Happy May Day, my friends.
This morning I put in an out-of-office reply in solidarity with international workers for International Worker’s Day, AKA May Day. May 1st is a national holiday in more than 80 countries.
My initial plans for the blog today were to go ‘dark’–no blog post at all–and then to pick back up as usual tomorrow. But after doing some thinking, I figured it would be more beneficial to explain a little bit about *why* May Day is important to me–especially in response to some of the comments left on the above poster that I pinned on Pinterest to promote today’s strike.
In particular, these comments upset me most:
Take the streets? You can borrow them. Just make sure you clean up all your socielist [sic] trash afterwards.
The only people who should agree with them are the people who think they deserve the entire world handed to them on a platter while they sit on a couch in front of the TV.
Unbelievable. If you can afford not to go to work. Not to use the bank. Not to shop nor do chores and not to go to school you are leading an unproductive life. What is this going to prove? Im with Lisa put Americans back to work! And yes this is America and we do have the privilege of Freedom of speech. But when your a factor of this country’s terrible economy and you bash your nation you still want your freedom of speech?!
Really? This is spoiling Pinterest
Most of the comments left on this poster were of this nature. I get that people want to look at pretty stuff on Pinterest. I want to look at pretty stuff too (and actually I thought this poster *was* really pretty). But I can not pretend that while I am lucky enough to be surrounded by beauty most of the time–many are not. Many are surrounded by the really ugly–and I’m not talking about Comic Sans ugly. I’m talking about kids going hungry, sick people who have no health care, oil spilling into the gulf, factory farming ugliness. I think that dedicating a day to join in the streets to act in solidarity with The People (not the corporations) is vital.
Protesting is not being lazy. It’s not sitting on a couch in front of a TV. It’s how ‘little’ things like civil rights, women’s rights, worker’s rights, children’s rights, minimum wage and the 8-hour work day were won. It’s actually the opposite of lazy. It takes drive, and courage and persistence and involves a total upset of a daily routine–one that most of us feel very comfortable in. It involves self sacrifice.
Everything that we do is touched by the hands of workers who have to fight every day just to survive in this country. Who picked the fruit I ate this morning? What is their life like? Who sewed the maternity pants I have on? Who built the roads I drive on and the computer I type on? Are their lives pretty enough for Pinterest? Or will snap-shots of their existence spoil the Pinterest experience, too?
What will it take for people to empathize with those less fortunate? Will people begin to understand when their home gets foreclosed on? When they loose their health due to pesticides on the food and in the water? When they are discriminated against based on race, religion, sexual orientation, class or gender?
I don’t have the answers. But what I do have is a voice, a tiny corner of the internet and two legs that will now take me downtown to join the Immigrant’s Rights March (thank you, commenter #1, for ‘lending’ the streets to us.) And I’m sure that my day will be moving and full of beauty–probably more beautiful, more moving and more memorable than anything I’ve ever pinned on Pinterest.
Poster via here.
Gabs says
You’re quite right! And I have “repinned” the poster twice, (as I thought it was pretty too!) – Once on my board for “The Art” and once on my board for “Really matters” … so there, maybe you’re just surrounded on your Pinterest, by a lot of silly Americans, excuse my french, but when we look at all your goings on, from our distanced viewpoint of Europe – we do think, that some of you, are a bit silly now and then! Cuz over here, this poster wouldn’t batter an eyelid… But then again, there’s Americans who thinks and says so out loud; That we are all a bunch of Commies and Socialist devils … So maybe that’s why…. ;)
Rose in Oakland says
you tell it sister!!!!
Amanda says
I love this. Couldn’t agree more. I wish I was downtown protesting today. Keep it up!
Anonymous says
Thank you for this!
Carola says
My English is not very good, there are many things I would like to say but I can’t.
What I can say about those comments is that I can not believe that there are still people who do not understand the meaning of May Day.
They talk about freedom of speech, of living in America… and they really dont know nothing about respect.. Freedom is to invade countries to steal their natural resources? Freedom is being a prisoner of routine and consumption? Freedom is to be ignorant about what we eat every day? being guilty for the explosion of GMO in the world is to be free? be surrounded by beautiful things is to be free?
I think that living a beautiful lie is to be ignorant and lazy.
Where I live there is no public transportation today, or banking, or stores open, and have been that way for decades. Today is day to be with family, to march and think that what we have is thanks to the millions of people who have fought for the rights of all through history.
p.d: and the poster is really good too!
