Labor Day Holiday Special

Have fun... but stay safe

Have a safe and sane Labor Day holiday, peeps!

(Kudos to Ozboy's twisted cousin, Johnny, for furnishing this fine graphic image of himself on Labor Day 2015.)

Huffington Post: The Bloody Origin Of Labor Day

Sadly, too many Americans will be grilling hot dogs on Labor Day rather than honoring the history of the holiday

"Most people know Labor Day as an extra day off of work. Fewer know the holiday comes from a time when the government was "offing" workers." Here's the background story, peeps, via the Huffington Post:

• The Bloody Origin Of Labor Day

Sadly, too many many Americans will be grilling hot dogs, rather than honoring the history of this important American holiday

Added bonus: A few classic ditties to put you in the proper Labor Day mood:

• Top Ten Labor Day Songs

As you "safely and sanely" celebrate today's national holiday, folks, we hope you'll heed this reminder and devote at least a little time to reflect on the "working man," on "labor," and on the important historical contributions of the too-often-maligned "American labor movement."

Labor Day 2013 Special

Added bonus: 5 reminders of the day’s real purpose

The mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few (born) to ride them.

Thomas Jefferson
Letter to Roger C. Weightman
June 24, 1826

Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.

Abraham Lincoln
State of the Union Address
December 3, 1861

Added bonus:  Check out this morning's "chewy" Salon.com op-ed piece, for one columnist's perspective about how today's important U.S. holiday has been "corrupted":

• How Labor Day was hijacked: 5 reminders of the day’s real purpose

Happy Labor Day, O Gentle Ones.

Labor Day Facts - The Answer Sheet

The federal holiday about which kids — and plenty of adults — know the least

A few factoid tidbits from WaPo columnist Valerie Strauss, for those readers who may not have the slightest clue about why Americans have celebrated Labor Day for over a century:

• Labor Day Facts: The Answer Sheet

Nope. It ain't simply about taking the day off and "throwing steak and onions on the barby, mates".

Here's the money quote:

Too many don’t know that it was labor activists who forced employers to stop sending kids into mines, textiles, glass factories, canneries and other places to work back-breaking jobs day and night. Because of the labor movement, child labor ended, and adult workers won better conditions, including the eight-hour work day.

Nevertheless, there are some in "modern" American politics who'd like nothing more than to turn back the clock:

• America without a union movement?

Have a safe and sane Labor Day Holiday, O Gentle Ones... while there's still something remaining to celebrate:

Comments... anyone?