(Catholic Caucus) May Day: the Socialist Worker vs. St. Joseph the Worker

NC Register ^ | 05.01.21 | Paul Kengor

[Coleus]

COMMENTARY: For the best model for workers, look not to a man named Marx but to a carpenter named Joseph.

The Childhood of Jesus. (photo: Gerard van Honthorst / Web Gallery of Art)

May Day has all sorts of historically varied meanings and traditions among various groups, including Catholics. Since the late 19th century, however, May 1 has been particularly known for its association with workers — particularly, its appropriation if not exploitation by socialists and communists. That began in earnest on May 1, 1889, when socialists launched International Workers’ Day.

“May 1st is May Day, the International Workers’ Holiday,” explains Communist Party USA. “In every nation on earth, working people demonstrate their unity and celebrate those who labor and produce all wealth.” CPUSA adds a complaint: “Ever since May Day was declared an International Workers’ Holiday, in 1889, the capitalist class has desperately tried to suppress all memory of May Day.”

Well, not if socialists and communists can help it. (For the record, socialism was defined by Marx and Lenin as the final transitionary step to communism.) Among the major May Day marches they’re planning this year is a big one in Los Angeles, with a theme that ventures well beyond worker issues: “This year’s theme for the L.A. May Day Coalition … is on lifting up immigrants, worker rights, and fighting against white supremacist brutality against Asian and Black community members,” explains People’s World, the flagship publication of American communism. “We want to lift up our solidarity as community, faith, immigrant rights, LGBTQ+, labor and Muslim organizations, who continue to stand strong with

[Fiji Hill]

We started a new May Day tradition last year. On May 1, 2020, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Huntington Beach, Calif. and other locations to protest the WuFlu lockdowns.

A year later, there were numerous activities across the Southland. This afternoon, I took part in the demonstration outside Tinhorn Flats, a bar and grill in Burbank, Calif. that has been shut down for violating WuFlu restrictions. Demonstrators have been showing up there every weekend. Two weeks ago, Dennis Prager addressed the crowd and last week, Right Side Broadcasting showed up and did a live broadcast over Youtube.

[Terry L Smith]

Happy Beltane, folks!
Also celebrated on May 1st.

[Coleus]

thank you, same to you...did you celebrate? what does one do?

[Terry L Smith]

I celebrate the ‘midyear’, Beltane to Samhain. I’m over 60, so some of the following just might kill me.

I’m not ‘wiccan’, as they celebrate the marriage and ahem honeymoon of the God and Goddess. Some circles will gather and play out the marriage, and yes, the marital bed.

A time for fertility rites, including dancing the maypoles.

I said ‘midyear’, because an accepted Pagan calendar ends/begins at Samhain, the longest night-Yule-The Deep of Winter-”will we survive winter?”, the first crocus sprouts at Imbolc-Candlemas, first planting on Eostre-Spring-Equinox, Summer at Beltane, Height of Summer-Solstice-Litha, First Harvest-Lammas-Lughnasad on 1 August, 2nd Harvest-cornucopia-Mabon Autumn Equinox, then Final Harvest-Samhain-Hallowe’en-New Year.