Monday, September 3, 2018

Happy Labor Day


By Rick Morris


[NOTE: This is a column that we publish every Labor Day.]


In the world we live in today, Labor Day may seem like the most anachronistic of holidays today, certainly more so than Independence Day, Memorial Day or anything else that still seems completely relevant -- but there are still people left to remind us of the importance of the day.


As an example, I would cite my great-aunt Josephine – who passed away last September just after turning 102! – someone who worked very hard at her job for decades and who helped unionize her workplace when abusive conditions became completely rampant. Now, I'm no fan at all of what many affiliates of the modern labor movement do to workers -- taking money out of their paychecks so that they can hand it to politicians who advance causes many workers oppose -- but that doesn't change at all the heroism of those who in an earlier day and age put their own well-being on the line to help build a more humane workplace and society.  Today, this column is all the more solemn to me because of severe health problems that Aunt Josie is going through, for which I would appreciate anyone’s prayers for the family.


To my great-aunt Josie and all of the other heroes who helped to build a better America, Happy Labor Day.

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