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Category Archives: Rag Bloggers
HISTORY / Bob Feldman : A People’s History of Egypt, Part 6, 1890-1917
Cairo street scene, early 1900’s. Image from mfish. A people’s history: The movement to democratize Egypt Part 6: 1890-1917 period — Early union-building and calls for economic reform. By Bob Feldman | The Rag Blog | August 13, 2013 [With … Continue reading
Alan Waldman: ‘As Time Goes By’ is a Timeless British Comedy Classic
Waldman’s film and TVtreasures you may have missed: Dame Judi Dench and deadpan Geoffrey Palmer head a very clever cast in this long-beloved series. By Alan Waldman | The Rag Blog | August 12, 2013 [In his weekly column, Alan … Continue reading
Posted in Rag Bloggers
Tagged Alan Waldman, As Time Goes By, British Television, Criticism, Geoffrey Palmer, Judi Dench, Vintage Television
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FILM / Jonah Raskin : Reviewing ‘Fruitvale’ and Remembering the Panthers
Reviewing Coogler’s Fruitvale Stationand reflecting on the Black Panthers Fruitvale Station shows how far we’ve traveled since the days of the Panthers, and how little we’ve traveled. By Jonah Raskin | The Rag Blog | August 12, 2013 The only … Continue reading
Posted in Rag Bloggers
Tagged Black Panthers, Bobby Seale, Film, Fruitvale Station, Huey Newton, Jonah Raskin, Oakland, Oscar Grant III, Police Brutality, Racial Profiling, Racism, Ryan Coogler
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Jack A. Smith : What’s Up With the Egyptian Coup?
A man in Tahrir Square with his face painted in Egyptian colors. Image from CNN. Egypt’s coup:Progressive or regressive? It is ironic that the military — formerly loathed for upholding the dictatorship for decades, then further reviled during its controversial … Continue reading
Posted in Rag Bloggers
Tagged Egypt, Egyptian Coup, Jack A. Smith, Middle East, Mohamed Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood
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Lamar W. Hankins : Slipping Creationism into Texas Textbooks
Political cartoon by Kirk Anderson. Image from The Skeptical Teacher. How Texas’ Board of Education will slip creationism into textbooks Since a majority of the reviewers of the science texts are ‘creationists’ or proponents of ‘intelligent design,’ there can be … Continue reading
Harry Targ : Academic Freedom and the Mitch Daniels/Howard Zinn Kerfuffle
Political cartoon by Gary Varvel / Indianapolis Star Academic freedom under fire: The Mitch Daniels/Howard Zinn kerfuffle If education at any level is to be shaped by the principle of academic freedom it must encourage student exposure to varieties of … Continue reading
BOOKS / Ron Jacobs : Incarceration Complex: ‘Beyond Walls and Cages’
Incarceration complex:The desire to imprison Walls and Cages provides example after example of how central the business of incarceration is to the U.S. power elites in the twenty-first century. By Ron Jacobs | The Rag Blog | August 7, 2013 … Continue reading
Michael James : ‘El Triumph’ in Tamaulipas, Mexico, 1962
Check Point, Tamaulipas, Mexico, June 16, 1962. Photo by Michael James from his forthcoming book, Michael Gaylord James‘ Pictures from the Long Haul. Pictures from the Long Haul:El Triumph in Mexico,Check Point, Tamaulipas, 1962 I’m working hard to keep the … Continue reading
Posted in Rag Bloggers
Tagged Memoir, Mexico, Michael James, Motorcycle Trip, nostalgia, Pictures from the Long Haul, Sixties, Travel
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Alan Waldman : ‘Inspector Lynley Mysteries’ Feature Aristocratic Police Detective
Waldman’s film and TVtreasures you may have missed: Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small are excellent as the mismatched-but-successful crime-fighting pair. By Alan Waldman | The Rag Blog | August 6, 2013 [In his weekly column, Alan Waldman reviews some of … Continue reading
Robert Jensen : Peace Talks Are New Chapter in an Old Book
Peace talks: the players. Image from AP Graphics Bank. Peace talks:A new chapter in an old book Discussions about the issue, whether among citizens or by officials at the negotiating table, must begin with an acknowledgement of the power wielded … Continue reading
Posted in Rag Bloggers
Tagged Feminism, Israel, John Kerry, Middle East, Palestinian Occupation, Patriarchy, Robert Jensen, U.S. Imperialism
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Lamar W. Hankins : Alcoholics Anonymous, Nonbelievers, and the Constitution
Alcoholics Anonymous “praying hands” medallion. Image from Alternatives in Treatment. Alcoholics Anonymous, nonbelievers, and the Constitution AA proponents argue that the ‘higher power’ found in its steps can be whatever one wants it to be. Yet plainly religious practices go on … Continue reading