Carola
Justina Blakeney says
Carola, thank you for your thoughtful comment. I agree with much of what you say here and you make such a valid point that marching today is also about respecting and thanking the people who for fought for the rights of all of us through history.
Shauna Nep says
You are amazing. Thank you for being a constant source of inspiration, honesty and authenticity.
And yes, that poster is TOTALLY pretty.
xx
Justina Blakeney says
you are amazing. :*
Maria @ Orchard Bloom says
well said!
Ranu says
So well said, Justina. I’m behind you and applaud you for taking the day off. Disregard the negativity and ignorance on Pinterest–you’re doing what you believe in and what’s right.
Christina says
Happy May Day from Greece!
Lisa Van Pelt says
Amen!
Shelky Bean says
Well said. I am shocked at the response you got on Pinterest. The international economic crisis is not the product of people not working, or being lazy. In fact, it has nothing to do with “regular joe soap” at all. I’m sure you know this yourself, but it was the fat cats, borrowing and selling beyond their means, it was the governments, spending more than they were earning, and the bankers and big companies doing the same. It wasn’t just America, and it’s not happening in just America. Because the world basically has one economy now (they are all linked and there’s no denying it really) when one faltered, they all went down like dominoes in slow motion. And now people are scared and not spending, or spending and not saving, because they have lost their jobs but still need to feed their kids.
We have to stand and fight in solidarity, but also to show our governments and politicians that we aren’t going to roll over, and that they haven’t pulled the wool over our eyes completely. We know what they are up to and wont let them away with it.
Keep fighting the good fight and standing up for what you believe in !
A loyal reader from Ireland ^.^
Justina Blakeney says
I loved reading this thank you so much…
OLD BRAND NEW says
This is why I bow down to you because this blogging community and the rest of the world desperately need a voice like yours. People should be more mindful. If they actually read up on the history of May Day, maybe they wouldn’t be such rude ass bitches. Whateva! You keep doing your thanggity thang! Love you, girl!
Justina Blakeney says
and I bow down to you my sweet friend! and thanks for putting a smile on my face this morning! hahahaha!!
irati_e says
Hi Justina,
My first ever comment in your blog, and it´s just to say “WELL SAID, LADY!”. It´s amazing how corporate and right-wing media have brainwashed middle america. I mean, using “socialist” as a kind of insult… I don´t think they even know what it means.
It´s funny that almost everyone nowadays don´t see themselves as workers, more like some kind of fantasy middle class, when they depend on their job and salary as the only income.
Anyway, love your blog, your style, home decor and attitude!
I.
Justina Blakeney says
so true about the “fantasy middle class” thanks for stopping by and showing love.
mari says
I thought about protests all day yesterday while I was at work. Years ago I made the decision to protest in the street on May Day, I wanted to be out there every single year, but since my job now involves working with kids who are the product of everything unfair in this world, I go to work on May Day because I feel like it’s another form of protest to help young people that no one is taking care of. But I loved seeing your photos on Instagram because it reminded me that it’s happening out there. There’s always something to fight for and thanks for using this space as a way to share what’s important to you, not just the beautiful.
Justina Blakeney says
Thank you Mari! Keep on fighting the good fight!!
Rachel says
Bravo!
SARAH says
“Protesting is not being lazy.” So right. It’s action and awareness! It’s a statement of being sick of inaction and ignorance! Thank you for doing something and bringing attention to this.
Marginamia says
A. men.
Love this post, love the (yes, pretty) poster, I even kind of love how commenters will hang themselves with their own dumb-comments ropes (it often shows on which side of things the more rigorous thinkers tend to fall, which I like to believe has some influence on the undecided?)
So lovely to find this blog today and such a well written post. And many congratulations on the wee one!
bink and boo says
Amen sista!
Sophie Heawood says
This is SO well said. A joy to read. Keep protesting and celebrating and keep spoiling xxx
joy fisher says
First, I think your poster is plenty pretty enough for Pinterest, even if I don’t really agree with it. Why note shop, work for and support your local businesses rather than strike, though. Use your dollars and time to support the small businesses that represent best what you’d like to see from the “big corporations.” Seems to me that would be much more powerful (and some would argue more realistically productive) to accomplish the goal and not hurt the small businesses in the process. I hope it’s obvious I’m talking more in the general discussion here and not directing this at you specifically. Your pretty poster sparked some good debate it seems. You can be proud of that in the very least!
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