Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

All my life, the first Monday of September has been celebrated as Labor Day. 1894 was the first year that this national holiday was officially celebrated here. Other countries celebrate workers as well. May 1st is recognized by many nations as the day to honor those who make their countries great.

I’m not into the whole Make America Great Again movement. Firstly, America is great. It began great. It has had its share of both good and bad times. When the original Europeans came here, they worked with the natives to settle the land. It was later generations that came into conflict with those who were here first.

We’ve treated some of the emigrants badly. We enslaved individuals of other races. During World War II, we incarcerated many Japanese Americans and discriminated against German Americans because they came from countries with which we were at war. We have discriminated against Jews and Arabs. That is not right.

Many of these hard-working folks came to the United States because they needed a chance. Then, after they had put in time, money, and labor, all that was taken from them, and they no longer thought that this country was great. Some of them still love this nation.

Donald Trump has decided that our constitutional guarantee of citizenship, just because you are born here, is not a good idea. Yes, this was put into place after slaves were set free. Children should not be penalized because they had no choice in being born here. Fortunately for us, what he thinks is not necessarily the law. That is what happens in a monarchy. We have no kings.

Labor can be manual or mental. Most of my career, I worked with my hands. Using a pencil or pen on paper, then typing on a computer keyboard. I went home brain weary and had physical strength to work around the house, provided I did not have to think. Much like politicians.

For years, we attended the Labor Day Parade. Neither of us ever worked for a union shop. Our daughters marched with groups that were performing at the parades. The fascinating thing about this celebration was the picnic in the park. The parade was a lot of vehicles from companies.

Everything from eighteen-wheelers to trash trucks, the Highland Dairy antique milk truck, and just about any type of wheeled device with a logo on it. The labor unions are in force, and during election years, a lot of Democrats are campaigning. I don’t think I ever saw a Republican there.

It doesn’t matter what your job is or whether you are labor or management. If you work for a living, then Labor Day is to honor you. I worked for about fifty years and still consider myself a worker, even though I now do not get paid for what I do. Volunteers also need to be recognized. They accomplish a lot in our country as well. Happy Labor Day.

©Copyright 2025 by Charles Kensinger