As is the case with so many Holidays, ask most people who have the day off why they do and the answers can get quite fuzzy! Unfortunately, this is so often the case with schoolchildren and days off from school! Labor Day is a case in point.
The 'last blast of summer' or 'unofficial end of summer' has its roots in something else indeed. Labor Day, developed by organized labor in the late 19th century in this country, celebrates the dignity of the working man and woman.
As is the case with words like liberty, justice and equality, the phrase 'dignity of the worker' can be a lifeless and sterile one which does not tell the real story of what has so often been a terrible struggle. Allow me to illustrate with a personal example from my family history:
I grew up in a working class mill town with lots of factories. Many towns within a fairly close radius were the same. I had a relative who died of cancer whose death was clearly related to the asbestos he inhaled daily as he worked in the plant. Throughout the course of our nation's history, there have been people who have worked very hard to make all of our lives better: They prepare and pick and package our food, clean our streets and parks, make beds and clean bathrooms at the hotels in which we stay. They clean our schools and make safe our streets. In short, they make possible BOTH what we all too often take for granted AND the wealth of those who benefit financially from the fact they work so hard and who simply could not do what they do without them.
Labor Day is a crucial reminder not only of the importance of WORK but of the fact that THE WORKER has rights and dignity and relevant to this blog and the faith espoused by this writer is a CHILD OF GOD and, as such, endowed by his/her Creator with certain inalienable rights....
As the child of two hard working parents, I suggest we take a moment in the midst of our enjoyment to reflect on the value and dignity of the working person who so often does not reap the benefits of what he or she deserves as others live off the burden of his/her labor...
BUT........in the eyes of God and in the words of GODSPELL( I couldn't resist the commercial!!):
Who is the land for? The sun and the sand for?
You guessed! IT'S ALL FOR THE BEST!
Happy Labor Day!
PB
2 comments:
When I think of Labor day I think of the Sabbath. A gift from GOD, a commandment, a santification of time go give people a much needed rest from their labors of the work week. We would as a culture all take heed of the benefits of the Sabbath. We are so production oriented, utilitarian we are killing the spirit of life and what it means to be alive as a human being. A gift of time off allows us to be happier and in the end probably more productive .
AMEN!.....
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