When May Day comes around, we typically think of flowers, ribbons, and little goody baskets for the neighbors.
But there's more to it.
Known as International Workers' Day as well, the holiday celebrates the achievements of the international labor movement. It's also a commemoration of the Haymarket Massacre of 1886 in Chicago where police fired on a crowd of workers protesting for an eight-hour workday. Communists, socialists, and anarchists called dibs on the day too.
Taking in a demonstration on Boston Common today, I found out that May 1st is also a day to celebrate the art of the headstrong argument.
A crowd of about 100 people listened to city councilors, Iraq War veterans and other activists talk about the big, hot-button issue of the day: illegal immigration.
But fifty feet away was where the real action was.
On one side of the brick walkway was a group of middle aged men, dressed in red, white and blue, holding signs calling for the deportation of all illegal immigrants. On the other side of the walk was a handful of younger people, dressed like the Future Ramones of America, singing and chanting for equal rights and opportunities for everyone, no matter what.
In the middle was Officer Krupke.
I dare you to step across this line and say that.
"We're in real trouble if you're the future of our world," said one of the old boys, sporting an all-New England Patriots outfit and holding an American flag.
"You're making your parents real proud, I'll tell you that," said another.
Their opposition wasn't listening, though. They were too busy singing "This Land Was Made for You and Me."
In contrast to the American flags held by the more conservative bunch, several self-proclaimed anarchists waved plain, black flags. Off in the crowd by the gazebo, a demonstrator waved the communist flag.
"When you fly the star and sickle instead of the stars and stripes, you're trash!" shouted a man in a green Red Sox cap.
The jabs went back and forth:
"You're a Nazi."
"You were born on the moon."
"You're a racist."
"You're a disappointment to your parents."
Then came the really enlightening rhetoric.
"The Native Americans had a bad immigration policy," said the ring leader of the pro-deportation clan. "How'd that work out for them?"
This invited a slew of responses like, "You moron, you're descended from illegal immigrants," which may as well have been followed by a collective sticking out of tongues.
One "Patriot, Not Racist" asked a kid, who couldn't have been older than 16, how we doesn't support the deportation of murderers, rapists, identity thieves.
"American citizens do that too," shouted another student.
"I wasn't talking to you," Captain Justice said.
The arguments got faster and louder until everyone from both sides just put their fingers in their ears and went "la la la la la la la la."
I can't hear yooooooou!
A march ultimately began and the "radical" demonstrators walked away to the rhythm of the good ol' boys chanting "Commies Go Home!"
The icing on the cake was when I overheard an older white woman call two Latino men in business suits "liars, cheats, and thieves." (You hear it from the people of the town, they call us...)
People need to stop talking and start listening. I doubt that those old men were Nazis-- heck, their fathers probably fought them. I also doubt that the young anarchists of America hate freedom and would invite with open arms somone "who just rode 500 miles in the back of a U-HAUL truck to steal your job."
I believe that you need to truly understand the other side before you can develop real, honest opinions. If people reserved judgment and heard out all the facts and perspectives about an issue, they'd probably end up meeting in the middle, or at least amicably agreeing to disagree. All you have to do is listen.
You're an idiot if you don't believe me.
