Happy Holiday, Comrades.
It's May 1st, recognised as Labor Day around the world. A day on which we remember that history has been provided by the trials and tribulations of the little man, the blue-collar worker man. Thank Ye, Ye Faithful.
Incidentally, it is the day on which the world also celebrates my grandmother's birthday. She has turned 81, is still an active bicyclist and cross-country skier, and greets you all.
Anyhow, any perspectives on May 1st? Anybody know a little history on the date? Any condescension (this is, after all, AppleOutsider)? Remember, both leftists and rightists are celebrating today (at least, in my twisted little homeland).
Incidentally, it is the day on which the world also celebrates my grandmother's birthday. She has turned 81, is still an active bicyclist and cross-country skier, and greets you all.
Anyhow, any perspectives on May 1st? Anybody know a little history on the date? Any condescension (this is, after all, AppleOutsider)? Remember, both leftists and rightists are celebrating today (at least, in my twisted little homeland).
Comments
Fellows
After lunch I'm off to join the riots!
wow, this'll be the first labor day that i actually haven't had to work... ever. due to being laid off and all.
The Internationale!
We celebrate Labor Day in the United States on the first Monday in September because there is no real connection or meaning. Mayday originated in the United States in the 1880s as the idea of the 8-hour workday became a stated goal of a strengthening labor movement.
The government never embraced it as a holiday because God knows what would happen if you told people to celebrate a successful rise against power.
Mayday is International Worker's Day, celebrated by the rest of the world but started in the United States.
Change comes from the bottom! YEAH!
I said I'd go to the riots, and I damn well did. Accidentally.
I was going to meet a friend of mine at the big cross outside Charing Cross station; we were going to go to the India Club for supper (amazing restaurant caught in a timewarp that used to be funded by the Indian Embassy) and then go to the ICA (Insitute of Contemporary Arts) to hear these sound artists: one guy recorded the sound of glaciers with 'geophones' and compressed 12 hours of sound recorded in the Masai Mara into forty minutes using time stretching: cool.
So I cycle down the Mall, past the Palaces to Trafalgar Square... and it's full of anarchists sort of coralled in by 'nuff riot police. Of course I couldn't get through, so I had to find a detour. Charing Cross is right next door to Trafalgar Square, and I was waiting it all kicked off. Bottles being thrown, police running about putting their leather riot gloves on... saw one guy get dragged off by about 8 policemen (he looked like he was about 17, poor guy) and a lot of noise. I was worried for my bicycle, so I ducked into the station.
And then my friend turned up and we went to the ICA where I had a haddock risotto, which was lovely.
how do torching cars, attacking police, and smashing other people's stuff celebrate May Day?
seems like some people want any excuse to throw a tantrum
maybe they thought it was international mosh pit day
Originally posted by curiousuburb
how do torching cars, attacking police, and smashing other people's stuff celebrate May Day?
cars are made by large, multinational, capitalist corporations. and the police are part of the capitalist government. plus police are pygs. plus police get in the way of the otherwise bourgeoisie fun. but then again, thats just a capitalist's outside view into their world (plus, i hate pygs).
Originally posted by mrmister
Why didn't the folks needing to talk to Maxists simply interview der Kopf?
Maybe because I'm not a Maxist, whatever that may be. If you're talking about the "are you a Marxist?" thread, why don't you read my succinct reply, stating exactly WHY I am not a Marxist.