On this day in history

Way back when, we had an exchange student--forget where from--in my chemistry class. He (or she, I forget) asked why was it that Americans don't celebrate May Day like everyone else in the world?

The teacher said he didn't know, but a classmate answered "Because that's the day the commies rally."

1889: May Day founded
On this day in 1889, May Day—traditionally a celebration of the return of spring, marked by dancing around a Maypole—was first observed as a labour holiday, designated as such by the International Socialist Congress.

Naturally, on the day that Mrs. Drang is planning on a girls' night out (going to see the 630 showing of Wolverine) the collectivists are marching in Downtown Seattle.

May Day march set for rush hour
By Lornet Turnbull
Seattle Times staff reporter

Against the backdrop of a sputtering economy, rising joblessness and growing intolerance toward illegal immigration comes this annual event: the massive May Day march that draws thousands onto downtown streets.

Friday's demonstration also comes amid strong indications President Obama is willing to move on long-sought demands of protesters: immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for the 12 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally.

Marches are planned in cities from New York to San Francisco. Seattle's will be during Friday evening's rush hour, with a predicted 5,000 or more participants.

Beginning at 3:30 p.m. near St. Mary's Church in the Central Area, marchers will go through the International District, to Westlake Center and finally rally in Pioneer Square's Occidental Park.

In addition to immigration reform, demonstrators are also demanding universal health care, worker rights and an end to wars instigated by the U.S. "I think it's important this May Day to go out into the streets very strong and say this (immigration reform) is an issue that has not been resolved," said Jorge Quiroga, of the organizing group, el Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria. "Every year we can find a reason for not solving this problem — war, elections, the economy. We ... need attention and we need it now."

But those who favor tighter immigration enforcement say marchers may find less public sympathy than in the past. As joblessness soars, there's corresponding rancor among those who think that immigrants — legal and illegal — take jobs U.S. citizens should rightfully have.

"I think the economic situation will make the public even less receptive to the idea of amnesty than a few years ago when it first came up," said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

"We're going to make working people miserable as a way to drum up support!"

Idjits.

I briefly considered offering to go pick Mrs. Drang up at work and drop her off at the movie--her friend can drive her back home, she'll probably be coming by anyway--but I just finished mowing the lawn, and I expect to be well on the way to re-hydrating myself by that time, as Mrs. Drang went to 99 Bottles last weekend and picked up a few bottles of Special Holiday Ale, a three-way collaboration between Stone Brewing, Nogne-O, and Jolly Pumpkin.

As Robert A. Heinlein (pbuh) said

Don't mix firearms and alcohol, you might shoot at a tax collector--and miss.