In the 19th century May Day was adopted by workers the world over as a day to celebrate labor and the proletariat. Eventually the US recognized Labor Day as a holiday in September.
May Day had been my parents anniversary as well.
At work last week a union rep had warned us that if we were going to take the day off that we had better get our reasons correct for the report that we have to fill out. We're allotted a specific amount of sick days or personal leave days, but still ave to sign paperwork after we get back about the reasoning.
Why would we take Monday off, someone asked. It wasn't me who asked, but that question had occurred to me. "For the protests!" was the snide response from one of our more cynical and burned out workers, and the tone implied the unspoken phrase you idiot at the end of the exclamation.
I remembered a handout I was given when I was with the Boy at the Book Festival the weekend before:
I got it while chatting with the Socialist's booth and laughed at the idea: Monday at 11 am...um, I work? So that'll be a little tough.
I heard later that the union had asked the superintendent to shutter the entire district for the anti-Orange Roughy protests, but the request was denied. We even got a robo-call from said superintendent extolling our importance and the importance of our institution for our young people, and that was the reasoning behind the decision to remain open.
Cut to earlier today while Corrie and Cass were taking a bath: I heard what sounded like chanting crowds. I looked out the window and saw a march coming down Atlantic, one of the streets bordering our block:
EDITED: The crowd beckons. They were heading south, and after a minute it had passed. Pretty cool, though.
To quote Homer Simpson, "I remember when I was young and cared about stuff..."
Of course now I care more than ever, but really more in the vein of How can I/we make this world better for my son?
Happy May Day!
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