Labor Day Isn't About Labor

With all the things that are happening in these days and times, I got to thinking about Labor Day. What is it really? Why was it ever started? In honor of labor? Working? 

According to Wikipedia: Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September, that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers. It also goes on to say that this holiday came about as a result of a union strike, and became nationally recognized in 1894. Now it has become a day of barbeques and marks the end of traditional summer vacations.

How Stuff Works says: For a lot of people, Labor Day means two things: a day off and the end of summer. But why is it called Labor Day? Labor Day is a day set aside to pay tribute to working men and women. It has been celebrated as a national holiday in the United States and Canada since 1894.

A day set aside to pay tribute to working men and women? Do you know anyone that treats Labor Day as a day for tribute to those who work? I don’t. Workers usually use it as another day that they can labor. Maybe not at their ‘paid’ job, but there is always work to be done. We have plans to get as much accomplished as we can today so we don’t have to squeeze it in during the evenings when I get home from work.

There are many people these days that have been laid off and can’t find a job. There are many more that are under-employed and are really struggling to make ends meet. 

There are others that just don’t work and some that never have. This number appears to be increasing every year. There are those that have worked very hard so that mom can stay home and raise the children. That is very hard work in and of itself, and is the most important job of all. There are those who are unable to work due to accident or disability that would give anything to be able to do so. And there are others that do what they can to get around working and let those that do work pay their way. This group also appears to be growing larger every year.

Labor Day. It obviously doesn’t mean the same thing it did when it was first conceived and instituted as a national holiday. It saddens me to think of the diminishing number of people that do  work, having to support those that won’t. Isn’t there a name for that? What will happen when there aren’t enough workers left? What will happen when the workers just get tired of working hard every day for everything they have when the folks down the street are living a higher standard of living and never work a day in their lives? What will really happen then?

Labor Day. It has really given me more to ponder this year. Now more than ever. I pray for this country and all of it’s inhabitants. 

The time will soon come when we all will have to labor for every meal we eat. For by the sweat of our brow shall we eat bread. Because if we don’t labor, we won’t eat. I am truly grateful we have been given this time to increase the effectiveness of our labors. 

Blessings to you all, 

Fern

Visit Thoughts From Frank and Fern at http://thoughtsfromfrankandfern.blogspot.com/