Comments on: Thousands of dockworkers protest Iraq war.

By: sketchy41

sketchy41 — Fri, 02 May 2008 21:44:21 +0000

It was so good to see this happen! I was around in the era of Vietnam protests and this protest of the dockworkers made my heart sing. We are in the trucking world and so glad to see what happened in DC. Another way we are protesting is to sport bandanas on our vehicles, backpacks, briefcases, clothing, etc. and on the last day of each month to purchase absolutely nothing wherever possible. Bandanas are sort of a symbol of a working person, and by not purchasing anything one day a month, the last day, it does speak to corporate america. Hope you will join us with this quiet protest as well as with all of the noiser ones. Thanks to all of you for doing what you are doing, I enjoy reading TP regularly, love your comments.

Namaste

By: Exit Stage Left

Exit Stage Left — Fri, 02 May 2008 18:28:21 +0000

mary Says:
“freedomspeaks” – how does a one-day strike hurt the economy?
Surely shoppers can wait one more day for a few containers of imported goods to hit the shelves?

Good point Mary. The friggin WalMarts here in FL weren’t closing their doors.

By: Exit Stage Left

Exit Stage Left — Fri, 02 May 2008 18:21:44 +0000

leftright Says:
This really shows your intelligence. In your mind the only thing that qualifies an intelligent person is one that agrees with you? Hahahahahaha how progressive of you!

It’s time for your koolaid break, nitwit.

By: Zooey

Zooey — Fri, 02 May 2008 18:09:28 +0000

“freedomspeaks” really seems to miss the point of a strike.

Duh.

By: hussein toasterhead

hussein toasterhead — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:43:31 +0000

freedomspeaks Says:

Yeah, this is really smart. Let’s put our economy in further danger by striking all our west coast ports. I suggest next time they try something that doesn’t hurt the rest of the American people.

May 2nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
_____

That’s the purpose of a strike. You show that little people have the power to demand change.

By: sacopenapa

sacopenapa — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:36:00 +0000

They have the support of 71% of the american people and the full support from the rest o the world community!

By: NOLIESPLEASE

NOLIESPLEASE — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:34:35 +0000

The truth about war and the control of us citizens http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com This is what happens when power is in the wrong hands. It’s sad when you take Authority as the truth , instead of Truth as the Authority. Take two hours out of your life to change the way you look at AUTHORITY AND THE WORLD.

PEACE.

By: mary

mary — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:20:55 +0000

And besides, “freedomspeaks”, if you don’t hit the powers-that-be in the pocketbook how else can you get their attention?

By: mary

mary — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:19:20 +0000

“freedomspeaks” – how does a one-day strike hurt the economy?

Surely shoppers can wait one more day for a few containers of imported goods to hit the shelves?

By: misshusseinmolly

misshusseinmolly — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:15:07 +0000

fletc3her Says
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:14 am
Most American’s don’t know that May Day is International Workers Day or Labor Day. It is a day celebrated around the world, in practically every country but America, to honor the labor movement. Workers all over the world march in recognition of those who have sacrificed for their rights to fair work conditions.

In America we move Labor Day to the last Monday in May to separate it from the international labor movement. And then we eviscerate the meaning of the holiday. Treating it as a three-day weekend which heralds the beginning of Summer. Labor day in America is best known for sales, movies, and picnics.
_____________________________________

Not to be overly picky, but I believe the holiday at the end of May that has come to herald the beginning of summer is Memorial Day, not Labor Day. Labor Day is observed in the United States on the first Monday in September — also with sales, movies, and picnics — and this three-day weekend signals the end of summer and the end of the period where one can wear white shoes without getting laughed at.

I think the protest by the ILWU is admirable. I would love to see more unions make similar stands on September 1.

By: freedomspeaks

freedomspeaks — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:04:51 +0000

Yeah, this is really smart. Let’s put our economy in further danger by striking all our west coast ports. I suggest next time they try something that doesn’t hurt the rest of the American people.

freedomspeaks.com – speak out. be heard.

By: NoOneYouKnow

NoOneYouKnow — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:51:05 +0000

I’m a little surprised that Bushco didn’t call out the dogs on them. Way to go, workers. A new labor movement in the country would put the corporations on their collective ass.

By: cd

cd — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:42:53 +0000

If the truckers that are going on strike coordinate their efforts with the dock workers other unions will feel required to join them.

By: Buckie Boy

Buckie Boy — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:13:01 +0000

As usual the “Liberal Media” (my ass) has been told by their corporate masters to not give this a second of air time…Cheney’s office must have been pretty busy telling them not to give a second of air time to this.

WORST, MOST CRIMINAL PRESIDENT IN HISTORY

By: texaslady

texaslady — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:03:43 +0000

As Annie said, what coverage on any channels last night, I saw nothing local or national. Same old, same old. Thank you TP and the Internet.

By: Chocolate Jesus

Chocolate Jesus — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:54:51 +0000

people power…good to see people getting into the streets and taking some positive action rather than worrying about the latest hollywood soap opera

By: mary

mary — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:51:19 +0000

Thank you longshoremen and thank you TP!

Don’t mean to be repetitive (I posted this snippet yesterday) but here’s one of my favorite parts (other than them doing this to protest the Iraq war):

‘Mr. McEllrath said the walkout was not ordered by the union’s leadership, but was the result of a “democratic decision” made by the rank and file in February to demonstrate on May 1, a traditional day for labor activism.’

my bolding..

By: Pseudonym

Pseudonym — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:45:45 +0000

More proof that the MSM is far from “liberal” – this got little to no notice beyond blogs.

But it’s hugely significant. The Republicans are bringing up the same old fallacy – that Democrats and Democratic politics does not speak to the “regular guy/gal,” the “working man/woman” and in particular “white blue-collar men.” The anti-war message carried by 25,000+ people and articulated by the union’s leader demonstrates clearly that it’s the Republican message that doesn’t speak to this constituency.

Democrats should not be afraid to stand up for their platform – ENDING the war in Iraq, health insurance for all, improving our envirionment, etc. The American people are clamoring for the Democratic platform and only Democrats can let them down.

By: Bluestocking

Bluestocking — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:44:52 +0000

If nothing else, this move by the ILWU demonstrates that the American people potentially have vast reserves of grassroots political power at their disposal, provided that we have the creativity and the motivation to tap it. In fact, it may be one of the few remaining means left to us through which we could still hope to bring about change in this country. At this stage, I think we can all agree that there doesn’t seem to be much reason to think that our Congresscritters will be of much help in that regard — the overwhelming majority of them, Democrat and Republican alike, seem to have forgotten that their job is to serve us and all of us instead of themselves and/or the select few with large amounts of ready cash.

By: Uncle Ho

Uncle Ho — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:39:36 +0000

Thank you Longshoremen.

now, if only many other labor unions would follow suit.