

A lot has changed since 2009. More people and organizations are aware of the anti-Israel actions taking place on the streets of Toronto. More people are blogging about local events that are of interest to people who support Israel and care about Western values. Very smart people are coming up with and implementing strategies to counter negative and untrue anti-Israel propaganda. These are all good changes. On the other hand, there have been a lot of major changes in countries around the world and only time will tell if they are for the better.

Thank you to everyone who has visited my little blog.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Michael Coren at York University

Some friends and I went to York University last night to hear Michael Coren speak about Israel. Coren was fantastic!

As Coren spoke, York student Jesse Zimmerman, who is often seen at anti-Israel events in Toronto, could be heard interjecting unintelligible sounds and words such as "Palestine!" from the back of the room. He started out not too loud and gradually gained in volume. At one point, Coren asked if everything was alright up there; I don't think Zimmerman responded with much, if anything.

But when Coren defined and denounced "filthy antisemites," Zimmerman stormed to the microphone and called Coren a "piece of sh**". He shouted a few times, "You just called me an antisemite," demanded to debate Coren and refused to engage in respectful dialogue until security hustled him out of there.

Coren was obviously devastated:

Michael Coren has a blog post up about last night. He's got a link to video but I can't access it for some reason. Blazing Cat Fur remembers my previous encounters with Zimmerman and friends.

Update #1: I think this might be the York University Pledge to Respectful Dialogue (it might not be official policy right now):

Update #2: Welcome, readers of Blazing Cat Fur!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Anti-Mubarak Rally, Queen's Park, February 5, 2011

A friend took these photos at the anti-Mubarak rally at Queen's Park in Toronto on Saturday. Photos used with permission.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Scenes from the Anti-Mubarak Rally, Toronto, January 29, 2011 - Part 11

Here are a few final pics from last Saturday's rally in Dundas Square.

See my other photos here.

Update: Welcome, readers of Scaramouche!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Scenes from the Anti-Mubarak Rally, Toronto, January 29, 2011 - Part 1

Blazing Cat Fur and Five Feet of Fury have reports on the bizarre mishmash of people at the rally today.

As Dutch says, the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt are following the model of the French Revolution rather than the American Revolution. It's not promising for those of us who value democracy as embodied by Western civilization.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Scenes from the Anti-Mubarak Rally, Toronto, January 29, 2011 - Part 2

Looking for an Israeli product to boycott.

Jesse Zimmerman

There were a lot of these signs bearing the logo of the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War, the organization headed by James Clark, one of the people who sued the Canadian government on behalf of George Galloway.