On the first of May, the Egyptians and many peoples of the world celebrate the “Labor Day” which falls on the next Tuesday. On this occasion, I would like to congratulate all the workers of Egypt and all those who work faithfully for its construction, progress and good in all fields, believing that work and sincerity are the way towards construction, progress and dignity.
A Historical Glimpse
Celebrating the Labor Day was launched on April 21, 1856 in Australia. While in Canada, especially in Toronto, Labor Day was celebrated and attended by the leader of the American workers, Peter McGuire, who then applied the idea in America and made September, 5, 1882 to be the first labor day in the United States of America in New York city. However, many believe that Matthew Maguire is the founder of the celebration day. Central Union of Workers celebrated Labor Day in the following year on September, 5, 1883. Then the Union of Workers launched calls to apply the idea in other cities. In 1885, the celebration was held in several industrial centers in America.
Haymarket Events
On May 1, 1886, the United States of America, in a number of cities, particularly in Chicago, witnessed organized strikes of workers who demanded a reduction in daily working hours to be eight hours a day, in a movement called “The eight- hour day movement” with a slogan coined: “From today, no laborer has to work for more than eight hours.” Their call was: “Eight hours a day without salary cuts” As the working hours had been up to 60 hours a week. On May 3, clashes broke out between workers and security men, killing two workers. Some newspapers reported that the death toll was six. A sharp outcry sparked among the workers in response to the police violence, then invitations were printed in both German and English calling for a workers’ rally in Haymarket to demand justice.
On May 4, the rally began peacefully; words and speeches were given, while the police watched from afar. On that day at 10 pm, large numbers of policemen arrived and their leader demanded the crowd to be dispersed. This was followed by a hand grenade thrown from an unknown source at the police who were moving forward, killing nearly 11 people, including seven policemen. Police then exchanged fire with the demonstrators, that four were killed and seventy injured. These bloody events led to the arrest of some of the workers’ leaders, four of whom were sentenced to death – some report them to be seven – and others to prison.
The World Remembers
These events, known as the Haymarket case, went beyond the scope of the United States of America to reach workers in the world countries. The First Congress of Socialist International revived its memory in 1889 in Paris, in 1890, calls were launched to hold international demonstrations as a revival for that memory, and thus in the following year it became an anniversary.
In 1894, the “Pullman Strike” in which some workers were killed by the US Army occurred, urging the US President Grover Cleveland to reconcile with the Labor Party, and to legislate the Labor Day, announcing it an official day off in the country. In 1904, Amsterdam city at the Socialist International Conference launched a call to all the world countries to cease working on the first of May of every year, and in more than ninety countries, this day was deemed an official holiday internationally celebrating the workers’ social and economic achievements. While the United States of America and Canada kept their Labor Day celebration held on the first Monday of September each year, but in 1958 the US Congress designated May 1 as a day for loyalty.
Labor and Achievements
Undoubtedly, sincere and faithful work is the only way that can elevate the nation and enhance its greatness; through such work, the nation’s sons do move towards success and achievements that the world can never deny. Since the dawn of its history, Egypt has witnessed the skill of its workers, which surpassed the perceptions of human beings. Just to name a few; I stop at an era of civilization in which the ancient Egyptians made achievements the world deems unexplainable wonders, including the Great Pyramid: The Professor of Civilizations, Graham Hancock, spoke about his vision of the Pyramids building, saying that nobody knows how they were built!
In an accurate scientific account, he gives an example of the greatness of the Great Pyramid, which is built with precision and mastery, saying that it contains a number of secrets: firstly, its extra big size, its area which is about 13 acres, while its length and width reaches at least 750 feet each in every direction, with a height of 481 feet. The ancient Egyptian prowess manifests in building the Great Pyramid based on the Earth’s original dimensions and the true north of the Earth, merging the Pyramid’s dimensions with the dimensions of the Earth, he said: “While modern building engineers do not build a giant building, bearing the burden of aligning it with the true north of the Earth with such precision … Thousands of years ago, during the dark ages when humans did not know they were living on a planet. Regardless that planet’s core and dimensions, we find that memorial landmark accurately reflecting the dimensions of our planet …” He adds: “I have climbed the Great Pyramid for five times and have entered all of its rooms: It is an amazing artistic achievement! It is the work of skilled experts in the art of architecture at their top adeptness … it is the work of people who exploited their energies in working with passion, love, attention and care …” This is a part of what the world sees in Egypt.
In the modern era, we stand before many of the achievements carried out through the will and determination of the Egyptians in a large number of projects, including: the forearms which dug the New Suez Canal in only one year! In addition to the New Administrative Capital, as well as ways, new cities, bridges, and mega projects that have been established such as: the Egyptian Space Agency, the Dab’a Nuclear Plant, Zohr Field project, residential units, and others.
We must have hopes and dreams, meanwhile, unless we don’t take forward steps and begin to work towards achieving those dreams, they will remain to be just hopes, only through work, they will be turned into achievements and successes.
I shall pay tribute to everyone acting sincerely and honestly in his position…
And…Stories never end about beautiful Egypt and its children…!
The General Bishop
Head of Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
