Employment vs Enslavement - By Moses

In 1971 a Major League Baseball Player, Curt Flood, and the head of the MLBPA - Marvin Miller challenged the MLB reserve clause. The reserve clause had been established the year that the American League was introduced into the Major Leagues, alongside the National League, in the year 1901. It stated that 'A player is bound to the team that signs him for the duration of his career, with renewable contracts each year of the players' career.'
This essentially legalized a team Owner as having power of attorney to enslave a player for the duration of his career. In many cases an outspoken player was banished to the Minors, even though he was highly coveted by other teams. On Owners' whims, this practice was common. Before the American League was introduced into the Major Leagues, the Majors consisted of one League, the National League. During this period - est. 1870-1900, Native Americans and Jewish Ballplayers were not allowed to play in the Majors. It was Jim Thorpe, in 1912, who became the first recognizable Native American to play in the Major Leagues, doing so with the New York Giants and Manager Joe McCarthy. During this period there was virtually no chance for a Ballplayer to earn a salary that would now seem to be ethical. It is commonly acknowledged that George Herman Ruth, 'The Babe', helped players to earn salaries that were more representative of Owners' profits. In 1931, Babe Ruth earned $80,000/year. When a sports writer asked Ruth if he thought that it was appropriate for a Ballplayer to earn more than President Herbert Hoover, Ruth replied 'I had a better year than him.' This still didn't prohibit a Baseball organization from owning their players by reserve clause.
Over the course of the years of 1870-1946, African Americans were not permitted to play in the Majors. This precedent was set in 1883, when a 'Black' Ballplayer by the name of Moses Fleetwood Walker was told he couldn't remain on the team that signed him. The team that wanted to break the color barrier was in Ohio and a team from Kentucky pushed the issue, negating Walker from playing because he was 'Black'. Jews likewise weren't allowed to play in the Majors until the advent of the American League, and it wasn't until the early 30's that there was a name Jewish Ballplayer in the Major Leagues, Henry Greenberg. This issue was brought up again by Cum Posey, who organized the Negro Leagues in 1922, as an act of defiance to the racism felt by all 'Blacks' during this time. It wasn't until 1947 that a Major League Owner employed (rather enslaved as evidenced by the reserve clause) a 'Black' man in the game of Baseball. Branch Rickey, Owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Jackie Robinson to play in the Dodgers Farm System with the Montreal Royals. When Rickey was asked why he signed two 'Black' Ballplayers, hence breaking the color barrier, he replied 'What was I supposed to my maker if I didn't?'
It was still common at this time in Canada and the U.S.A to see signs in front of Golf Courses reading 'No Indians, Jews, or Coloreds allowed'.
It wasn't until Marvin Miller was named head of the MLBPA est. 1969, that changes finally surfaced for good. An African-American Ballplayer by the name of Curt Flood was playing for the St. Louis Cardinals and was unhappy with his salary. He asked for a 10% raise and was denied by Cardinal brass. On Marvin Miller's' advice, Flood sat out the 1971 Baseball season to test the MLB reserve clause. Flood and Miller went before Commissioner Bowie Kuhn (who represented the Owners) and were denied Free Agency status. In Spring Training of 1975 a Caucasian Ballplayer by the name of Andy Messersmith test the waters again, following the advice again set by Marvin Miller. At the end of the 1975 season, having sat out, Miller and Messersmith went before an arbitrator that couldn't be denied the MLBPA, and this time Free-Agency status was granted to Messersmith. As a result of the arbitrators' ruling, a Collective Bargaining Agreement became paramouont as every Ballplayer in the Majors that hadn't signed for the year, could claim Free-Agency status without having to sit out a season (as evidenced by Reggie Jackson signing with the Baltimore Orioles in 1975/76). The arbitrator in the Messersmith case ruled that a Player could not be Owned by his team Owner and this resulted in the first Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Commissioner of MLB Bowie Kuhn (representing the Owner's) and the MLBPA headed by Marvin Miller.
This was essentially the end of enslavement in Canada and the U.S.A, as America's Pastime couldn't deny a Player basic human rights pertaining to ethical contracts. The irony to the end of enslavement in Canada and the U.S.A in 1975/76 is that it was to never to have occured in the first place. Moses freed the Hebrew slaves of Goshen, Egypt from 400 years of enslavement at the hands of Pharoah Pithses and Pharoah Ramses. Likewise there was another 400 years of slavery amongst 'Blacks' in America set by the 'White' American Patriots. As Abraham Lincoln supposedly ended slavery amongst African-Americans during his Presidency in America, this was essentially false as evidenced by the practices of Southern States, and Apartheid within South Africa. When Apartheid ended in South Africa in the early 90's we finally realized the dream that Curt Flood and Marvin Miller had when they challenged the reserve clause in 1971, holding MLB accountable to 'employ' rather than to 'enslave' their Players.
In Hebrew Law it states 'A man is entitled to be employed seven years to another man', not enslaved. This Law was established to ensure that there would never again be another Goshen.

