http://christophermoorehistory.blogspot.com/2010/09/queer-ottawa-2-place-to-call-our-own.html
Jordan Kerr
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The LSR and some much needed optimism...
The League for Social Reconstruction (LSR) was a socialist think tank that existed in Canada between 1931 and 1942. Though incredibly idealistic their philosophy of society and human nature is nonetheless inspiring and brought out in me some much needed optimism. Some analysis and reflection on LSR philosophy is given in Michiel Horn's "The League for Social Reconstruction: Intellectual Origins of the Democratic Left in Canada 1930-1942." (University of Toronto Press, 1980):
"They believe that man is essentially co-operative rather than competitive; they have faith in his ultimate rationality and goodness."...At one point they write that the planned economy 'must invite allegiance' of every educated individual 'who has, in addition, a sense of social justice and has not soured in his hopes of human nature.'...Adjust the social and economic environment, and the human material will not show itself wanting." ...Sceptics will entertain the suspicion that the LSR's hopes rested on far too kindly a view of human nature...There will perhaps always be sceptics who believe such optimism to be foolish and mistaken, possibly even pernicious. The sceptics may be right. All the same, it is churlish to speak ill of those who would think well of us, who in any case think better of us than we believe ourselves to be." pp. 96-98
To end, in our increasingly secular and globalized world perhaps it would be helpful to reflect on this poem by Frank Scott, a member of the LSR, concerning this optimism.
"They believe that man is essentially co-operative rather than competitive; they have faith in his ultimate rationality and goodness."...At one point they write that the planned economy 'must invite allegiance' of every educated individual 'who has, in addition, a sense of social justice and has not soured in his hopes of human nature.'...Adjust the social and economic environment, and the human material will not show itself wanting." ...Sceptics will entertain the suspicion that the LSR's hopes rested on far too kindly a view of human nature...There will perhaps always be sceptics who believe such optimism to be foolish and mistaken, possibly even pernicious. The sceptics may be right. All the same, it is churlish to speak ill of those who would think well of us, who in any case think better of us than we believe ourselves to be." pp. 96-98
To end, in our increasingly secular and globalized world perhaps it would be helpful to reflect on this poem by Frank Scott, a member of the LSR, concerning this optimism.
The world is my country
The human race is my race
The spirit of man is my God
The future of man is my heaven
p. 98
Jordan Kerr
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Re-Reading...
I'm re-reading one of my favourite books for an essay, "The League for Social Reconstruction: Intellectual Origins of the Democratic Left in Canada 1930-1942." by Michiel Horn (University of Toronto Press, 1980). Just thought I would share.
Jordan
Jordan
Queer Ottawa #1
This is old but I forgot to post it. The first post in a series on Queer Ottawa history can be found here.
Jordan
Jordan
Friday, September 24, 2010
Remarks on the Occasion of the Unveiling of the Statue of L.B. Pearson on Parliament Hill...
I was recently given a copy of the remarks made Lester B. Pearon's late son Geoffrey (he's GAHP in the top right corner) on the unveiling of his fathers statue on Parliament Hill in 1990. Geoffrey Pearson wrote "Seize the Day : Lester B. Pearson and crisis diplomacy" (Carleton University Press, 1993) which traces his father's role as Secretary of State for External Affairs and was working through a book on LBP as prime minister before he passed away in 2008. I do believe (though I'd have to check to confirm) that he assisted in LBP's memoirs and a biography written on the former Prime Minister. Geoffrey Pearson led a distinguished diplomatic and public service career,with several ambassadorial positions, including to the USSR from 1980-1983.
Anyway, here's a photograph of the remarks. I thought they were worth sharing.
Jordan Kerr
Anyway, here's a photograph of the remarks. I thought they were worth sharing.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Busy, Busy, Busy...
School is about two weeks in and I'm swamped! The work hit me like a tidal wave and as such I haven't had time to post here. I do post on Monday's on Christoper Moore's History News. I have a few ideas for posts here just not the time to realize them!
I hope everyone's settling into Autumn nicely!
JK
I hope everyone's settling into Autumn nicely!
JK
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Justin Trudeau Eulogy of P.E. Trudeau...
This still gets to me when I watch it. Perhaps from this it can be gleaned that Justin has more of a political future than what many have assumed.
random uni student
random uni student
Thursday, September 9, 2010
"Curing Gays Isn't Charity..."
With my various posts on Tommy Douglas and queer history you'd be correct to assume that I sit somewhere on the left side of the political spectrum. However, I don't want to make this blog too directly political, aside from the occasional comment on less sensitive issues. So, I won't comment on these two links from (what I believe is) a leading Canadian LGBT blog, "Slap Upside the Head". and you let take from them what you will.
"Curing" Gays Isn't Charity
Slap Into Action: "Curing" Gays Isn't Charity
The blog was found via this post from Hill Queeries, the political blog from the LGBT newspaper Xtra!
random uni student
"Curing" Gays Isn't Charity
Slap Into Action: "Curing" Gays Isn't Charity
The blog was found via this post from Hill Queeries, the political blog from the LGBT newspaper Xtra!
random uni student
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
National Post on Tommy Douglas and...Jack Bauer?...worst article ever!
In connection to my last post, I happened to glance at the National Post today in a corner store and noticed there was an article on the soon-to-be unveiled Tommy Douglas statue. When I got home I looked up the paper online (because...really, who actually buys the paper anymore?) and found a candidate for the worst newspaper article of the year! On the front page of the Post (yes, you read that right, the front page) with two huge pictures of Tommy Douglas and Keifer Sutherland is a critique of current political issues from the perspective of....wait for it...Jack Bauer, the fictional Fox TV character of "24". Sure, I can see doing an article on what Keifer thinks about the issues, showing the evolution of the family and differences time has made but honestly, what the hell does Jack Bauer have to do with the perspectives of Tommy Douglas or current Canadian political issues for that matter!
Sure, the article is cheeky and I'm not saying it doesn't have a place in the paper or is useless but honestly, does it really deserve to be front page news and be the only article on the Douglas statue? Seems demeaning to me...but maybe it's supposed to be...as the National Post is a rather conservative paper. I still would have expected more respect even from a conservative paper. Hopefully they'll have a more tasteful article on Friday on the unveiling...but I'm going to assume we can read about it on page c-12.
I know it's only a comment article and not a news article...but it's still useless and rather inappropriate. In the Post's weak defense I will note that they do mention Douglas as a "Canadian political icon".
Be annoyed!
random uni student
Sure, the article is cheeky and I'm not saying it doesn't have a place in the paper or is useless but honestly, does it really deserve to be front page news and be the only article on the Douglas statue? Seems demeaning to me...but maybe it's supposed to be...as the National Post is a rather conservative paper. I still would have expected more respect even from a conservative paper. Hopefully they'll have a more tasteful article on Friday on the unveiling...but I'm going to assume we can read about it on page c-12.
I know it's only a comment article and not a news article...but it's still useless and rather inappropriate. In the Post's weak defense I will note that they do mention Douglas as a "Canadian political icon".
Be annoyed!
random uni student
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