Why are WE so Passive Instead of Passionate?
Amazingly, we have our own brand of political correctness these days. Thou shalt not be passionate for fear that someone may misunderstand. Thou shalt not call to arms or warn of your possible demise because that is not possible these days. Oh yeah? Selfishness and passionless understanding of what is at play in our negotiations may render us meaningless and unemployed.
There was a time when the thought of strike breakers (scabs) brought out passion amongst trade unionists. Times were tougher and the workers had to be tougher - because striking in 1903 could get you killed. Striking could result in you being black balled from working anywhere. Striking could result in the break up of your family because of oppressive poverty. Why these hard feelings?
Well a quick history lesson for Joe Hill LTD Project readers.
- In the 1890's a terrible economic depression raged in the United States as a result of collapsing agricultural prices.
- Trusts were emerging and taking control of the economy of America if not the world (sound familiar i.e. OPEC and the WTO)
- Socialism/Populism/Direct Democracy was springing up in direct response to the Trusts
- The depression ends with the Spanish American War in 1898
- Industrialization modernizes and mass production is off and running - the economy is changing - bringing confusion and conflict to labor markets/
- Unions begin to spread to factories from their traditional AFL craft and transportation niches and you see the birth of the CIO.
- Populism grows - several states (including Oregon) adopt common populism positions - such as direct democracy by initiative petition.
Passion was necessary or die, quite literally. So SCAB is a deeply complicated and passionate word. It is loaded word without a doubt. The times were different then... or were they. Maybe the times are too much the same but the names have been merely changed. But the economic agenda remains the same...suppression of the workers and removal of democracy from the workplace. It is time to get passionate again.
A world famous, respected and loved American author wrote the following words about SCABS. (This is a historical speech by someone else NOT the Joe Hill LTD Project and is intended to demonstrate the passion that once flowed in the American Labor Movement. The Joe Hill LTD Project embraces the passion of these remarks.)
"After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad and the vampire, he had some awful stuff left with which he made a SCAB. A SCAB is a two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a waterlogged brain, and a combination backbone made of jelly and glue. Where others have hearts he carries a tumor of rotten principles. When a SCAB comes down the street men turn their backs and angels weep in heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him out. No man has a right to SCAB as there is a pool of water deep enough to drown his body in, or a rope long enough to hang his carcass with. Judas Iscariot was a gentleman compared to a SCAB. For betraying his master he had the character to hang himself. A SCAB hasn't. Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Judas Iscariot sold his Savior for thirty pieces of silver. Benedict Arnold sold his country for a promise of a commission in the British Army. The modern strike breaker sells his birthright, his country, his wife, his children and his fellow-men for an unfulfilled promise from his employer, trust or corporation. Esau was a traitor to himself, Judas Iscariot was a traitor to his Lord, Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his country.
A STRIKE BREAKER IS A
TRAITOR TO HIS
GOD, HIS COUNTRY, HIS FAMILY AND THE
WORKING CLASS"
Who Wrote this?
Scroll down to the mysterious answer.
You may not believe it.
Unionists are everywhere.
Be proud that you are Union.
Your Union heritage is rich and is the part of the fabric of America.
Rather than be offended, the shield to prevent thinking about a statement.
Think about it and get passionate.
From selected passages of THE SCAB, a speech delivered in San Francisco, April 5, 1903
BY
Read his entire controversial speech at
http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/2554/
Read more about Jack London at: http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/London/
In Solidarity (and fondness for Jack London),
Joe Hill
JH 51
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