Monday, September 05, 2011

Labor Day gratitude. . .

My father taught me to respect work. 

But, he always went farther than that.  He also was careful to teach me to respect the people who performed the work, all people who worked, no matter what their job, status, tenure or wage. 

Now that he is gone, I find myself remembering his lessons each year as Labor Day comes round again. 

In his memory and for his instruction I find that I'm very grateful for. . .
  • Sanitation workers
  • Oil field hands
  • Miners
  • Commercial fishermen
  • Home builders
  • Construction workers
  • Plumbers
  • Electricians
  • Truck drivers
  • Postal workers
  • Mechanics
  • Ship workers
  • Public transit workers
  • Window washers
  • Domestic workers
  • Legal aids
  • Actors
  • Film makers
  • Artists
  • Musicians
  • Singers
  • Telecommunications workers
  • Street and highway construction crews
  • Bridge builders
  • Street sweepers
  • Utility workers
  • Brick layers and masons
  • Work workers
  • HVAC technicians
  • Waiters
  • Parking attendants
  • Secretaries
  • Landscape employees
  • Public School teachers
  • University professors
  • Counselors
  • Lawyers
  • Judges
  • Political leaders
  • Organized labor
  • Architects
  • Venture capitalists
  • Non-profit employees
  • Chefs
  • Code Enforcement employees
  • Ministers
  • Doctors
  • Dentists
  • Nurses
  • Orderlies
  • Custodians
  • Parks and Recreation workers
  • Government employees
  • Sales clerks
  • Security personnel
  • Members of the Armed Forces
  • Police officers
  • Dispatchers
  • Carpenters
  • Furniture makers
  • Retail workers
  • Wholesale supply workers
  • Marketing workers
  • Public relations workers
  • Firemen
  • Ambulance drivers
  • ER staff members
  • Child care workers
  • Manufacturing workers
  • Industrial employees
  • Pilots
  • Flight attendants
  • CPS workers
  • Community organizers
  • Environmental workers
  • Farmers
  • Ranchers
  • Mortgage bankers
  • HR workers
  • Accountants
  • Bookkeepers
  • A/R and A/P clerks
  • IT workers
  • Engineers--technical and trains!
  • The list is endless!
We all need each other.  We all need what each produces and cares for.  Work, labor and fair wages stand near the heart of the realization of any "beloved community."

Celebrate labor today. . .your own and that of your fellows.
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5 comments:

  1. rcorumMonday, September 5, 2011 at 6:05:00 PM CDT

    I know that there is a tendency to put down people who work at fast food restaurants, but every time I see a young person working there I see a person who choose work over other ways of obtaining money. To me that is quiet honorable. People who are willing to work hard even if some view their job as menial only adds to the greatness of our country.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Larry JamesMonday, September 5, 2011 at 8:58:00 PM CDT

    Totally agree, RC. Thanks for your post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. rcorumTuesday, September 6, 2011 at 6:36:00 AM CDT

    I need to proof read better, which at this point is not at all. It should have read "chose."

    ReplyDelete
  4. rcorumTuesday, September 6, 2011 at 6:36:00 AM CDT

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. belindaFriday, September 9, 2011 at 2:51:00 PM CDT

    AMEN Larry! sadly, some folks can have a tendency to "look down" on workers they feel are beneath them. it takes EVERYONE to make it work!

    ReplyDelete