Sunday, May 01, 2005

May Day, a day like any other ? Not Really.

There is no ancient Holiday associated with May 1st, at least not in the traditional sense. The usual biggies, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter ... are all hybrid type events. Christians have added their special meanings to ancient ritualistic celebrations that revolve around the Earths annual cycles. Most other non-Christian religious holidays, or Nationalistic Event based holidays like May 5th, or July 4th are not based on Earths cycles, but are instead memorizations of Humanity, or our struggle with it.

May Day is unique, especially now. It is a day in which people feel an obligation to become Activists. Way back in 1886 before Labor Unions were legal (it was conspiracy then) a tragedy unfolded as a group of workers made a call for eight hour workdays. A bomb thrown into a crowd gathered in Chicago's Haymarket Square killed a police officer. The result was a trial in which 8 alleged "anarchists" were all found guilty and 4 were hanged. Year's later the remaining 3 (1 supposedly killed himself in prison) were freed as public opinion turned against the industrial interests that had "rigged" the trial.

It wasn't until 1890 that the next May Day occurred. This time it was more than parades in US Industrial Cities, there were also demonstrations in Europe and Cuba. Over the following century May Day would grow to cover the globe, while basically decreasing in importance in America. China, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Korea, even the Soviet Union would see May Day take a far more important role to the worker class. The main goal has always been workers rights, and fair treatment.

These beliefs are not unknown to Jesus. He too was an activist. Teaching the exact same principles of Compassion and Respect. Jesus shows us that we should "do unto others, as we would have them do unto us"... what could be a better message on this May Day Sabbath, than that?

A message to the CEO's and CFO's. A message to the Board of Directors, and Human Resources of organizations across the world...treat each other with LOVE. The most successful companies in the History of the World are those that have a satisfied, happy work force.

Let us wake up each day with a prayer that we will live a life in which we Treat one another with Love and Respect. In Jesus Way, AMEN drv tekojchoe