Critical Theory-Shmeory

Researching Critical Social Justice in Canada

Image from Women’s Center at UMBC

By

James Pew

Critical Theory-Shmeory

In a September 2022 article, published to these pages, called The Small Group Of Canadians Fighting Back Against Radical Ideology In Schools, I discussed some of the great people who were organizing against the incursion of Social Justice Ideology in schools. And further, I made a point which I feel bares repeating as it remains core to my perspective on things:

“Canadians, much to our credit, really want to get along. We want a peaceful country. We want equal rights and equal treatment under the law. We are fundamentally good people, who will tolerate a lot of nonsense in our collective efforts to not rock the national boat. It takes a lot to inspire Canadians to act, even to raise our voices. But again, to our credit, we don’t want to go off half-cocked and unprepared. When we feel concerned about something, it doesn’t immediately erupt in explosions of anger. We, on average, are patient and thoughtful. But one thing we are not is stupid. We cannot be easily fooled. Many have mistaken our patience, and our reluctance to act, as dis-interest, or even weakness. This is a mistake that will soon be made abundantly clear to those who are making it.” 

Indeed, the piece goes on to discuss Lighthouse - founded by Catherine Kronas - which brought a bunch of anti-woke warriors together in those early days before a real Canadian parents rights movement had formed. This was when Woke Watch Canada was created (our first post was published on October 27, 2021).

Also discussed, was another small group formed within the Lighthouse infrastructure we call Light House Think Tank. This is a collection of scholarly researchers who share their work, collaborate on essays, and now, make Youtube videos! More on that later! 

The work taking place at Light House Think Tank has resulted in the accumulation of a rapidly growing Canadian-centric research archive focused on the cosmology of subjects around Critical Social Justice. In addition the researchers aim to connect the development and manifestation of Critical Theories in Canadian institutions with the public policy informed by its central tenets. The historical processes that led to the adoption of the identity politics of cultural socialism, and the Marxian assumptions that underlie related public policy in the aftermath of the postmodern turn (roughly 1960), are of particular interest. In other words, we ask, how exactly did Canada descend into woke madness? What were the precise steps which led us here? What was the public policy track that led to the adoption of Race Relations, Multiculturalism, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” and trans-affirming care for minors? And, who is responsible?

The main researcher for Lighthouse Think Tank during its initial phase was Mr. M. Many Woke Watch Canada articles were written based on Mr. M’s LTT research. Notable examples were a co-authored series of essays we call The Great Illiberal Subversion. One essay, Importing the Perception of Systemic Racism into Canada, compared the far less remembered Yonge Street Uprising which happened in Canada in the 1990s, with the far more remembered Rodney King Riots south of the border. The former riots were triggered by the latter, along with the police killing in Toronto of a young black man who resisted arrest while brandishing a weapon.  Millions of dollars of damage was incurred by businesses on Yonge Street. Our research uncovered that a precursor to Black Lives Matter, a Toronto-based group of radical black activists called the Black Action Defense Committee (BADC), agitated an otherwise peaceful protest and caused the riot. They were later seen as heroes, as indeed the Social Justice Warriors of today still consider them to be.

We also published From Police Brutality to Race Relations in which we explored the Marxist-Leninist approach to radical activism and its relationship to Western public policy and education

Returning to the September of 2022 Woke Watch Canada article mentioned above. While the initial work of LTT was somewhat focused on things like Antiracism and Critical Race Theory, we were well aware of the other side of the Critical Social Justice coin: radical unscientific theories on sex and gender. As stated previously, connecting public policy to Social Justice ideology is central to the work of LTT. From the article:

“By December of 2021 the Canadian government passed Bill C-4 which was confusing for Canadians because it was characterized as a bill against conversion therapy. Many Canadians remain unaware of the implications for families with gender non-conforming children, who are being pushed into non-scientific ideas found within the framework of gender ideology. Bill C-4 says anything short of affirming a child’s confusion over identity amounts to conversion therapy.”

Many Woke Watch Canada readers are aware that this is merely the tip of the iceberg. Radical Gender Theory has become entrenched throughout all levels of public institutions, and much of the private sector too. The education system is, and always has been, ground zero for this. Indoctrinating children into Critical Social Justice is the program of the Canadian education system. And that means alarming practices in schools like trans-affirming care, and keeping secrets from parents.