Construction Unions Within Toronto Canada - by Moses

With the upcoming Pan-American Games being held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada there are many construction contracts being met. Today, it is grossly offensive to many that roughly 80% of the current construction unions are comprised of Portuguese Canadians and Italian Canadians. It stands to reason that this growth industry will be divided differently over time. Within the next 5 years (possibly within the next year) a 'Native' Mandate is to employ 20% 'Native' people within the breakdown of construction unions in Toronto. Likewise, a 20% share to African-Canadians, with the remaining 60% divided amongst Italian Canadian, Portuguese Canadian, English Canadian, French Canadian, and minorities not mentioned.
There is a saying in custom that 'reality is what a person sees', paramount to vision. To not realize that the current breakdown within the construction unions is prejudice is an act of denial. What does Sitting Bull, Running Deer, or anyone with beliefs in Aboriginal ancestry and descent think of their descendants being shunted from Toronto's labour force. The Mandate being put forth is necessary in order to change common sentiments of many Torontonians that; 'Natives' are lazy, 'Natives' are alcoholics and drug addicts, 'Natives' don't know or lack the necessities to be successful in a Metropolitan City. These are the same negative connotations faced by African-Canadians. The uprising against this perceived 'Native' prejudice will do wonders for the city's' psyche.
Ironically, it is a Public Educational system (Christian/or Anglo) and a Catholic School Board (Catholic/or French) that the City of Toronto employs. This affects the city in two ways;

1. A 'good' Catholic gets a job in the construction union, because he is hard working (most of the time Portuguese Canadian or Italian Canadian).

2. A good Canadian gets a job in profession (and this is a Christian Nation in many ways).

One runs the unions (Church-the home), and the other sets policy (state). This is classic division of Church and State.

Where do 'Native', 'African', 'Judaic', 'Muslim', 'Hindu', 'Buddhist', or 'Taoism' mandatory education occur?

The home.

and,

Who controls the Church (essentially the home)?

The unions.

and,

Who controls the unions?

Well I don't know about you, but isn't 80% of our construction unions in Toronto comprised of Italian Canadians and Portuguese Canadians?

What concerns this writer is this; If every Italian Canadian and Portuguese Canadian is accounted for a slice of the pension, what about 'Native' Canadians and African Canadians?

Historical Perspectives - by Moses

It is the year 2011 A.D and we've turned the corner in North America with respect to the accuracies of the documentation of modern day wars. For example; World War 1, World War 2, and the Vietnam War amongst other wars have been put into perspective for our young. The accuracies within these three wars will never be eliminated. Perhaps some new information will enter the picture, however, North Americans have digested enough information to be within their own formulated opinions. Take for example the most recent of the three aforementioned wars, the Vietnam War. In the eighties, many were of the opinion that this war was orchestrated by Republican President Richard Nixon. In actual fact, two terms before Nixon, Democrat President John F. Kennedy ordered American troops to fight the Viet-Cong of North Vietnam (essentially fighting communism). After Kennedy's assassination many Americans protested this war, and by the time Richard Nixon was elected into office public perception of the Vietnam War was, by majority, against the occupation of North Vietnam.
It was at the start of the second decade of the 20th century when Austrian Prince Ferdinand was killed by the German Military, and Austria alongside Hungary declared war against Germany, hence World War 1.
During World War 2, the Nazi Party set out to exterminate Jews all over the European continent, and alongside Mussolini and Japan, almost succeeded in taking over the World.
Keeping World events in perspective is paramount to our educational system. Knowing what happened historically is very socially relevant as it helps mind our conscience. Whether it be Holocaust denyers, or those that condoned Apartheid within South Africa as it occurred. We need to be cohesive historically in order for students to truly learn. Some say 'ignorance is bliss', I say 'ignorance is ignorance'. In 500 years there will be another news' story to be covered. I just want the truth of the story. Not to say that the news is 100% accurate, however, it is the confidence that we have in the reports that we see that shapes historical events. The Titanic did go down to the bottom of the ocean. This cannot be argued against. The World Trade Center Towers were destroyed in a day of reckoning on September 11, 2001, a fact that cannot be denied. While there may be some information that enters the picture after the fact, the nuts and bolts of the events is fact.
Our young need to have the confidence that a piece of the pie isn't just taken out of the equation to satisfy a new regime. History is just that, events that have occurred over time.

Fear - by Moses

Paralyzing, the stun gun effect, the force that immobilizes oneself. Many would say that fear drives a person to achieve greatness. Is that for a chosen few, or for the entire populous?
With roughly 20% of all Canadians' suffering from an acute mental health issue, it is apparent that fear does not drive everyone. Fifty years ago people didn't admit to their shortcomings, and sociologically they developed differently than today. In todays' age, pharmaceuticals are implemented into the diet treating an acute mental health issue. Fifty years ago, pharmaceuticals were still in its' inception. Most people would agree that fear has become epidemic in our society today.
To combat fear, therapies (alongside pharmaceuticals in acute cases) are introduced. Colors, writing, music, sports are but a few therapies that help shape those that are having a tough time combating fear(s). How one feels is very relevant in the analysis of fear. Honest to emotion isn't always the almighty truth. Sometimes we need to take a step back and evaluate what it is that is causing the fear. i.e - I'm very angry, and I want to punch the mirror. This does not mean to punch the mirror.
In psychiatric facilities, colors are used to stimulate a persons' mood. Greens and browns (earth colors) are used to sedate. Violet and peach are used to warm moods. Listening to calm music to slow down is another form of therapy, likewise playing a piano to feel good.
The stigma of admitting our fears, as was such fifty years ago, has slowly dissipated and today we're entering a new dawn. Group therapy is a tremendous forum as it gets people to talk about their inner fears, helping to overcome them.
What, you may ask, is the stun gun effect?
A momentary lapse of reason perhaps. Let's not hold ourselves hostage to this ongoing dilemma.