On May 21st Diana Johnstone published a long-winded conspiracy theory on Consortium News. The conspiracy included myself, and several past and present contributors to Counterpunch, including CP’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey St. Clair, CP contributor and podcast host Eric Draitser and past contributor Alexander Reid Ross. Further, Johnstone substantially cited an article by Elise Hendrick from her…
Who doesn’t love comedy? Laughing is enjoyable, cathartic and healthy. Plus, in our dystopic day and age of climate change, endless war, poverty, the rise of neofascism, and the overall ascension of misogyny, crony capitalism and white supremacy, comedy can be both highly educational and a necessary diversion. Therefore, it is not surprising that comedians,…
I have been pretty vocal about the dangerous cozying up between left and right, which is a real phenomenon that predictably occurs when the liberal establishment is thoroughly corrupted (see here and here). However, I have several major problems with Alexander Reid Ross’s latest piece, published today by the Liberal Zionist publication Haaretz, a problematic…
Recently, many progressives have debated the utility/futility of crossing ideological lines and collaborating on isolated joint interests with people who hold opposite views. By ‘opposite’ I mean that while the left works to uphold/expand rights and advocate for justice for all oppressed communities and against moneyed and/or racist agendas, potential collaborators on the right actively…
A Discussion with Professor George Koob on Social Media Addiction Nowadays, virtual spaces make up a significant portion of the contexts wherein people congregate, share thoughts and discuss ideas. Social media is a prominent battleground for the hearts and minds of all smartphone users, which in 2017 totalled a staggering 2.32 billion people worldwide….
The word fascism has undergone a renaissance, and with good reason. A series of global affairs, culminating in the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States have rattled the hegemony of neoliberalism and elevated the reactionary right. But Donald Trump has not revolutionized the presidency. Since taking office, he has continued and…
‘Whiteness’ is a relatively novel concept, which continues to evolve. In the 19th and 20th centuries, it served to stratify Europe and its colonies into classes of privileged white people with full rights and ‘others’ to be disenfranchised, used as manual labor, or eliminated. Societies that champion ‘whiteness’ as the focal point of their identity…
UPDATED 8/24/18 WITH MORE EXAMPLES As a writer/political analyst, I focus on several topics that I believe can benefit from my contributions. These include Israel/Palestine, the arts, sciences and American politics. The combination of my education and experience affords me the knowledge and ability to add my viewpoint to debates that are constructed of many…
Rats are opportunistic social mammals that can adapt to – and survive in – a plethora of environments. They are skilled diggers, climbers and swimmers, have highly developed olfaction and hearing and communicate by leaving scent markings and emitting ultrasonic vocalizations. Rats can serve as vectors for a variety of diseases. For example, the “Black…
Last weekend the personal care brand Dove released an ad that went viral. In it, a black woman was transformed into a white woman after using Dove soap. The public outrage was swift and brutal. How could Dove release such a blatantly racist campaign? Surely the commercial had to go through a rigorous review process….