In Oakland, notorious for Occupy violence, initial plans included closing down the Golden Gate Bridge, but organizers have backed off that threat and aim to just stop ferry service. A nurses strike that may put local patients lives at risk is also planned.
If you think all this chaos is a spontaneous uprising, you have never studied Marxism (or Saul Alinsky, socialist extraordinaire). Expect to see global activity. Like every other Communist events fomenting chaos this is all about useful dupes and fellow travelers being manipulated in mob tactics to gain power for the few. (Have you ever read Bella Dodd's description of Communism?) Did the Communists ever care about the workers in Russia? Uh...sure they did! That's why all the workers had to stand in line everywhere to buy basic daily necessities. It's why people were jammed into tiny apartments while Communist leaders lived in luxury. But I guess I shouldn't really use the past tense. Communism is not dead. It lives on in the Occupy movement and in the thug tactics of unions like the SEIU and in Alinsky organizing.But May Day has another connotation, one that gives hope. It's the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. While the Occupy movement raises its fist against heaven, St. Joseph raises his arms, filled with tools, in godly labor. He teaches the dignity and value of work and challenges all employers to pay a fair wage and all workers to give a fair day's work. Tonight my husband and I will say our rosary through the intercession of St. Joseph the worker, that God's will be done on May Day.
St. Joseph the worker, pray for us.
I've never heard of any of the things you mention associated with May Day. Here in the midwest, many of us celebrate by leaving little baskets of plants and seeds as a surprise on the doorsteps of friends and neighbors. It's a great way to celebrate spring and fun for all involved. Happy May Day to you!
ReplyDeleteWe're both right.
ReplyDeleteMay Day is an ancient pagan celebration of Spring that began in pre-Christian times and involved all the things you describe. Maypole dancing with ribbons, flower baskets, girls dressed in pastels with ribbons and flowers in their hair, etc.
The Communist association began with the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago in 1886 when workers were striking for the 8-hour day and during the course of the event a few demonstrators threw dynamite at police killing several as well as a few of the protesters. The subsequent trial (which was patently unjust) ended in the hanging of some of the labor leaders more for their words than their actions.
At any rate, May Day became a rallying point for anarchists and Communists organizing workers against "the man." Of course, if employers were fair and just the efforts to organize would have been unnecessary. Big Work and Big Government are pretty much the flip sides of the same coin: Hudge and Gudge as Chesterton called them.
I like your May Day better!
I guess we'll see just how wide spread the Occupy movement is. I'd like to see this May Day plan fizzle.
ReplyDelete