MAY DAY- SIGN OF DISTRESS-CELEBRATION-PROTEST-PERSONAL MEMORY

It is quite likely that by the time we have reached the age of five tears of age we have all heard of the international convention of using the term “May Day” as a sign of distress. Airplanes and ships at sea that are in dire straights use the term of Mayday as a signal to send assistance. Quite often loss of life may be involved if a prompt response is not forthcoming.  This is one of the first ways where I became familiar with the term Mayday.

Some time later in our lives we become aware that May Day is a day of celebration in many lands. In many countries May Day is celebrated as Labor Day.  This is unlike the United States where Labor Day is observed on the first Monday in September. Most communist countries use May Day to parade their military might before their citizens and the entire world. During the days of the USSR their May Day celebration was unsurpassed as a symbol of totalitarian suppression.

I found it ironic that today May 1,2010 those who proclaimed they were fighting for liberty and justice chose May Day to carry out their protests against a law enacted by Arizona to fight the blight of illegal aliens. These illegals are slaughtering farmers and ranchers along the Arizona-Mexican border. What is the motive of these protesters by choosing May Day are they proclaiming their allegiance to communism? The signs they carry are not celebratory in nature. They are not celebrating the virtue of hard work and labor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I saw these protests I was outraged that any American would observe May Day in any way!!!!!!!!!!!

Then I though back to just yesterday and my thoughts stopped dead in their tracks!!!!!!

Just one year ago today on May 1, 2009 I was celebrating the 16^th birthday of my beloved pet cat Spooky who died on July 18, 2009. Yesterday I thought of the celebration we would be having today if poor Pook had lived another year.

I guess May Day is like beauty, which is in the eye of the beholder.