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{1} “I want to hold a series of meetings all over the country and get the Facts before the American People.”
Mary Harris (“Mother”) Jones
I met with some of the teachers from the school that my daughters attend last night. Like all teachers in public schools across the country, they are concerned with not only the economic conditions in our small, out of the way community, but with the ugly, coordinated attacks on union workers across this nation.
As I noted last week, a number of the county service workers have been contacting me, too. In the past, I served as the vice president of our local union. There were, of course, plenty of union members who knew more about “union business” than I did; they had more years of experience, during which they worked hard to master their area of expertise. They had been asked me to serve for vice president for specific reasons: we were entering acrimonious contract negotiations, and I had talents in both debating, and in presenting information in the news media.
Years before, I remember one meeting that Onondaga Chief Paul Waterman had selected me to debate a group of attorneys and professional archeologists in a meeting held at the New York State Governor's attorney's office. I have no problem in admitting that I was a bit nervous as we left Onondaga for Albany. Chief Waterman asked me why? I said because he was depending upon me to debate a panel of “experts” with degrees from top universities. Paul told me that he was simply relying on me to tell the Truth, and that the Truth didn't require any university degree or panel of professionals.
I did very well in that meeting. The governor's attorney appeared to think I won the debate, as he offered me a job afterwords. I was happily surprised. The woman that I was dating at the time told me that, in her opinion, none of the panel members representing the industry (that wanted to “mine” an ancient burial site for gravel to cover a toxic waste dump site) enjoyed debating me. Paul reminded me that what made them uncomfortable was being confronted with the truth.
The teachers union is preparing for a conflict against a republican machine that is prepared to bulldoze public education. The county workers are facing the same threat. The teachers are going to do something new: endorse candidates for local school boards, in order to build a strong foundation for the battles ahead. I'm proud to be the first person that they approached in our school district. My ties with the county union may come in handy, too.
I'm an old man. I have physical disabilities, as a result of injuries sustained on the job years ago. My aches and pain kept me awake all night, as a storm entered our area. I'm not able to tie my own shoes this morning – thank goodness my daughters have a “snow day.”
In many ways, I would prefer to spend my retirement sitting out near my pond, or watching high school sports, or writing about the great sport of boxing. But duty calls. I approach this much in the manner I once did boxing. Earlier in the week, I did a presentation at the local state university, to sharpen my skills in front of a tough audience. I think that I can do it. My role isn't really anything big. It's small stuff. But I can make a contribution.
{2} “I talked with a man in jail. I asked him why he was there? He said that he got caught stealing a pair of shoes for one of his children. I told him that he should have stolen a railroad; then he could be a U.S. Senator.”
Mother Jones
My father's family was involved in union politics since they came over from Ireland in the 1800s. My grandfather's sister Mary worked on the Erie Railroad in the Newark and Ridgeway stations in New Jersey. She had problems with management, in large part because the men that were in charge had difficulty dealing with a woman who knew the job so well. As a result, Mary became active in organizing, and was a charter member of the national Order of Railroad telegraphers Union.
Mary worker 365 days a year. She saved her money, to put the next generation of the family through college. That is just one example of the “American experience.” That combination of unions and education created the “middle class.” Aunt Mary taught my father about FDR, and his long-time associate Leland Olds. Former members should read up on Olds, who was one of the driving forces in assisting the middle and lower economic classes during FDR's political career. He was viciously attacked, of course, for being an advocate of socialism.
My father also told me stories about Mary's younger sister, Aunt Bridget. She was what the traditional Irish people called a “Changeling,” as she was “other-worldly.” Bridget knew all of the hobos and tramps that road the rails. They marked the families' house in Nutley, NJ, because it was a safe place to get a warm meal, a couple of bucks, or some warm clothes, a coat, or a pair of shoes, without risking going to jail.
When my grandfather and his brothers would complain about Bridget giving their new clothes away, she would tell them that “every one of these hobos is Jesus in disguise.”
Those are the people that influence my decision to try to make my small contribution.
Peace,
H2O Man
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