Home On the Range
I’m working on Labor Day, that’s what many of us do that have jobs.
I’m pleased that many Americans can take the day off, and some have been smart enough to combine the weekend and Labor Day to take a little more time away from their labor. Americans are known worldwide to be ambitious, hard-working people, from the first colonists that arrived on these shores. America has been built by hard work, sweat equity by so many people of all races, nationalities, creeds, religions, men and women. Together, with a Constitution and Bill of Rights written by God inspired geniuses, we have prevailed through many tests; a Revolutionary War against the British to obtain our freedom, a Civil War to end slavery, World War I, a war to end all wars, and then the big one, WWII. Then we have had UN conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan; and we seem to be on the brink of more warfare. Let us all pray for peace so more innocent victims won’t have to perish from this earth.
It’s Labor Day, and I’m doing my column for this week’s newspaper. I hung up my flag this morning to show my appreciation for America and particularly labor. My wife, and I, have worked all our married life together in the newspaper business. It’s a miracle that we still talk to each other after all these years, but we love what we do and continue to publish newspapers because we believe in the concept of a free press in a free country. I think we both wish for just good government. We came from hard working families, my family in the ranching business, a 24/7 work week of caring for animals. My wife’s family involved in the retail business in a small town, her father working night and day to operate his gasoline delivery business and later a hardware and furniture store. My wife had to look for “skyhooks” from teasing patrons in her high school job at his store.
In my high school history class I learned about the “Ludlow Massacre” that occurred in Southern Colorado at Ludlow on April 20, 1914. Striking coal miners at the Ludlow Mine, owned by John Rockefeller, who operated Colorado Fuel and Iron (CF&I),were pelted by machine gun fire killing 11 children and two women in the striking miner’s tent colony. It was the first major clash in America between capital and labor. The miners were striking for better wages and working conditions. Rockefeller later apologized for the “Massacre” at the mine. The chilling history of the event is well recorded and led to better working conditions for coal miners.
Labor disputes and Unions have been a part of American life to this date. Right now, the Teamsters are deciding whom to endorse for President of The United States. The Union vote has been a major influence in American politics.
The first Labor Day parade was held in New York City on June 28, 1894, and Congress passed legislation making Labor Day a national holiday on June 28, 1894, the bill signed by President Grover Cleveland.
While there is much said about the cost of homes, most Americans have labored long and hard to own their homes. They were never a gift, but earned by the sweat, tears, and brains of hard-working Americans. It is a dream to own a home, and work is the key to the doorway. Hopefully, interest rates will fall, and dreams be realized.
“Home on The Range” is a great song to sing.