Labour and War
Labour Day isn’t just about honouring the sacrifices that workers in the past made to win us many of the benefits and protections we take for granted today. It is also to remind us that we still have work to do, especially today with worsening economic inequality and climate change. We are remiss to forget on this day that the only way to achieve a more equitable society and environment is to do so with a united front against the ruling class—a group of immorally-wealthy people who profit immensely from these inequalities and the destruction of our planet.
Whether you're a janitor, a teacher, a factory worker, a nurse, a mechanic, a carpenter, or a desk monkey like myself, if you earn most of your income from your labour, you are part of the working class. We have a lot more in common with each other than we have with the 1% above us, despite cynical attempts to put labels on each of us. Left vs. right. Man vs. woman. White vs. black. Straight vs. gay. Freedom vs. terrorism. These manufactured divisions serve no one except the ruling class who profit from these appeals to the individual, which also makes war more palatable, if not inevitable.
So, for Labour Day 2021, I would like to share with you a short essay that I thought was relevant for this particular time in history. It’s written by an American veteran of the failed war in Afghanistan who also just so happens to be a socialist. Rory Fanning uses his experience fighting one of capitalism’s wars to leave us with a message of solidarity and most importantly, hope, in an otherwise dark time.