May Day, as it should be
May Day - the holiday that sprang from events in
Chicago in 1886 - came roaring back to its native land this month as millions
took off work and marched in cities around the country. What began as a
commemoration of the struggle for the 8-hour day in Chicago has been adopted by
nearly every country in the world, except the U.S.
This year, without so much as a "by your
leave," millions of workers left their jobs and took part in festive marches in
hundreds of U.S. cities. These were mainly immigrants bringing back an American
tradition from across the border. There was no government sanction for a
holiday, although the California Senate, to its credit, declared its support.
This was a people’s holiday, like the original May Day, born of struggle
and protest.
The Minutemen - those
defenders of Aryan purity - against the hoards of Brown people crossing the
border - must have been hiding under their beds this day. They were pitifully
outmatched, last summer, when they threatened to attack Venetian Judy Baca's
monument, Danza Indigenas, in Baldwin Park. In a prelude to this year's massive
marches and rallies in support of undocumented workers, thousands came out to
defend the art and Latino culture.
The
origin of this year's uprising was an effort in Congress to, at a stroke,
declare millions of immigrants "felons," because they lacked government
documentation. Hysteria against poor peasants and working people seeking jobs
was whipped up by media personalities and some politicians. Few of these
commentators point out that immigrants have been forced from their land and jobs
by the invasion of U.S. corporations and financial institutions that undercut
local crops and products in favor of cheap imports.
Worst of all has been NAFTA, the North
American Free Trade Agreement, which includes Mexico, Canada and the U.S. NAFTA
has torn away protections for Mexican products that can't compete with the sheer
might of U.S. corporations. Mexican corn cannot compete, so the farmers leave
their land and head north. Mexican manufactured goods cannot compete, so the
workers leave their land and head north.
NAFTA has opened to borders to
investments, money and imports. In fact, everything can now travel freely over
the border except people. Perhaps its time to add the free flow of people to
NAFTA's integration of North America. Perhaps then, Mexicans could come to the
U.S. to earn some money and return to their homes and villages instead of being
forced to avoid the ordeal of the
border.
So far, in Venice, the "Haters"
have focused their wrath on defenseless homeless people, including those who
live in their cars and campers. Will they also turn their hate to the many
Oaxacans and other immigrants who have settled in Venice, or will they keep
their attention on their fellow countrymen and women who have fallen on hard
times? In any case, the new "visibility" of immigrants from Latin America and
Asia has pointed out that the vast income gap between rich and poor in this
country is also a worldwide phenomenon, and as long as this great gap continues
no laws are likely to stem the tide of
migrations.
-Jim Smith
Posted: Mon - May 1, 2006 at 08:37 PM