One of the more shocking recent developments in the on-going saga of Canada’s woke education system, is the Trans-Affirming Tool-Kit - a “Federally-funded document (which) claims the 'gender binary is a colonial and white supremacist structure' that should be dismantled in school.” 

According to the National Post’s Jamie Sarkonak:

“The toolkit’s stated purpose is to teach teachers about transgender-identifying students, but its nearly-100 pages are dripping with social justice theory, leftist identity politics and various false claims about biology, history and sex.”

Regular Woke Watch Canada reader’s are familiar with Melanie Bennet. She is the co-creator and co-host of the Weekly Gender Wars Report with Shannon Boschy. Checkout their most recent episode here. And subscribe to the Youtube channel for an abundance of interviews and analysis on Gender Wars topics. As well, Melanie is now working with LTT and has begun publishing a series of explainer videos where she, in a highly accessible manner, analyzes topics like Critical Pedagogy (the teaching/indoctrinating of Critical Social Justice nonsense). Importantly, Melanie’s work is making those valuable connections between the Radical Theories, and things like the Trans-Affirming Tool Kit (which her most recent video does).

I am super stoked about bringing more of Melanie’s work to Woke Watch Canada readers. And further, I am so inspired by her videos that I’m working on my own essay based in part on her research into Peter McLaren and Paulo Freire. Stay tuned for a series of such essays (I will be embedding Melanie's excellent videos into the posts).

And finally, this brings me back around to Mr. M. Regular readers may have noticed he has been somewhat absent from Woke Watch Canada over the last several months. I have remained in contact with him as we continue to share and discuss research. His absence was due to the fact that he was tied up defending a doctoral thesis, which he did successfully. He now has a PhD in history. This means we will no longer be referring to Mr. M as Mr. M. After this paragraph all mentions of this invaluable scholar and illustrious member of our team will refer to Dr. M. Yes, we are aware it makes him sound a little like a Bond villain, and we like it that way.

Note: Dr. M has a new essay coming soon which promises to be an academic deep dive into yet more dark crevices of our Canadian Critical Social Justice nightmare. Stay tuned for that!!!

So, readers can expect a lot more analysis of Critical Theories and Social Justice Activism, in a similar sort of vein that Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay have become so well known for. However, LTT and Woke Watch Canada are focused on the implications that the Critical Social Justice movement holds for Canada. It is worth noting that many woke theories developed in Canada. They are not all imported from the United States as many believe. Canada has a deeply rooted radical tradition (think Ryerson University), as seen in our education system, public institutions, and government. It’s time to name the names, uncover the history, and expose the agenda. 

Well friends, enjoy your Sunday! I will be remaining here in the Lighthouse Think Tank laboratory researching such deviant, degenerate, and depraved topics as Queer Theory and Critical Pedagogy, so that, like my friend Melanie says, “you don’t have to.”

___

Melanie Bennet is a British-Canadian expat who relocated to Canada in 2017. With a background in empirical science research, Melanie spent the last two years engaging with parents and professionals affected by gender identity ideology. Melanie adapts her research skills to delve into the ideological roots of this movement and aims to understand its implications in the education system. Melanie co-hosts the Weekly Canadian Gender Wars Report YouTube channel, a platform featuring analysis, media commentary, and interviews surrounding gender identity ideology in Canada. The channel provides in-depth explorations and aims to provide informed discussions and insights beyond and above the mainstream narrative.

Thanks for reading. For more from this author, read The cruel hand of a patriot

BREAKING NEWS: James Pew has contributed a chapter to the new book Grave Error: How The Media Misled us (And the Truth about Residential Schools). You can read about it here - The Rise of Independent Canadian Researchers

Also, for more evidence of the ideological indoctrination in Canadian education, read Yes, schools are indoctrinating kids! And also, Yes, The University is an Indoctrination Camp!

There are now two ways to support Woke Watch Canada through donations:

1) By subscribing to the paid version of the Woke Watch Canada Newsletter for - $7 Cdn/month or $70 Cdn/year

2) By making a contribution to the Investigating Wokeism In Canada Initiative, which raises the funds necessary to maintain and expand Woke Watch Canada’s research and investigation into Dysfunctional Canadian School Boards, Education, Indigenous Issues, Free Speech, and other areas of Illiberal Subversion and the Canadian Culture Wars.