Archive | February, 2011

  • Wael Ghonim, Wrong Again

    Wael Ghonim tweets: Once again, this is wrong.  This implies that the revolution was “organized” and orchestrated from the start by the internet activists, which is not true. Hossam el-Hamalawy is an Egyptian socialist, journalist, and photographer.  Visit his blog: .  Follow Hossam el-Hamalawy at .  This note was first published in his blog on […]

  • Father Thomas J. Hagerty: A Forgotten Religious Communist

    In the usual roll call of religious communists, Father Thomas J. Hagerty — one of the central figures involved in establishing the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW, or the Wobblies) in 1905 — seems to have slipped off the radar, with nary an entry on the Marxist Internet Archive and the smallest comment on […]

  • The Day of Wrath in Bahrain

    Among the most watched Bahraini protest videos today is this one showing police attacking protesters in Duraz, Bahrain, 14 February 2011: Protest organizers say a protester by the name of Ali Abdulhadi Mushaima, 27 years old, was killed by police in Manama. For many reasons (the corporate media’s propaganda system, many Bahraini protesters’ apparent religiosity, […]

  • Struggle for Democracy and Public Education in Puerto Rico

      “The epicenter of the struggle for the public university in Latin America is Puerto Rico.” — José Carlos Luque Brazán, professor and researcher of political science and urban planning at the Autonomous University, Mexico City1 The social conflict taking place at the University of Puerto Rico is polarizing this island to such an extent […]

  • Egypt: Oil and Gas Workers on Strike

    Thousands of workers from several oil and gas companies are on strike, protesting in front of the Ministry of Petroleum, in Nasr City.  The workers have several economic and political demands, including putting an end to abusive management practices such as sacking workers who speak up for their rights, reinstating the sacked workers, raising salaries […]

  • Integration instead of a Clash of Cultures: An Open Letter regarding the “LSE German Symposium 2011 — Integration Debate”

    We are irritated by the invitation extended to Mr. Thilo Sarrazin and Mr. Henryk M. Broder to sit on the panel of the opening event of this year’s “German Symposium” at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) on 14 February 2011, which is entitled ‘Integration Debate: Europe’s Future — “Decline of the […]

  • Washington Can’t Block Aristide’s Return or Deny Haiti’s Sovereignty

    In 1915 the U.S. Marines invaded Haiti, occupying the country until 1934.  U.S. officials rewrote the Haitian constitution, and when the Haitian national assembly refused to ratify it, they dissolved the assembly.  They then held a “referendum” in which about 5 percent of the electorate voted and approved the new constitution — which conveniently changed […]

  • Palestinians Hail the Egyptian Revolution

      Gaza, 11 February 2011 Ramallah, 11 February 2011 The Gaza video was shot by Ken O’Keefe and the Ramallah videos by Nick Marouf.   var idcomments_acct = ‘c90a61ed51fd7b64001f1361a7a71191’; var idcomments_post_id; var idcomments_post_url; | Print  

  • What Does the Egyptian Revolution Mean for the United States Government?

    The US has not supported democratization in Egypt, or really anywhere else in the Middle East, because US policymakers would not like the outcome of democratic processes.  Policies made by governments that are freely elected by the people would not reflect, would not support, let alone enforce, the US polices that are unpopular, whether that’s […]

  • Egypt: Victory of Democracy

    Victory النصر Democracy الديمقراطية Carlos Latuff is a Brazilian cartoonist.  | Print

  • Iran: Hard-Line Women Heckle Mashaei

    On 22 Bahman 1389 (11 February 2011), the 32nd anniversary of the victory of the revolution in Iran, hard-line women heckle Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, the right-hand man of the president of Iran.  The hecklers are heard shouting: “Down with monafeq!  Monafeq, get lost!”  “Mashaei, be ashamed!  Resign from the government!”  “Down with the anti-velayat-e faqih.”  […]

  • Egypt: Middle Class for Military Junta, Workers for Permanent Revolution

    Since yesterday, and actually earlier, middle-class activists have been urging Egyptians to suspend the protests and return to work, in the name of patriotism, singing some of the most ridiculous lullabies about “let’s build new Egypt,” “let’s work harder than even before,” etc.  In case you didn’t know, actually Egyptians are among the hardest working […]

  • About Wael Ghonim

    Each time he tweets, I get even more furious with this guy.  Here he wants the strikes to end, though the job isn’t finished yet!! Hossam el-Hamalawy is an Egyptian socialist, journalist, and photographer.  Visit his blog: .  Follow Hossam el-Hamalawy at .  This note was first published in his blog on 12 February 2011 […]

  • On the Egyptian Revolution and the American Strategy

    7 February 2011 . . . Today we declare our solidarity.  One of the forms of our solidarity is to defend this revolution, this intifada, this great historic popular movement.  One of the responsibilities of defending this revolution is to reveal its true image as all data indicate. . . .  We contact those on […]

  • Egypt: By Any Means Necessary

    Carlos Latuff is a Brazilian cartoonist.  | Print

  • Egypt: The Battle Is Not Over Yet

    Mubarak is gone.  This is a great day.  Let’s celebrate.  But the battle is not over yet.  We got rid of Mubarak, and now we need to get rid of the Mubarak’s regime. . . . The left half of the banner in the photo depicts “the elements of the regime that rules Egypt.”  Photo […]

  • Arab Women of the Revolution

    Inspired by the actions of young Egyptian women whose voices are weapons! Laila Shereen Sakr is a media artist known as VJ Um Amel.  Her work critically examines cyber ecologies in a post-9/11 world. var idcomments_acct = ‘c90a61ed51fd7b64001f1361a7a71191’; var idcomments_post_id; var idcomments_post_url; | Print

  • Mubarak the Laughing Cow

    Carlos Latuff is a Brazilian cartoonist.  Cf. ; Mark Landler and Helene Cooper, “Allies Press U.S. to Go Slow on Egypt” (New York Times, 8 February 2011); James Besser, “The Best Lobbyists for Egypt’s U.S. Aid: Israeli Diplomats” (Jewish Week, 9 February 2011). | Print

  • Spain: All for One and a Few against All

    The Six Mercenaries All for One and a Few against All Cf. “Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and the highest leaders of trade unions and employers signed . . . at the Moncloa Palace the economic and social accord to face the crisis.  The photo of the pact, featuring the six “musketeers” joining their […]

  • Egyptian Jokes about Hosni Mubarak

    The Interior Minister asks Hosni Mubarak to write a “Farewell Letter” to the Egyptian people.  Mubarak replies: “Why?  Where are they going?” On a popular Egyptian radio show, the deposed president of Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali requests Nancy Ajram’s song “I’m Waiting for You” . . . and dedicates it to Egyptian President […]