CUPE Leader Sid Ryan Apologizes for Comments About Israel
Sid Ryan Makes an Empty Apology
No, he did not apologize for his plan to ban Israeli professors from Ontario’s campuses. No, he did not apologize for his double standard against Israel; since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, thousands of Hamas rockets have been fired into Israel and have hit several Israeli schools.
What he apologized for is the part where he compared Israel’s actions to those of the Nazis during World War II. The Nazis who demolished learning institutions and burnt all religious books, compared to the Israel Defense Force who targeted a building allegedly housing terrorists. Canadians were outraged at such a racist comment and Ryan had no choice but to take his comment back.
While apologizing for this ghastly remark is a step in the right direction, Sid Ryan has not swayed his position at all. This empty apology leads me and all of my fellow Canadians to ask, “Now what?”
What will become of Sid Ryan’s position at CUPE?
There have been thousands upon thousands of demands for action to be taken against Sid Ryan for his comments. People across the nation feel that he is proposing a violation of the rights and freedoms of Israeli professors as well as ruining the fundamental building blocks of universities – freedom of speech and thought. Canada is left wondering when CUPE’s national wing, or for that matter, when the provincial or federal governments will step in and take a stance on Ryan’s heinous actions. Ryan has been allowed to recklessly run loose and the citizens of our country feel it is time for our REAL political leaders to step in.
What will become of Sid Ryan’s position in the NDP?
Sid Ryan has never been elected into a legislative body but has attempted to on numerous occasions, twice in federal elections, and three times in provincial elections. Ryan has been a member of the NDP for two decades and his position with CUPE makes him a very high profile candidate. This leaves NDP leader Jack Layton in a very difficult position. If Ryan could keep his big mouth shut, he would be a very valuable MP or MPP to the New Democratic Party. However, after this recent tirade, I find it very unlikely that Layton will allow him to run. The NDP finally gained some momentum in the recent federal election and allowing someone like Ryan to run for parliament would result in a severe loss of reputation for the party. If Layton wants to maintain the professional image they worked hard to achieve, Ryan must be removed from the equation.
It is clear that Sid Ryan has his own anti-Israel agenda that can only be viewed as racist. What else could be the purpose of his comments? Ontario schools are in no way related to the fighting in Gaza. Furthermore, if Ryan feels so strongly about protecting learning institutions then why did he not utter a word when a Palestinian gunman entered an Israeli Yeshiva (a religious learning institution) and killed 8 young boys and men ranging from ages 15 – 26? Why does he not denounce scholars from other nations where there are cases of genocide? Why does he only seem to surface when Israel takes action but not when anyone else does?
Related posts:
- CUPE Gets Political – Sid Ryan Boycotts Academics From Israel CUPE is the Canadian Union of Public Employees that represents...
- CUPE National President Paul Moist Says Sid Ryan is Wrong CUPE National president, Paul Moist, released a statement on January...
- Back to Work Legislation for CUPE, Ending the York University Strike? Ontario’s premier, Dalton McGuinty, will soon announce plans to legislate...
- Canada Strengthens Position on Israel-Gaza Conflict As the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza...
- Israel Threatens a Disproportionate Attack on Hamas Since Israel’s January 18th ceasefire, there have been numerous Hamas...
Loading ...
January 8th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Why should he apologize for Israels blatant disregard for human life when they choose to Invade a country which DOES NOT have the arm power supported by the US? This ridiculous Isreali offensive should not be supported and I think he’s entitled to withholding support for terrorism that Isreal is. Soon Israel will have to withdraw like they did when they went into Southern Lebanon only to find the defense will stifle their efforts. When international voices speak against, Israel stands strong in having it’s best ally, the US, support it’s offensive into an armless state.
Israel is like the Nazi’s… why should he apologize? The reason they don’t want the media in Gaza is to prevent the world from seeing the atrocities they (Israel) commit there… killing children and women and helpless people… of course they don’t want the similarities to the Nazi’s to be seen nor publicized.
Ryan shouldn’t have to apologize for anything. Maybe Israel should start apologizing for a change.
January 8th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
How dare you support Ryan’s comparison of the IDF to the Nazis!
