May Day - the irony of history

[Edric O]

Today is May 1 - celebrated across the world under various names, including Labour Day and May Day. It is a celebration of labour in general, of the working class in particular, and, yes, of socialism. It has become a tradition in many countries for workers to organize May Day marches with red flags and other such symbols.

But why am I talking about the "irony of history" in relation to May Day? Because this celebration of labour, working class struggle and socialism was, in fact, created in a country few people would associate with socialism nowadays: the USA. May Day is only part of the lost legacy of the American socialist movement - but that's a subject for a different topic. For now, I only want to discuss the history of May Day.

When we talk about a "work day" today, we're usually talking about a 9-to-5 eight hour work day. We take it for granted that we're supposed to work 8 hours a day, adding up to 40 hours a week. But things were not always this way. In the 19th century, an ordinary work day ranged between 10 and 12 hours - sometimes more. The 8-hour work day, like so many other things we take for granted, was paid for in blood. You see, in the second half of the 19th century, when trade unions, socialist organizations and other workers' groups started to take off the ground, a crazy idea began to float around: That business owners should pay a full day's wage for just 8 hours of work instead of 12.

Naturally, the owners were extremely hostile to the idea, but it gained increasing support among the workers. In 1884, the U.S. Federation of Organized Trade and Labor Unions demanded the introduction of the 8-hour work day in America starting on May 1, 1886.

The owners refused.

So, on May 1, 1886, workers took to the streets in a general strike throughout the entire country to force business leaders and the government to recognise the 8-hour work day. 350,000 workers across the USA directly participated in the general strike, with other thousands joining the marches.

The business owners still refused to accept the 8-hour work day. So the strike continued on May 2, and May 3. On May 3, 1886, in Chicago, the police opened fire on the unarmed striking workers at the McCormick Reaper Works. This resulted in peaceful protests turning into angry riots across the USA, which gave a perfect excuse to the government for sending more heavily armed police to take lethal action against the striking workers. The worst massacre happened in Haymarket Square, Chicago, on May 4. The workers' protests were eventually supressed through brute force, but they had made enough of an impression on the government and business leaders to convince them to take the demand for an 8-hour work day seriously. Eventually, the 8-hour work day was indeed introduced.

Four years later, on May 1, 1890, the Socialist International commemorated the Haymarket martyrs with mass demonstrations and strikes throughout Europe and America. The workers again demanded the 8-hour work day, as well as overall better working conditions (such as, for example, not having to work in poisonous and potentially lethal environments).

From that day forward, May 1 began to be celebrated every year by workers throughout the world, often in defiance of laws expressly forbidding them from doing so, as a day of solidarity and rememberance of fallen comrades. The Red Flag (and the colour red in general) started being used as a symbol of socialism and the working class at about the same time.

[Ninja_Sher]

The reason for a pause ( or a stop as you may ) of socialism in usa is because of the fear of 'communist imperialism' and the reason for the hatred of usa in russia was because of 'capitalist imperialism' so you see it is like usa vs russia in the context of cappi vs commi thus socilism in usa is almost impossible ...

[Dude_Doc]

Happy May Day!

Ironically, May 1:st, 1776, the Illuminati was created (oh no, here I go...)... :D

[Anathema]

The Red Flag (and the colour red in general) started being used as a symbol of socialism and the working class at about the same time.

I thought that the red flag was invented by Lenin, and that the association socialism-red didn't even exist at that time? Or am I missing something?

[ordos45]

Though I'm a day late, Happy Beltaine.

[Dante]

And there was me thinking that May Day developed from a Pagan festival (just like everything else...).

The reason for a pause ( or a stop as you may ) of socialism in usa is because of the fear of 'communist imperialism' and the reason for the hatred of usa in russia was because of 'capitalist imperialism' so you see it is like usa vs russia in the context of cappi vs commi thus socilism in usa is almost impossible ...

'Communist imperialism' is possibly the most oxymoronic phrase I've ever come across...

[Edric O]

I thought that the red flag was invented by Lenin, and that the association socialism-red didn't even exist at that time? Or am I missing something?

You're missing a lot. ;) Remember that the red flag and the colour red are not used by communists or leninists alone - they are pan-socialist symbols, used by socialists, communists, and even social democrats and anarchists.

I'm not sure exactly when the Red Flag was created, but it was used as a symbol of the Paris Commune in 1871, and it had already become a universal symbol of socialism by 1889. That was the year when the Socialist International was established, and also the year when the Irish socialist Jim Connell wrote a song called "The Red Flag", which is pretty well known among socialists in the British Isles (newly elected Labour MPs in 1945 entered the House of Commons singing it, for example):

The people's flag is deepest red,

It shrouded oft our martyred dead,

And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold,

Their hearts' blood dyed its every fold.

CHORUS:

    Then raise the scarlet standard high.

    Within its shade we'll live and die,

    Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,

    We'll keep the red flag flying here.

Look round, the Frenchman loves its blaze,

The sturdy German chants its praise,

In Moscow's vaults its hymns are sung

Chicago swells the surging throng.

CHORUS

It waved above our infant might,

When all ahead seemed dark as night;

It witnessed many a deed and vow,

We must not change its colour now.

CHORUS

It well recalls the triumphs past,

It gives the hope of peace at last;

The banner bright, the symbol plain,

Of human right and human gain.

CHORUS

It suits today the weak and base,

Whose minds are fixed on pelf and place

To cringe before the rich man's frown,

And haul the sacred emblem down.

CHORUS

With heads uncovered swear we all

To bear it onward till we fall;

Come dungeons dark or gallows grim,

This song shall be our parting hymn.

CHORUS

The Red Flag and the red colour of socialism stand for the blood spilled in the struggle against capitalism, by the way.

[ordos45]

And there was me thinking that May Day developed from a Pagan festival (just like everything else...).

See "Happy Beltaine".

[Tezcatlipoca]

'Communist imperialism' is possibly the most oxymoronic phrase I've ever come across...

I've seen worse. Course it all depends on what type of communist practice you're talking about. Trotsky's permanent revolution certainly could be viewed as imperialism, especially to capitalist westerners that didn't really know what it meant (although even if they did know the inner workings, it would be clear that the Communist party's intent at the time would be to have all nation's Communist parties controlled by a central Cominterm group (of COURSE centered in the USSR). More oxymoronic would be if you looked at 'Communist Imperialism' from the Stalinist perspective of socialism in one country, give how aggressivly imperialistic Stalin was. Course, he probably figured "socialism in one country" means that he has to expand the USSR so everyone can enjoy his twisted brand of socialism ;).

[Ninja_Sher]

And there was me thinking that May Day developed from a Pagan festival (just like everything else...).

'Communist imperialism' is possibly the most oxymoronic phrase I've ever come across...

Dude that 'oxymoronic' thingy is the common view of your household americans and english ( not all of them though ), as I was trying to make edric know why the irony of history happened. The Canadians are not that ignorant ( well except herpies and his conso party).

By the way Trotsky was not bad. Stalin was a little bad but look who came after him, Krushev, and I am a very big fan of his.