May Day by wysiwig
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Description
In honor of the original and authentic Labor Day.
Edited from Wikipedia
In 1884, in America, the Federation of Organised Trades and Labor Unions passed a resolution in their meeting that all legal ways for their demand to reduce the working hours from 16 to 8 had failed. Therefore they decided to go on strike. The movement gained momentum and on 1st May 1886, a strike call was given. The center of this movement was Chicago. To foil the strike additional police were hired, money for which was given by the Industrialists, For two days the strike remained peaceful. On 3rd May, near the McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. factory, police resorted to unprovoked firing upon unarmed and peaceful demonstration. Four laborers died and several other were injured. This became known as the Haymarket Square Masscre. The next day on May 4th, the organizers announced a big rally against the action of police at market square. The gathering was peaceful. When the last leader was delivering his speech,the police started firing on laborers. Several laborers died and hundreds were injured. Eight labor leaders were tried on false charges and given the death sentence. Albert Parson, August Spize, Adolf Fischer and George Angel were hanged on November 11, 1887. Louise Ling committed suicide in jail. The rest of the three were pardoned in 1893. In 1889 it was decided to declare May 1 as labor day.
For all those who have been abused or lost their livlihoods. For all those who struggle just to stay above water, no explanation is needed. For you younger workers who think it can't happen to you, consider this a warning.
A Corporate Farewell You've been around here forever Most of a lifetime it seems Now we've outsourced your function To some foreign shore And wiped away all of your dreams Your loyalty never was questioned You worked long hours without any dough But we've hired a youngster at one-half the cash And now it is your turn to go So what have you done for us lately? It's something we'd all like to know Experience counts for so little In a world where you're just to damn slow You thought your co-workers would be loyal They'd stand by you when you were in pain But if you ever thought that ever was It just proves that you've gone insane But you say that's ok I have friends Who will comfort and surely be kind But that friend there at work you found out is a jerk And she's put you right out of her mind And what have you done for them lately? It's something we'd all like to know Experience counts for so little In a world where you're just to damn slow You've been lied to and taken for granted Used up and beaten and battered Now you have the nerve to act so surprised When you find out our promises never mattered Now is the time for goodbye The truth is you just cannot stay Though we couldn't care less we still wish you the best And hope that you have a nice day Tell us again now what have you done for us lately? It's something we'd all like to know Experience counts for so little In a world where you're just to damn slow
Comments (15)
nagennif
And I thought I had problems. Seriously, this is political (and in my mind humanly) right along the lines of my thought. Big business has few enough controls and the far right would see that it has even less. Free trade should be replaced by fair trade. Corporations can be incorporated, making them legally individuals, to protect those who run them from being personally sued. But a corporation isn't a human being, even if the law might treat it as such. It is a soulless, heartless entity that exists to make money for shareholders. Humanity doesn't play a part in the decisions of big business. The more power big business gains, the less power the individual gains. The only entity that has a chance of regulating big business is the government. By reducing the government, and it's influence on business, we're consigning our own future to a new kind of Empire, that of the multinationals. Thanks for reminding us all of the meaning of Labor Day, and the much needed warning for those who don't remember.
Faemike55
Wonderful information, Mark!
durleybeachbum
What a powerful set of truths in that poem, Mark! well done! And I never knew the origins of the day till now.
psyoshida
I did not know this either! Your poem fits right into my mood today it could not be more appropriate. Thank you Mark, wonderful job as always.
sandra46
superb dedication to all workers. Even if I'm currently retired , I think this is a great day to celebrate!
jocko500
did not know this lol. guess the press try to wipe it away by not printing this history too lol.
mariogiannecchini
How much truth in your words! Wonderful information, Mark!
danapommet
Awesome narrative and powerful poem Mark. Thanks for teaching us. Dana
Tea_Rex
[ bows deeply ] Well done! T.
ledwolorz
Wonderful information.
Greybird
I have to keep my conscience clear by at least registering my complete and utter disagreement with the sentiments expressed here. I'll refrain from commenting on the poem. With the historical and economic realities cited being inaccurately framed, at best — for one thing, May Day as a labor-movement or socialist event long preceded Haymarket Square — I also have to link to a counterpoint essay by a genuine historian.
