First of May March

[Secundino]

Wish you all a colourful 1. of May!

"In the dark times will there also be singing? Yes, there will also be singing -- About the dark times." Bertolt Brecht

 

[SlipperFan]

Happy May Day! Peace.

 

[abax]

I don't understand May Day celebrations. Is it somewhat
related to the summer solstice for the time for planting
crops? Might it be Celtic in origin?

 

[ehanes7612]

It marks Beltane, the halfway point between equinox and solstice, a festival surrounding agricultural rites ...but also it's a celebration for worker's rights that came about in the late 19th century (perhaps in Chicago I believe)

 

[Secundino]

Sometimes I get a feeling like we are living on distant planets ... Sacco and Vanzetti? Protest songs? Labour rights? Unions? Universal suffrage? Nespresso!

 

[ehanes7612]

In the US, these advances in social reform are generally attributed to the liberal progressive wing of the Democratic party..of which comprise many 'socialists' , those who are politically inclined to be so. Socialism , as a movement around workers rights did have a significant following in the early 20th c..Eugene Debbs being the first ever Presidential Candidate and actually garnering a significant portion of the vote. Several US cities have had socialist mayors, and we have a socialist council member in Seattle, Kshama Sawant..who is outspoken on worker's rights..and we all know Bernie Sanders..who identifies as a socialist.

 

[SlipperFan]

...a Democratic Socialist:
http://www.dsausa.org/about_dsa

 

[ehanes7612]

Bernie Sanders identifies as both and blurs the line between the two. Kshama Sawant identifies as a Trotskyist

 

[abax]

Thank you ehanes! Beltane I know because my husband is
a Scot. I simply never associated it with May Day.

 

[ehanes7612]

Thank you ehanes! Beltane I know because my husband is
a Scot. I simply never associated it with May Day.

I dont know if it's just a coincidence or if somehow there is a connection between the two. I used to throw an event every year in the desert part of Washington state to celebrate Beltane...we did the maypole and danced all night. I know lots of organic farmers as well as lots of progressives who also march for workers rights..The Northwest is full of these types

 

[Secundino]

Bernie Sanders identifies as both ...

as both? Both what?


Thanks for that link, SF. Have they ever been elected somewhere in the USA?

 

[ehanes7612]

A Socialist and a Democratic Socialist