Today Is Labor Day

The first Monday in September is set aside as a holiday. Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority. Because of a fear of conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike. By June 28 of 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories. The day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. Parks and back yards abound in barbecues and games for families and communities. TV and bar parties celebrate the opening games of football leagues with friendly (or not so friendly) competition among viewers criticizing plays which may succeed or fail. I am not a fan of football so my TV is blank against what I view as a desperate sport in which men injure knees and spines that in the past seriously or partially debilitated them for life. Modern players are padded on shoulders and knees which does not always prevent injuries if one eats the turf under a ton of the opposite team in a tackle. I am not going to drive in search of a parade. I intend to enjoy the day contemplating the years I labored. I celebrate because I am no longer compelled to labor any day if I so choose.

This entry was posted on Sep 6, 2010 at 9:11 AM and is filed under Social Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.