[OT] What is Labor day? (for Plane Sailing)

[alsih2o]

"I hope, some day or another, we shall become a storehouse and granary for the world. "

a great visionary quote from washington, this doesn't mean he came up with the idea, but he did seem to be a very good organizer, a heck of an organic farmer and have a sincere vision. i am not saying the man was without flaws (who is??) but i think from looking at his writings that he would have made an excellent dinner guest

 

[Furn_Darkside]

And more specifically, what great ideas did Washington ever have?

Well, I am not sure how great his ideas were, but he developed farming techniques that became more commonly used at the time.

He set a precedence that helped a young country not fold under the regular transition of power.

He stopped a rebellion of the continental army with a speech.

He lead an army that (with the help of other nations) fought off what was considered the most powerful nation in the world.

FD

 

[apsuman]

labor day seems, when actually looked at with an open and intelligent eye to make significantly more sense than all of these other holidays put together.

To say that labor day makes more sense (especially significantly more) sense than Christmas, New year's, Memorial Day, or Thanksgiving as a holiday is IMHO an absolutely absurd statement.

The only one there that I think even comes close to being "iffy" by any sane individual is Christmas. Every other holiday offers more statements of praise to groups bigger than Labor. Again, IMHO.

g!

 

[alsih2o]

To say that labor day makes more sense (especially significantly more) sense than Christmas, New year's, Memorial Day, or Thanksgiving as a holiday is IMHO an absolutely absurd statement.

my point about all but memorial day was the one of seperation of church and state....i don't think the holidays themselves are ridiculous, just the gov't "making" them holidays

of course i have to be careful here or i will start ranting about "in god we trust" and courthouse oaths

 

[Wicht]

Without venom, I ask, when did Washington or Jefferson ever "sit on the beach"

Well Washington ran a farm after doing surveying work and military campaigns. Everyone knows farmers have loads of free time

 

[Jeph]

Sorry about the mess

I would like to apologize for all these flames.

Yes, yes, I used the name of this holiday in one of my threads. Plain Sailing spied it, and posed the question. I just answered it on that thread a few minutes ago. Hadn't seen this one yet.

-Jeph

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Re: Sorry about the mess

I would like to apologize for all these flames.

Heh, not your fault.

I apologize to KnowTheToe if he took my comment as harsh, but as for others- I just add them to the ignore list.

FD

 

[Tonguez]

To say that labor day makes more sense (especially significantly more) sense than Christmas, New year's, Memorial Day, or Thanksgiving as a holiday is IMHO an absolutely absurd statement.

The only one there that I think even comes close to being "iffy" by any sane individual is Christmas. Every other holiday offers more statements of praise to groups bigger than Labor. Again, IMHO.

g!

Hang on how do any of these holidays benefit any group 'bigger' than labour?

New Years? - a simple marking of time without any clear rationale - why is 1 January significant?

Memorial Day? - soldier died whilst WORKING

Thanksgiving? - some First Nations people took pity on a group of starving settlers and offered them food

Christmas? - a religious festival recognizing the founder of the Christian Church

Sorry but none of this are anymore significant than celebrating Workers

Really maybe all holidays should be scrapped

 

[Zappo]

Getting to the European vs. American work environment. Sure I would looooove 4 - 6 weeks off, but that flexability comes at a price - the taxes that my relatives in the Netherlands pay as compared to what I pay - Uncle Sam might be greedy but the "socialsts" are more so. Further, there is a reason that goods cost more in Europe (in general) - and that is because labour is (again generally) more expensive there.

Well, yeah, but it's not like we're actually oppressed by taxes. We can afford less or more the same stuff you do. Probably because we get a free and fairly good health care and education (in my country, public schools are even usually better than private ones).

Capitalism and socialism aren't like black & white; or if they are, then all countries fall into some shade of grey. Weren't it for the fact that it's not an individual choice, I would say that it's a matter of personal preference.

 

[Wicht]

Hang on how do any of these holidays benefit any group 'bigger' than labour?
.
.
.
Thanksgiving? - some First Nations people took pity on a group of starving settlers and offered them food

Christmas? - a religious festival recognizing the founder of the Christian Church

Sorry but none of this are anymore significant than celebrating Workers

Quotes like that last statment should be prefaced with IMO.

The percentage of Christians in America, last I checked was larger than the percentage of Union Members. Labor, in the case of Labor day, specifically refers IIRC to members of the Labor Unions. And not all of us Americans are died in the wool union fanatics. In fact the percentage of union members in the non-govermental workforce in the US is fairly small.

IMO Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It is a day in which all people can be thankful for all their blessings. But you might want to research a little about the origins of the day. You are throwing out the elementary school version and not quite the historical version of the stroy.