Ludlow-An American Tragedy

Dys
Dys, thanks for the Ludlow post and reminding us of how terrible the struggle of laboring folks was and still is today in many parts of the world.
I wonder ifl the vandalized monument be restored.

Have you read or seen any of Barbara Koppel's documentaries about the US coal miners and their struggles to unionize, which cost so many their lives at the hands of employer and police hooligans?

BumbleBeeBoogie

dyslexia, IMO there has been a systematic effort in the USA to erase the history of the American labor movement. About 20 years ago, I read a book about it (originally published by the UAW) and found many surprises (before that, I tended to think it all ended when the wobblies were crushed). American university students don't know what caused the AFL-CIO merger, don't know anything about historical repressions (heck, the rest of the world conmemorates the Chicago Martyrs, and May 1st means "spring" to the average American worker). John Reed's description of the Ludlow massacre should be mandatory for college or even High School students. It isn't. It won't be. The vandalization of the monument is just another brick in the wall of oblivion.

BBB, many years ago I saw Kopple's "Harlan County, USA", a strong, human and didactic film.

Fbaezer
Fbaezer, I'm sure you can tell us stories about similar abuses of the laboring classes in Mexico.

Unfortunately, today's young people's ignorance of the various social and economic class movements leave them believing that the improvements they enjoy today have always existed and were easily obtained. They know little or nothing of the great sacrifices made by ordinary people doing extraordinary things, to improve the lives and opportunities of subsequent generations.

BumbleBeeBoogie

my grandfather was one of those Wobblies, he worked for the railroad and when he lost an arm in a railroad accident they fired him. ah yes the good old days.

The government allied with big business is slowly squeezing the life out of our unions. It is another case of the public gets only negative comment about unions in this instance at every turn and they don't think their passing would be a big deal.

Dyslexia
Dyslexia, won't you tell us more about your Wobblie grandfather---please.

---BumbleBeeBoogie

Fbaezer
Fbaezer, thank you, thank you, for your reminders of the sacrifices of Mexican workers.

In all countries, the number one rule of labor organizers is NEVER LET YOUR PASSPORT EXPIRE and ALWAYS HAVE YOUR PASSPORT IN YOUR POSSESSION, followed by ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN FOR GETTING OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

Dictators always arrest, and often murder, labor leaders before anyone else when their corrupt dictatorships feel threatened. Why? Because labor organizers have the skills necessary to understand the working classes and to organize them when such governments threaten their members' survival.

It's also why many governments fight unionization so fiercely. The last class of people governments want to gain economic and political power are the middle and working classes. Most governments today are focused on protecting the status and economic power of the elite classes. It's what is happening today under Bush et al. If you don't think Attorney General John Ashcroft would like to be able to take action against labor leaders under the guise of Homeland Security, think again.

If you think this all sounds like paranoia, read the labor and union history of countries around the world. Just because one is paranoid doesn't mean one doesn't have enemies.

BumbleBeeBoogie

bumblebee and fbaezer -
Good stuff. Thanks.

I stumbled upon this conversation during a search for pictures of the Ludlow Monument. I thought perhaps I would post a link which you may wish to follow: Rebel Graphics: Ludlow Monument

This site has lots of information and links to Wobblie sites, as well as to other socially conscious endeavors on the web.

Although I am far away and unable to attend, there will be an annual gathering at the Ludlow Monument this sunday (tomorrow, June 29, 2003) at 1000hrs (10AM). Everyone welcome.

Thanks,
Wendee

ever so nice you dropped in Missmaid, my grandfather was at Ludlow during the event.

hi, dys, and listening here. I didn't know about Ludlow.

For your information, and perhaps to allow you to meet some other like minded people, a new group has been established at YahooGroups about Ludlow, its history, and the efforts to repair the damages wreaked upon the memorial there.

Ludlow Massacre

Please feel free to join in on the conversation.

Wendee

I'm sorry, the link I posted was not spam, as the filter suggests, perhaps if I do not hyperlink it you can discover that for yourself..

h t t p : / / g r o u p s . y a h o o . c o m / g r o u p / l u d l o w m a s s a c r e /

I hope adding a space between each character works, sorry for this.

Feel free to join and participate,

Wendee