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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

Scenes from the Anti-Mubarak Rally, Toronto, January 29, 2011 - Part 3

 James Clark, Toronto Coalition to Stop the War

Ali Mallah, VP, Canadian Arab Federation
Sid Lacombe, Canadian Peace Alliance

 El-Farouk Khaki, Queers Against Israeli Apartheid

Jenny/Ben Peto, Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid

Update:  Welcome, readers of Five Feet of Fury!

Scenes from the Anti-Mubarak Rally, Toronto, January 29, 2011 - Part 4

Lauren Mohamed

Handing out "Israeli Apartheid Week 2011" bookmarks.

Update:  Welcome, readers of Scaramouche!

Scenes from the Anti-Mubarak Rally, Toronto, January 29, 2011 - Part 5

Left Workers Communist Party of Iraq

Socialist Workers newspaper

Marxist publications

Communist Party of Iraq + flag of "Palestine"
+ signs by the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War

Update:  Welcome, readers of Five Feet of Fury!

Islamophobia or Zionphobia at the Pride Parade: either way, it's ugly

Look how this QuAIA person (I believe this is Kathy Wazana) treated this woman in a burka. All because the woman in the burka was carrying a truthful sign about Islamic intolerance. The QuAIA person (Kathy Wazana) was using an expensive camera; she didn't need to get that close. It looks like there's another guy filming up close in the bottom photo.

Once again, breaking their own code of conduct for the Pride Parade. Those guidelines must have just been for show because they didn't seem to follow any of the rules. Except someone obviously ran to get the cops when Meir Weinstein dared to look at them.

It's all about "free speech" and "safe spaces" for the Queers Against Israel until a Zionist shows up.

(Photo credit: a friend. With thanks.)

Update: Welcome, readers of Five Feet of Fury, Blazing Cat Fur and Moose and Squirrel!

My video of QuAIA at the Pride Parade - for the record

(Watch it on YouTube - this Blogger format cuts off part of the image.)

There's a bit of confusion over who was marching where. So you can watch my video and see for yourself. As far as I can tell, the "F*ck the Police" people were mixed right in with the Queers Against Israeli Apartheid people.

QuAIA break their own guidelines at yesterday's Pride Parade

After Chelsey Lichtman and a few of her friends with cameras crossed from the opposite side of the QuAIA contingent to approach me and talk with me (I remained silent),


this guy left the marchers and stood directly in front of me with his large sign in an effort to stop me from videotaping. (I silently stepped around him.)

They were in contravention of their own guidelines for marching in the Pride Parade:


One of their chants was, "We're queer, we're pissed, we're anti-Zionist." Yeah, no kidding. You coulda knocked me over with a feather boa.

I also heard, "Viva viva Palestina, viva viva intifada."

Intifada? What does that mean?

"The intifada was violent from the start. During the first four years of the uprising, more than 3,600 Molotov cocktail attacks, 100 hand grenade attacks and 600 assaults with guns or explosives were reported by the Israel Defense Forces. The violence was directed at soldiers and civilians alike. During this period, 16 Israeli civilians and 11 soldiers were killed by Palestinians in the territories; more than 1,400 Israeli civilians and 1,700 Israeli soldiers were injured. Approximately 1,100 Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli troops.

"Throughout the intifada, the PLO played a lead role in orchestrating the insurrection."

That's weird. I thought we were celebrating Gay Pride yesterday.

Update: Welcome, readers of Halls of Macadamia!

QuAIA signs at yesterday's Pride Parade - 2

"F*ck the police and capitalism."

"Queers probe the police."

"F*ck the police."

"Queers hate cops."

Note: These are screen caps from my video.

QuAIA signs at yesterday's Pride Parade - 1

CUPE flag

"Corporate greed needs us."

Xtra continues to maintain its journalistic objectivity.

"Elect Chris Moise public school trustee."

Note: These are screen caps from my video.