I Don’t Celebrate Labor Day

I Don’t Celebrate Labor Day
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

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Today is Labor Day in the US. Labor Day is a celebration of Labor Unions. I don‘t support labor unions; therefore I do not celebrate Labor Day.

In case you doubt me on the original intent of the Labor Day holiday, read the following excerpts directly form the Department of Labor’s website at: http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm

“Labor Day, the first Monday in September, 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.

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union.

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.” (SOURCE)

The original intent of the Labor Day holiday has been largely lost in the drive to revise and sanitize American history.

Labor Unions have been referred to as the “shock troops of socialism.” (SOURCE)

Today most American families will celebrate with picnics cookouts, etc, completely oblivious to the fact that they are celebrating the labor unions in America.

I cannot do that.

My uncle, a lawyer, and high up in one of America's largest and most powerful labor unions, would get down on the ground and look under his car, then raise the hood and look carefully -- every morning -- before he would ever get in the car and start it up. He was looking for bombs. I don't know, to this day, exactly how important his job in the union was, but at his death, of natural causes, the US Secretary of Labor was in attendance at his funeral.

So, enjoy your family outting today. Just be aware of what Labor Day is actually about.

J. D. Longstreet