Sunday, September 03, 2006

Happy Labor Day

Happy Labor Day to all! Few people today know the origins of Labor Day yet it is a remembrance celebrated across the world. In a period of rampant Cowboy Capitalism, very similar to today’s environment, hundreds of workers peacefully demonstrating were gunned down in cold blood by direct order of the President of the United States, Grover Cleveland. This hideous act of murder became the inspiration for the worldwide expansion of the socialist movements who tied their platforms to worker’s rights.

In most countries Labor Day is celebrated May 1. In the US worker’s demonstrations were banned for almost a decade. As the political tide turned and the workers gained more rights the celebration was permitted in the US but instead of remembering the massacre of 1886, the original September date of the New York worker’s demonstrations was adopted.

So while we are barbequing and going to our Labor Day sales perhaps a couple of minutes considering our culture could be valuable.

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10 Comments:

Blogger RennyBA said...

Happy Labors Day to you Americans too and I think we all need some minutes considering to valuable.
It's right that the rest of the world celebrate on 1st of May and here is how it was in Norway this year:
http://rennybasblog.blogspot.com/2006/05/1st-of-may-labours-day.html

12:37 PM

 
Blogger Travel Italy said...

Renny Thanks for stopping by. Currently, the US is at a crossroads, a moment that may define our political future. I have never experienced the complete and total disconnect between the people of the US and the elected officials (I am not talking about the Pres. but more generally all political representation).

The populous is being squeezed day after day and our politicians are the ones doing the dirty work.

5:28 AM

 
Blogger ColleenQ said...

Fascinating - I had NO IDEA!

Thanks for giving me pause for reflection, though I do have to work today so I suppose I'll celebrate a labor-filled labor day.

6:15 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I find it the most interesting things when I vist your site :)

10:20 AM

 
Blogger Travel Italy said...

CQ I too am working today. Have to pay the bills. Thank you for the compliments.

Jennifer I appreciate greatly that you find there is some value in what I write.

I write about Italy but it is also about the US and where we are today. Many think that the US has no culture. I think it is more that we have forgotten what has made us who we are.

I hope that I can get others to be curious about why we do things the way we do.

Again, thank you ladies for your thoughts.

11:39 AM

 
Blogger Travel Italy said...

Cat Good to see you here. Thanks for coming by.

6:22 AM

 
Blogger Dianne said...

I like this post David, I'd love to see more like it! US public holidays confuse me, although I was in Washington DC for last years Memorial Day!

9:25 AM

 
Blogger Travel Italy said...

Dianne Thank you. I have always been curious about the why things are the way they are. Hopefully I will be able to tie in other areas of interest, ie. Comfort Foods!

9:56 AM

 
Blogger Dianne said...

Comfort food sounds good to me! Only having been to the US once, the breakfast waffles (not exactly comfort food I know) amazed me! I was desperate to try them, but of course that would have been somewhat risky for me with my gluten issues!

11:17 AM

 
Blogger Travel Italy said...

Dianne Waffles without gluten could be a problem.

Raffaella loves waffles also. They are interesting, I prefer them to pancakes.

1:04 PM

 

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