Thursday, August 31, 2006

it's your day

Labor day on Monday and thank goodness … a day off at last. But I got to wondering, after living in the US for the past 21 years, what is Labor Day really all about?

When you mull it over, most other holidays are connected, to some degree, with man’s prowess over man. They originated primarily because of greed and power struggles; because of one nation's glory over another. For example: American Independence Day, or the defeat of my homeland’s loony King George. Yom Kippur, or the Ramadan War. Martin Luther King Day, acknowledged only after his brutal assassination. Christmas Day and Easter Sunday, both celebrated with glee in honor of a persecuted prophet who reputedly died for our sins. Columbus Day, and we won’t even go into who really founded what-when-and-where, or under whose flag. The list goes on.

But according to the American Federation of Labor, Labor Day is different.


Labor Day, originated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City to represent the creation of the labor movement, became an official holiday in 1884. The first Monday in September was selected as a national annual tribute to the “ … contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. Labor Day is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers.”

Hey … that’s me and you!

With that sorted, I trust you will have a good, long, fun-filled, work-and-guilt-free, weekend!


6 comments:

andrea said...

I was about to say soemthing about it being the power struggles of workers to establish rights ... until I read that Labour Day was established in 1882, which is probably too early for most union-based 'war mongering.' back to the drawing board.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

Kelly Wolfe said...

Nothing like a long weekend of doing nothing to celebrate hard workers.

Lisa

DesLily said...

hmmm, if it were really a celebration of the hard workers.. they give them a week off with pay! lol.. j/k.. have a great holiday weekend

Kiyotoe said...

I'd probably enjoy it more if I were back on Beacon Hill enjoying the weather and the beach.

Instead of Georgia. Boooooooooo....
Have a safe holiday.

MSU gal said...

I just started a new job on Monday and had the entire summer as a break so I really don't need this one now (I won't be saying that next year), but it is nice to have the time with my daughter. Have a great holiday!

Bibi said...

Well that long w/e breezed by in heartbeat. Hope you all had a good one!!!