Do you know anything about the atrocities the Nazis committed? They burned young children, men, and women alive in ovens; they gassed mothers clutching their infants in gas chambers, leaving them to gasp for their last breath, they travelled Europe looking for Jews to round up and shoot straight in the face, while helpless men and women and children begged for their lives
How in the world can you compare an armed force that is trying to protect their people from Hamas Terrorists to the Nazi Party, that murdered 6 million Jews and millions more Non- Jews in cold blood- FOR NO REASON other than they were different.
I suggest you research the ideologies Hamas and other Arab Nations follow, which is based on Hitler’s beliefs of the Jews and his desire to rid the world of them.
The Nazis were animals, cold and heartless non-humans who committed some of the most atrocious war-crimes this world has ever seen. The Israeli Defense Forces are PROTECTING their citizens from a people that, for the most part (NOT ALL) want Israel to be destroyed.
Another fact for you: Israelis call a house before they bomb and INFORM the occupants to evacuate because it will be bombed. Please tell me, how many armed forces do such things? THe IDF are probably one of the most ethical armies of the world.
January 9th, 2009 at 12:51 am
“Why should he apologize for Israels blatant disregard for human life when they choose to Invade a country which DOES NOT have the arm power supported by the US’?” – Poor guys they are just funded by Iran and sending rockets into Israel.
“This ridiculous Isreali offensive should not be supported and I think he’s entitled to withholding support for terrorism that Isreal is.” – Frankly I’m surprised that they didn’t do it earlier and sufferd for 3 years like 6000 rockets fired at them, I guess you would give stand and apologize to the man tho burns your house.
“killing children and women and helpless people…” – Hmm… yup those are the same that the Hamas fired rockets on DELIBERATLY for 8 years or you forgot this samll fact? And what about those so called freedom fighters? Where they are? Hiding behind the children and women?
“Ryan shouldn’t have to apologize for anything.” – Well, I see. So basically you support also you can’t be heard and cant post and can’t go to academic institute since I don’t like view or don’t like our race. Yup the opposite to Nazi idiolog I’d say. Maybe the Nazi here is Sid Ryan himself.
As I remember this is the Nazi’s started, first they expelled all jews from academic institutes, then boycot their shops. Do you the similarit?
Be glad that you live in Canada where you can speak your mind although I think you would have fit well in Iran also.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:08 am
You call Gaza an armless state? That alone disproves your credibility. Hamas has launched thousands of missiles into Israel. They have an organized military wing with more than enough firepower to create a war.
Israel doesnt want the media in Gaza so that there are less people injured. They dropped flyers and did everything possible to get people to evacuate before they entered. And they try and only hit terrorist targets. Obviously there will be casualties, some by mistake, some due to the palestinians’ use of human shields.
But the bottom line is, if you look at any other time a country has made a ground offensive, in the history of the world, there has never been an entrance more peaceful as this. Headlines would normally read thousands dead, people slaughtered, houses blown up, etc. But all we have here is that “some believe” that this target was civilians and “some believe” it was terrorists. There have been no deliberate killiings of any innocent people and Israel should be applauded for this. They only attack those suspected of terrorism. Israel is the world leader for fighting terrorism and should be commended for their efforts.
January 9th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
LOL how unaware you are of the actual ability of the Hamas militia. Trust me had they had the arm power you speak of, Israels existence in the territory they were placed in after WW1 because they were homeless (this was done mainly by the british to accommodate the influx of people that were not welcome in their land, perhaps a pattern), they wouldn’t be around now. They are a nation of trouble makers backed by the US because they have financial and diplomatic ties there. They are Nazi’s…. and I have absolutely no hesitation of saying it based on your comment “peaceful entrance” are you kidding me?! If it was soooo peaceful why don’t they allow the media to document it?
Please “Israel had done nothing wrong” you are clueless like the rest of you zionists that think you are entitled to things you aren’t… your comment is obviously based on israeli backed media and your lack of education about the region and how Israel got there in the first place. Read your history books (not the one THEY worship) and then talk knowledge.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
[...] Now, all this may seem very great, however, if you read closely, this statement seems as empty as Sid Ryan’s recent apology. Paul Moist left many questions unanswered. Why has Sid Ryan not gotten punished for his actions [...]