TODAY IS is the 'REAL LABOR DAY' not the one in the fall

[IChing]

I want it back.

International Workers' Day

International Workers' Day (a name used interchangeably with May Day) is the commemoration of the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago, Illinois, and a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement. The 1 May date is used because in 1884 the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, inspired by labor's 1872 success in Canada, demanded an eight-hour workday in the United States to come in effect as of May 1, 1886. This resulted in a general strike and the riot in Chicago of 1886, but eventually also in the official sanction of the eight-hour workday. The May Day Riots of 1894 and May Day Riots of 1919 occurred subsequently.


Due to these left-wing overtones, May Day has long been a focal point for demonstrations by various socialist, communist, and anarchist groups. In some circles, bonfires are lit in commemoration of the Haymarket Riot usually right as the first day of May begins. <1> In the 20th century, May Day received the official endorsement of the Soviet Union; celebrations in communist countries during the Cold War era often consisted of large military parades and shows of common people in support of the government.
The Red Scare periods ended May Day as a mass holiday in the United States, a phenomenon which can be seen as somewhat ironic given that May Day originated in Chicago. Meanwhile, in countries other than the United States and United Kingdom, resident working classes fought hard to make May Day an official governmentally-sanctioned holiday, efforts which eventually largely succeeded. For this reason, May Day in most of the world today is marked by huge street rallies of workers led by their trade unions and various large socialist and communist parties — a phenomenon not generally seen in the U.S. (which has a history of strong anti-communism) or the UK.

In most countries other than the U.S. and UK, May Day is often referred to simply as "Labor Day".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day

[Touchdown]

1. So you want to take away a Union created holiday?

Do you even know why (hint, many deaths and murders on the road to worker's rights, and collective bargaining)Sept 2nd Labor Day was created? Nice. How very supportive of workers you are.:eyes:

[bryant69]

3. Wrong

Labor day was created by plutocrats and politicians to defang labor day. May Day was a holiday for socialists and real worker reform. Labor day was a counterfiet -a day to have a bar-b-que.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[IChing]

6. Wrong MAY Day started here in the USA.

In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions passed a resolution stating that eight hours would constitute a legal day's work from and after May 1, 1886. The resolution called for a general strike to achieve the goal, since legislative methods had already failed. With workers being forced to work ten, twelve, and fourteen hours a day, rank-and-file support for the eight-hour movement grew rapidly, despite the indifference and hostility of many union leaders. By April 1886, 250,000 workers were involved in the May Day movement.

The heart of the movement was in Chicago, organized primarily by the anarchist International Working People's Association. Businesses and the state were terrified by the increasingly revolutionary character of the movement and prepared accordingly. The police and militia were increased in size and received new and powerful weapons financed by local business leaders. Chicago's Commercial Club purchased a $2000 machine gun for the Illinois National Guard to be used against strikers. Nevertheless, by May 1st, the movement had already won gains for many Chicago clothing cutters, shoemakers, and packing-house workers. But on May 3, 1886, police fired into a crowd of strikers at the McCormick Reaper Works Factory, killing four and wounding many. Anarchists called for a mass meeting the next day in Haymarket Square to protest the brutality.

The meeting proceeded without incident, and by the time the last speaker was on the platform, the rainy gathering was already breaking up, with only a few hundred people remaining. It was then that 180 cops marched into the square and ordered the meeting to disperse. As the speakers climbed down from the platform, a bomb was thrown at the police, killing one and injuring seventy. Police responded by firing into the crowd, killing one worker and injuring many others.

It is not surprising that the state, business leaders, mainstream union officials, and the media would want to hide the true history of May Day, portraying it as a holiday celebrated only in Moscow's Red Square. In its attempt to erase the history and significance of May Day, the United States government declared May 1st to be "Law Day", and gave us instead Labor Day - a holiday devoid of any historical significance other than its importance as a day to swill beer and sit in traffic jams.

By covering up the history of May Day, the state, business, mainstream unions and the media have covered up an entire legacy of dissent in this country.


I have been a member of at least four different types of unions

[Touchdown]

8. My mistake. I didn't know that.

I always thought it was the Chinese New Year. Learn something new every day.

[IChing]

12. It really is the day to celebrate your ignorance

glad to inform your gadfly remarks.

[Touchdown]

13. What a prickish thing to say.

Good life to you too, Brother!

[IChing]

14. "I don't care" if I may quote you N/T

[Touchdown]

15. You can't. Make up something else.

[IChing]

7. ( i found your slur repugnant) n/t

[Touchdown]

10. I don't care.

My life doesn't revolve around submitting myself to IChing's approval. Continue to think that it's all about you though.

What's wrong with 2 days of celebration? Why is it always one or the other?

[central scrutinizer]

2. good history here

http://www.emotionscards.com/trivia/fourthofjuly/laborday.html

[kestrel91316]

4. Isn't it Beltane, too? Bonfires and such?

[Bridget Burke]

9. On a visit to San Francisco, some years ago....

I saw numerous posters on phone polls of a joint Beltane/May 1st celebration that had just occurred. Sponsors were local Pagans & the Wobblies.

Unfortunately, the posters were glued down quite securely.

[slackmaster]

5. Does this mean I can't wear white shoes for the rest of the year?

That's a real shame - White shoe season has ended before it started.

Damned Commies.

[deaniac21]

11. Stand up, all victims of oppression

For the tyrants fear your might
Don’t cling so hard to your possessions
For you have nothing, if you have no rights
Let racist ignorance be ended
For respect makes the empires fall
Freedom is merely privilege extended
Unless enjoyed by one and all

Chorus:
So come brothers and sisters
For the struggle carries on
The internationale
Unites the world in song
So comrades come rally
For this is the time and place
The international ideal
Unites the human race

Let no one build walls to divide us
Walls of hatred nor walls of stone
Come greet the dawn and stand beside us
We’ll live together or we’ll die alone
In our world poisoned by exploitation
Those who have taken, now they must give
And end the vanity of nations
We’ve but one earth on which to live

And so begins the final drama
In the streets and in the fields
We stand unbowed before their armour
We defy their guns and shields
When we fight, provoked by their aggression
Let us be inspired by like and love
For though they offer us concessions
Change will not come from above

[TallahasseeGrannie]

16. In the south we have our virgins (cough)

dance around Maypoles. Up north, we had May Processions to Our Lady. And we passed out flowers.

Personally, when I think of May Day celebrations of a more political nature I see thousands of goose stepping troops marching in between enormous weapons.

I've always liked it in September because it is kind of a celebration of work right after vacation time.

T-Grannie

[deaniac21]

17. I've allways liked dancing around poles.