Today is the first Monday of September: Labor Day.
Yup, it has crept up on us already!
For over 100 years, America has been celebrating Labor Day. This blogger is grateful for a day off of the normal Monday routine.
Poor Monday; such a hated day of the week.
I dare say that if all American adults were asked for the origin of Labor Day, the majority wouldn't know, and I would be guilty-as-charged. I would have said that it was a result of a law passed in the '50s to honor America's laborers by giving them: a day off; an excuse to shop really great deals at local retailers; a reason to pig out at backyard bar-b-ques.
I wouldn't have been completely wrong. According to the US Dept. of Labor, the holiday was nationalized by Congress in 1894 and
"is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country."On such a celebratory day, I don't want to dwell on the feeling I get from today's government and the divisiveness it propagates for class and labor divisions. It seems that plenty of bitter union leaders and minimum-wage earners get all the press coverage these days. The cynicism can be seen in cartoons such as this:
I am happy that we have workers in all classes, and that America allows for the freedom to better ourselves in our work.
So, now that I am a little bit smarter for it, I am happy to celebrate Labor Day in honor of America's workers.
Bring on the food, retail savings, and subsequent four-day workweek!
LJ
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