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Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009) Donate to DU
 
dorktv Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-03-06 02:16 AM
Original message
Remembering our past-
give your theory (no googling) as to why the US has a Labor Day.

Bonus points of brownies and cookies if you can name the President it was created under.
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RoyGBiv Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-03-06 04:16 AM
Response to Original message
1. Trick questions ...

There are two answers to the second question and a lot of answers to the first.

Why?

The idea was a result of the labor movements of the late 19th century, so in that sense, the reason the US has a day celebrating labor is because advocates of the rights of labor pushed for it. There is some disagreement about who came up with the idea. Why it is a national holiday is more complex and more open to debate. My "theory" is that Cleveland wanted to do something that could be seen as supportive of labor but that actually did nothing at all except put a pretty face on his incessant assaults on labor. The Pullman strike, the Haymarket riots ... these were the stories of that era, and Cleveland needed some gesture to try to make capital seem less evil.

For more, I need my books.

The President

The first Labor Day was observed under Chester Arthur. It was made a national holiday while Grover Cleveland, 2nd term, was in office.

Please send the brownies soon. I'm hungry.
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alvarezadams Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-03-06 05:34 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. One could also ask
why May Day is celebrated in virtually every country in the world--- except the US.

It is ironic considering WHY May Day is a holiday, don't you think?
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intaglio Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-03-06 06:52 AM
Response to Reply #2
3. Beltane, Walpurgisnacht are all a bit older
Ok as a Labour Movement holiday the source is US :-)
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dorktv Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-03-06 11:52 AM
Response to Reply #3
6. Also Mayday/Beltane are fertility rituals. Labor Day is a celebration
of laborers...created just for that reason.
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dorktv Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-03-06 11:50 AM
Response to Reply #2
5. People like sex, in the US, people still like sex but we feel bad for
doing so.

And no, I was not asking because of some random holiday, TOMORROW IS LABOR DAY!
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dorktv Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-03-06 11:49 AM
Response to Reply #1
4. *starts baking*
And if you can answer them, how are they trick questions?
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