Chipka
This is a provocative piece of work. I think it expresses a sentiment many people feel on some deep-down articulate level. I feel it in Chicago--a city that scarcely remembers itself, especially in terms of labor issues. Upton Sinclair's The Jungle is oddly fitting today, though meat-processing isn't exactly what Chicago is known for any more. (Come to think of it, outside of Oprah and wind, and some aspect of President Obama's life, what is Chicago known for? Gang violence so high that there are people calling for Mayor Daley to call in the National Guard?) But enough about that. I've lived through a bit of what you've written about here. I have been "downsized" and "let go" numerous times, due to vague mumbles of "corporate restructuring" or a "redistribution of human resources." Such odd language. Humans as resources? What twisted brain came up with that one? May Day does indeed have humongous Socialist origins that aren't really looked at in today's version of Western society, and Chicago's old Socialist leanings are largely glossed over. Bad for Oprah ratings, I suppose, and much of your poem touches on the main thread that the Socialists were (and are) opposed to: people losing their means of living simply because of corporate decisions and judgements. But as that Russian guy whose name I can't remember got in trouble for saying a few years ago: "Dollars, dollars, dollars...those stinky pieces of paper...throw them off a cliff and watch Americans jump." I don't exactly agree with that but he made a point that is undeniable. A society that views "human resources" as a viable word means that the society in question devalues the whole human aspect of being a person with a job. One is nothing but a resource. Replacable. Valuable only in terms of its ability to sustain the corporate bottom line. The corporate bottom line is always Profit that goes into the pocket of some dude with too many houses, beach houses, boats, and underpaid staff to clean up after him. Even odder is that May Day was originally a Pagan celebration, often linked with the Wiccan holiday of Beltane. After Christianization spread across a part of the globe, the original celebration was swallowed up and Christianized so as not to effectively hijack cultures at odds with the Church of the time. That is an aside note, but it's worth mentioning, simply because it's marvelously weird. It just shows how human beings are always recontextualizing things and using one symbol for multiple purpose. When I lived in Prague, the night before May Day (affectionately called "Witch Burning Night") caused the entire Czech Republic to burst into celebration. Not an impossible thing, actually. I found that the Czech Republic is inhabited by a vast number of party animals, willing to celebrate virtually anything...I can imagine a bunch of Czech guys named Honza or Petr deciding "Hey, it's Tuesday, let's celebrate!" Or "Hey, tomorrow's International Worker's Day, let's celebrate!" or quite simply. "Hey. Lets celebrate!" All of this is to say that I really enjoyed your posting here. It's heartfelt and true on so many levels. That and I'm FROM Chicago and most Chicagoans couldn't tell you anything about the Haymarket Massacre or even where it took place. They couldn't tell you what it meant, or what it means now, and how relevant it is, nor could they even tell you that Chicago has something like that in it's history. Thank you for bringing that up, and showing us the tip of a VERY convoluted iceberg! Well done!
hipps13
Hi Mark so many thoughts run thru me mind and doorbells no longer ring either wonderful work warm hugs, Linda
vaggabondd
This is very powerful my friend and I am afraid to real for people who have had to live through it. very nice
myrrhluz
I knew about Haymarket, but it's always important to be reminded of the importance of workers' rights and the amoral aspect of business. If the bottom line is money, how can responsibility to workers or self regulation be expected. There are countless examples throughout history of abuse of workers. The Triangle Factory Fire comes to mind. The reality that labor unions can be corrupt too does not negate the necesity for them and for workers' rights. The world doesn't work in black and white and solutions are always in shades of grey. Excellent poem and posting for Labor Day! I looked up the essay suggested by Greybird and found Thomas E. Woods, Jr. I was not impressed. I wonder that Greybird sees a bias in the wikipedia article and yet seems to see none in the work of Woods. I have looked at the footnotes for the wikipedia article and wonder how he defines a genuine historian. The level of education seems very much the same between these sources and Woods. That the sources are of a more progressive bent is true and not hidden. To not agree with this viewpoint is valid, but to question its historical accuracy by submitting a strongly biased veiw from the other camp seems questionable at best.