Labor Day

I don't recall the origins of Labor Day from American History - although I am sure it is quite accessible. But I would speculate that Labor Day was in some sense a guarantee that the new class of worker, heretofore virtually unknown-the employee of a large corporation-was guaranteed a holiday in 'appreciation' of their labor. The craftsman, artisan, farmer, and shop owner may have benefited (although it is doubtful that the farmer took the day off) from Labor Day, but these "self-employed" were not the target beneficiaries for the new holiday.

Many years later now, who gets Labor Day off as a holiday? Most factory workers (declining in number as they are), most professionals, and most small businesses get the day off. But service workers, and retail workers, these who are least paid in our society and fastest growing in number, work on Labor Day.

Of course Requiem Press was doing business on Labor Day. We are still recovering from a month with the computer system essentially non-functional, (and our short family "vacation").

From Bethany, the small holding in Bethune...

Oremus pro invicem!