[PEN-L:6765] Defying Threats And Fighting For A Pro-Social Agenda

[SHAWGI TELL <v600a8e6@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

One of the central issues, which the events surrounding the
Shutdown of Metro Toronto highlight, is that in Canada differences
of political opinion have no "official" outlet beyond voting in
elections every 4-5 years for more of the same. Between elections,
political, economic, social and cultural concerns are routinely
turned into law and order issues. With each passing day, more and more
threats are launched against the workers of the "dire consequences" they
face if they "break the law" by shutting down the city. The more the
workers, women, youth and students, seniors and others get into action to
make the Toronto Shutdown a success, the more arrogant the threats become.
Those who menace the people are the authorities at various levels
and company executives, who support the Harris anti-social agenda
and abide no public disagreement.
     The very idea of taking job action outside the terms of union
collective agreements or in contravention with this or that labor
law is loudly declared "illegal," "un-Canadian" and even
"uncivilized." This reaction is ridiculous and a diversion from the
aim of the shutdown. If the law does not allow the people to
protest, then the people have every right to defy it. The people
have every right to fight for their views to be heard loud and
clear.
     The threats against the shutdown from the powers that be in
the city reveal the inability of the elite to politically justify
the anti-social agenda. The effort to muzzle the people, masks a
refusal to renew the political process. With democratic renewal the
people could in fact participate in governance, they could set the
direction for society themselves on the basis of their own
pro-social agenda rather than suffering the continual dictate of
the political and economic elite.
     The Toronto Shutdown is a political protest. Led by the
workers, the main form it takes is a strike October 25, coupled
with a demonstration October 26, in which all sections of the
population will join. It expresses their total disagreement with
the direction in which the Harris government is taking the society,
the methods being used to accomplish it and the vested interests
Harris represents. The protest demands that society, as its first
priority, must satisfy the claims of its members upon it, for a
livelihood, health, education and general wellbeing.
     Any attempt on the part of the authorities, no matter who they
are, to turn this protest into a law and order issue will bring
them no honor whatsoever. Far from it, it will only serve to
further deepen the political crisis in Canada and greatly sharpen
the class contradictions. Far from succumbing to the threats and
dictate of the authorities at various levels; the workers, youth
and students, women, seniors and others, must hold high the banner
of defiance to these threats and for a pro-social agenda, up to the
time justice is served. This is the only way to defend and affirm
the rights of the people.


Shawgi Tell
University at Buffalo
Graduate School of Education
V600A8E6@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx