Happy May 1st!

which is characterized by a high standard of living, long life span, and the ability to speak your mind without getting imprisoned. Yes, I know, its a shame.

Get a clue.

i mean there marching to say its ok the be a law breaker why arent you arm and arm with them?

Join us then for "Labor Day".

Frankly, I think the US has done a pretty good job of recognizing the contribution our workers have made. This is especially true considering we are only less than 300 years old. (230 since Independence.)

Now, let us look at the "International" scene. European nations fought internally and externally, including invasions, for centuries, and had rulinmg classes and a feudal system.

Both sides of the pond used child labor at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, and locked the factory doors. . The hours were very long, and the only benefits were meager wages.

Countries south of our border have been ruled by dictators and despots and had and continued to have a peasant class.

During our years since Indeoendence, by our Civil War , the formation of unions,

the civil rights movement, and additions to our Constitution, our citizens are, IMO, created more equal in North America than in some developed countries.

Why do the USA and Canada NOT observe May 1 as their worker's day?

They \both celebrate it on the first Monday in September .

Both are new countries, and have opted to celebrate as they wished.

Both had and have folks pounding on their doors to get in. Why? Because they are lands of opportunit. Both do not have a class system.

Our democracies work because we have a middle class.

Personally, I think it is ridiculous to imply that because we do not celebrate the" international day" that we must be anti-worker.

So, join in our celebrations on September 4th this year! Labor Day and Labour Day!

Angeline
Speakeasy Moderator
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semods4@yahoo.com

United States.

I remember as a youngster when there would be a pole set up in the middle of the schoolground, and lots of streamers attached to the top. We would all gather 'round and pick up a streamer. Some of us would be instructed to go around the pole in one direction with our streamer and the others in the other direction. We would weave in and out like in a simple square dance. The pole would become beautifully covered in a lovely design.

We would laugh and smile. We were given a short (to match our attention spans ) talk about why we were taking part in the "May Pole" tradition. I have never been part of nor seen a protest or demonstration on the First of May in my 47 1/2 years of life. Maybe I have lived a sheltered life in many ways, but in comparison to the cynicism I oftentimes see/hear around me (including here in SE), I don't feel it is necessarily a bad thing at all.

There are many traditions and meanings attached to May 1st:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day

"In Hawaii, May Day is also known as Lei Day" - So instead of protesting, why not get "Leied"? LOL


.

"May Day has long been a focal point for demonstrations by various socialist, communist, and anarchist groups."

"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."

"It was the Nazis, not the social democratic parties of the Weimar Republic, who made May Day a holiday in Germany, ....."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maypole_dance

Like I mentioned to Marcia , as a 1st & 2nd grader (1938-1939) the public school teachers would have us dance around a MayPole with streamers. I really never knew then what the celebrations were all about (apparently just an old European pagan custom), nor later about the Chicago labor events, and since the 50's just took it for granted that May 1st were the Russian communist celebrations as shown in the pictureshow movietone news.

Now the big event seems to be a big ole march for illegal aliens, which I hope Immigrations is around to catch and deport them.

Gee, as you indicate you live in the USA, I hope you are not a communist May Day celebrator.

Even Uncle Adolf instituted May Day as a holiday. I think even Mexico and most of Central and South America celebrate it on May 1, though I may be wrong about some of those countries.

As indicated it is a rather more politicized holiday than in the US and Canada.

I particularly enjoyed the celebrations in Britain, with Maypoles, and Morris Dancers, and all kinds of shenanigans. Really fun and giving one a sense of connectedness with centuries past. We used to attend at either the church in Stock just up the road from Billericay, or at the church at little Burstead, both of them 12th Century churches. Christopher Martin one of the original organizers of the Mayflower expedition to Plymouth Mass. attended services at the church in Little Burstead, though he lived on the High Street in Billericay. It was about a 2 1/2 mile walk each way.

Rob

I thought perhaps someone was wishing me a happy Beltane, which my Tradition celebrates from April 30 through May 1. I forgot about Labor Day, and was completely unaware of the meanings you brought up. Nevertheless, I hope you had at least as good as a day yesterday and today in your way, as I did with the celebration.