Editor,
How sad was my first May Day here five years ago when I learned that the day was not, as in most places around the world, the celebration of Workers Day.
It was explained to me that the U.S. celebrates something called Labor Day the first Monday of September.
How sad a day it was. I had heard different stories about May Day such as that it was a Celtic celebration in ancient Europe, but I also knew of the most recent historical reason.
The International Workers' Day is celebrated around the world due to the heroic effort of the American labor movement, which in 1886 decided to strike until achieving the eight-hour work day.
The world - communist nations included - celebrate this day. The world also acknowledges the Haymarket riot in Chicago, the deaths and detained workers as an example of the heroic efforts of people - in this case, the labor movement - and what they can achieve.
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Here I was in the nation where the tragic events occurred, and everybody around me working their regular eight hours without stopping to think about those who ought to be thanked for putting limits to employers' exploitation.
How is that people in this country, wrongly called America, are so proud of having gone to the moon but fail to be as proud of its workers and their struggles?
It is not surprising that Americans have let their government destroy the nation's industries, making the elites earn unimaginable amounts of money and power while the agonizing working class sees not only their jobs go to third-world countries but also how this is a result of the diluting of labor laws in those countries.
The neoliberal setup destroyed the progressive labor laws of the 20th century. This is the neoliberalism that puts kids to work and pays workers in cents while destroying your economy.
Those of us from that America south of the Rio Grande and those from the other continents ask you to take back your history and your nation.
Cheers to those who, through the centuries, have tried to make this the great nation that it deserves to be.
For the fallen workers and activists of the past, have a great Workers Day.
Sebastian Pais
UNM student
