May Day 2003, Dublin (photos 1)

by redjade Fri May 02, 2003 00:06

May Day (the political version) may have origins in Chicago, USA ... but Americans don't know much about history and today it has all been erased and replaced by....

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Loyalty Day, 2003

By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/04/20030430-26.html

To be an American is not a matter of blood or birth. Our citizens are bound by ideals that represent the hope of all mankind: that all men are created equal, endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. On Loyalty Day, we reaffirm our allegiance to our country and resolve to uphold the vision of our Forefathers.

Our founding principles have endured, guiding our Nation toward progress and prosperity and allowing the United States to be a leader among nations of the world. Throughout our history, honorable men and women have demonstrated their loyalty to America by making remarkable sacrifices to preserve and protect these values.

Today, America's men and women in uniform are protecting our Nation, defending the peace of the world, and advancing the cause of liberty. The world has seen again the fine character of our Nation through our military as they fought to protect the innocent and liberate the oppressed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. We are honored by the service of foreign nationals in our Armed Services whose willingness to risk their lives for a country they cannot yet call their own is proof of the loyalty this country inspires. Their service and sacrifice are a testament to their love for America, and our soldiers' honor on and off the battlefield reaffirms our Nation's most deeply held beliefs: that every life counts, and that all humans have an unalienable right to live as free people.

These values must be imparted to each new generation. Our children need to know that our Nation is a force for good in the world, extending hope and freedom to others. By learning about America's history, achievements, ideas, and heroes, our young citizens will come to understand even more why freedom is worth protecting.

Last September, I announced several initiatives that will help improve students' knowledge of American history, increase their civic involvement, and deepen their love for our great country. The We the People initiative will encourage the teaching of American history and civic education by providing grants for curriculum development and training seminars. The Our Documents initiative will use the Internet to bring infor-mation about and the text of 100 of America's most important documents from the National Archives to classrooms and com-munities across the country. These initiatives are important, for it is only when our children have an understanding of our past that they will be able to lead the future.

This Loyalty Day, as we express allegiance to our Nation and its founding ideals, we resolve to ensure that the blessings of liberty endure and extend for generations to come.

The Congress, by Public Law 85-529, as amended, has designated May 1 of each year as "Loyalty Day," and I ask all Americans to join me in this day of celebration and in reaffirming our allegiance to our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2003, as Loyalty Day. I call upon all the people of the United States to join in support of this national observance. I also call upon government officials to display the flag of the United States on all government buildings on Loyalty Day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

GEORGE W. BUSH

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by James McKenna Fri May 02, 2003 09:19

These photographs are very well taken . I have long ago tired of pictures of political party banners and RBB himself.

WHY REPRINT THE US PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS ?

SHOULD WE OR INDEED WILL WE CONTINUE TO CUT AN PASTE MR BUSHES MESSAGES HERE?

by kokomero Fri May 02, 2003 10:22

Actually James I hadn't seen this speech and wasn't aware of the fact that the Bush junta had hijacked May Day for their own dubious purposes.

It is an interesting subtext to how May day was celebrated here in Ireland.

It will also be interesting to see if the Gardai again turn the May Day holiday into "Whacking Day" again like last year, lest we forget. This would certainly be in keeping with the authoritarian line taken by the government during the anti-war protests.

I can see the RTS picnic on Dame St. being broken up by truncheon wielding thugs already ... I hope not!

by James Mckenna Fri May 02, 2003 10:41

How could you miss it? It's reprinted on this site in full, twice. Right at the top of the page there....see.....and I don't see how it is in any way ,"an interesting subtext to how May day was celebrated here in Ireland".

IT IS PURELY REPRINTING A PROPAGNDA SPEECH BY THE US WAR CRIMINAL PRESIDENT.

I agree with you that last year the Irish Gardai did act disgracefully on Dame St but what has that to do with giving Bush free bandwith on a so-called Independent Media site?

by Curious Fri May 02, 2003 10:42

How do you feel; about Cuban cops?

by Ant Fri May 02, 2003 13:17

No mere propaganda.

