Labor Day And The Replay Schedule

MARKING THE DAY
As we mark the 130th anniversary of the creation of Labor Day in this country I think it's important to remember what this was supposed to be all about.  You can read an official history of Labor Day, HERE.  The first paragraph sets the tone:
 
"Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country."

GETTING AWAY
Like many Americans I celebrated this day, at least in part, by escaping from the chaos of the City to a more peaceful place, to celebrate the last holiday of the summer and to remember what it's all about.

SMALL TOWN AMERICANA
My little escape was to a small town a few hundred miles away where Labor Day is a BIG DEAL.  It's a three-day celebration that involves a parade through town with the kind of things you'd expect in small town Americana.

The football team on a flat-bed truck 

High school marching bands 

Local patriot bikers 

Service club members strutting their stuff

 "Scouts" on parade

Shriners in mini-cars

The local bicycle club

Local children celebrating their rich culture

Clowns scaring the kids

An honest-to-goodness Marine marching band 

Classic cars hauling dignitaries

And, A Presbyterian preacher on a pinto pony

You know, all the usual stuff...


INSPIRATIONAL
Later that Marine Band gave an inspiring concert after most of us indulged ourselves with roasted chicken or beef and watched the kids on the rides.  It was not unlike what Costa Mesa's Fish Fry celebration once was.

AH, THE GOOD OLD DAYS...
The next day over 100 hot rods were on display for us to salivate over and recall the days when we owned cars like those.  It sure did evoke lots of memories.

WHAT IRONY!
As hard as I tried I couldn't help observe the great irony that this holiday marks.  This weekend the entire nation marks a day honoring "labor" - as described in that paragraph above - and yet in Costa Mesa we have elected leaders who seem determined to expunge our city of the workers who represent that labor!  Over the past eighteen months we've seen what amounts to a methodical plan to eject workers from our city and to make the lives of those remaining miserable.  I found myself wondering how those local politicians marked this weekend.  Did they celebrate with their fingers crossed behind their backs?  Quite honestly, just the thought of some of them glad-handing at celebrations while scheming to decimate the ranks of municipal workers makes me want to puke.

THANK YOU....
To all of us who have earned the right to celebrate this holiday through the sweat of our brow and service to the community - thank you for all you have done.

A BUSY WEEK AHEAD
We have a short, yet very busy, week ahead of us.  I'll report more on that in another post.  However, I do want to remind you that the video of the excellent Mesa Verde Community, Inc., Candidate Forum from last week is still available for viewing on Costa Mesa Television - Channel 24 on Time Warner Cable and Channel 99 on ATT UVerse.  Here's the play list as it is currently being displayed on the City website.  I don't know if they will continue this forum in the rotation as other forums are held.  For example, on the 5th there is the first of two Feet To The Fire Forums, so the Mesa Verde event may drop off the schedule.


MESA VERDE COMMUNITY, INC., CANDIDATE FORUM REPLAY

 9/3/12 at 6:00PM

  9/3/12 at 8:00 PM

  9/4/12 at 2:00 PM