I genuinely thought that this comment was a spoof until I followed the link to the source. I don't normally pay much attention to US presidential addresses but this one scares me a lot.

Twisting "Labour Day" into "Loyalty Day" is perverse enough but the whole speech is one huge example of double-think. Littered with phrases such as "all humans have an unalienable right to live as free people" and making reference to Iraq as "a country they cannot yet call their own". It's hard to know whether GW knows that he himself is re-writing history in the very same address where he encourages his 'subjects' to study their nation's history to "understand even more why freedom is worth protecting".

It's mind-boggling stuff but it's important that we know the kind of crap that is being fed to American citzens by those who make their decisions for them.

by Josef Fri May 02, 2003 13:42

Why not? It's better than May Day being hijacked by Communists.

by Josef the fool Fri May 02, 2003 13:54

Mayday was hijacked by communists. I know this because big brother told me and I love big brother.

Long ago Mayday was a holiday to celebrate the arrival of spring. Everyone took the day off work. But with the arrival of factories this didn't suit those who owned the factories. They wanted people to work so that they could make lots of money from their investment in machinery. This investment, or capital, was what of course made them communists.

They were trying to take Mayday off the workers (who I call the capitalists). But the workers were sometimes very bold and took the day off anyway, even though this made their bosses very angry. So the bosses thought to teach them a lesson and in 1887 executed some of these workers for wanting to take time off work.

Ever since the workers (or as I call them capitalists) have marched every mayday. This annoys the bosses (whom I call communists) because they want them to work instead.

And so we see how the communists hijacked Mayday. But George Bush who gives us all freedom is going to save the day. He has come up with the clever idea of changing the name to Loyality day. This will make everyone happy. After all we are all loyal and love our masters who treat us well.

Josef the fool
aged 4 3/4

by wasichu Fri May 02, 2003 15:12

In the US the other attempts have been made to "redefine" Mayday. Several years ago it proclaimed to be Law Day. No one paid attention.

And the US labor movement adopted its own non-commie labor celebration--Labor Day--the first week in September. More about outdoor barbeque than politics.

In my elementary school Mayday was always celebrated with pagan overtones...there was always a Maypole and much dancing.

Will Boy George's proto-fascist overlay catch on? I doubt it.

by iosaf-ipsiphi-o asif Fri May 02, 2003 16:30

like really.
Bealtaine.

lovely day hijacked by the internet activists of the evolving revolution.
aged (32)

by Josef Fri May 02, 2003 18:50

A very palpable hit.

by Ruth Sat May 03, 2003 06:40

I don't watch Bush on tv. What a bunch of crap. One tv station did not cover the 1000 protestors outside of Bush's speech today in Santa Clara. Another did.

by red republican Sat May 03, 2003 10:29 redrepublican at mymelody dot com

Did they march in Dublin on May Day?

by Doogle Sat May 03, 2003 21:40

Who the hell are you then? A spliter from the old blokes (2) in the CPI?

by Red Republican Sat May 03, 2003 23:02 redrepublican at mymelody dot com

"Old Blokes" !!

CPI(ML) didnt split from the CPI. The organisation started as a a result of the Sino-Soviet split, originally supported Maoist positions and supported Enver Hoxha and the PLA in later years.
CPI(ML) opposed the ideology of Khruschev and Gorbachev and could see that their policies were based on revisionism. CPI(ML) are close in politics to www.rcpbml.org.uk

Now Doogle, can you tell me if they participated in the Dublin May Day march?

by RED DAWN 1917 Sun May 04, 2003 19:20

The CPI ('Marxist Leninist') is the opposite of the CPI instead of two old men and a dog they have two young men with a dog.

by ezkerojo Mon Jun 20, 2005 22:12

do you have any more info on the cpi(ml) as I am unable to find text online regarding their politics, and activity generally can you help?