"Great American Boycott 2006"

BAC'sMom wrote: I have the feeling that things are going to get really “ugly” Monday. How about the rest of you do you think the boycott will be peaceful or will there be violence?


http://www.workers.org/2006/us/may-day-0427/

C&K*s Mommie replied: Maybe it is that lala attitude I have at times, a 'live and let live' mentality ocassionally, that the world is by no means at peace, but there are good people still residing here (somewhere). Maybe it is that, but I think it will be peaceful overall. I think while the emotions behind this run high, in order to best convey their points that demonstrations will be controlled, and surely they know this. Who knows for certain, but I would like to see it stay peaceful so that the attention is not taken away with eruptions of violence, or assault with the workers/marchers.

JP&KJMOM replied: I am not sure about violence Jimmie.

DH and I both work in the construction industry for a large General Contractor. We sub our work out to all different crafts of construction. Right now we have our framing contractor, who has 40 regular employees on our project, telling us that the 5 caucasion employees will be the only ones here. None of our painters will be here and not to mention many of the other crafts will have several skipping.

Sad part is that the majority that will be missing work on Monday are not actually doing any protesting and will tell you that they are just missing a day of work because of the Fiesta Party, which is an annual celebration here in our town. Which means they are going to get drunk on Sunday night and sleep it off the next day. From what we have been told here (and remember that the majority of the workers on our jobsite are hispanic) they are just using the day for a vacation from work and not really protesting a darn thing.

luvbug00 replied: I'm embaressed to be latina after this and the spanish version of the national anthem. they don't show up at work i'm gonna get ugly..

redchief replied: This is just an observation... The site http://www.workers.org/ is a well known socialist site (read: Communism).

holley79 replied: I have no clue how it goes. I think if it gets violent at all then it proves nothing. JMO.

A&A'smommy replied: HOPEFULLY it wont get too bad.. that is just what we need

jcc64 replied: I agree with much of what was said in the link Ed posted. I admit to being fairly uneducated about what the boycotts are hoping to accomplish- so I don't feel comfortable commenting pro or con. But I hope that we non native born Americans remember that most of our ancestors were immigrants at one time too, and regardless of whether they arrived here legally or not, many faced brutal prejudice, racism, and hatred, for the very same reasons being cited about today's immigrants. I am certain that many people attempt to enter this country illegally b/c they are desperate, don't feel they will ever be given the opportunity to come here legitimately, and are trying to sustain their families any way they can. Do I think it's our responsibility to support the entire world- no, but let's not forget the infamous phrase on the Statue of Liberty- "Give me your tired, your hungry, your poor....." That was a vital part of our national character at one time. Maybe that's changing?

redchief replied: This is just a point of order lest anyone become confused about my conservative nature. I didn't post the link, BAC'sMom did. I just noted that it was a socialist website. I agree with very little of anything I read there and have had it saved in my favorites as "anti-conservative politics."

jcc64 replied: I was wondering what you were doing on that site, Ed! No confusion on my part. I mean, we can't expect to agree two days in a row, right?

redchief replied:
No, Jeanne... But without your colorful and insightful arguments I would become quickly bored here anyway. Love ya!

jcc64 replied: Right back at ya, Ed!

NEWMOM05 replied: I hope it doesn't get violent, but who knows.

luvmykids replied: Are they talking about illegal immigrants, or American citizens with roots in other countries?

If it's illegals, I can't begin to tell you how irate I am at the thought that they would do this for their "rights". If we're talking about immigrants who are US citizens or here legally, then what are they complaining about?

ITA with Jeanne that the "give me your tired" is one of our trademarks but JMHO it has been taken for granted and advantage of. When US citizens don't suffer any longer for health care, basic needs such as food and housing, etc then I'll be happy to extend the bounty to others.

BAC'sMom replied:

I hope that everyone realizes the point I was trying to make. I was strictly talking about the boycott set for Monday May 1st 2006. And rather it would be peaceful or violent.

I was going to leave the politics out of this post!

punkeemunkee'smom replied:
Monica I couldn't agree more! If they are not here legally they don't have any rights.


I don't know what will happen here on Monday. As I have said before we are in a high concentration population of illegal immigrants. In all honesty I am not terribly concerned about businesses shutting down (as far as the stores and such) I am sure ,as Karen already pointed out, if the boycott does indeed happen it will be a slow contruction day. I hope they walk out for a week-give the business owners that hire them time to realize that if they hire American citizens for fair wages they wouldn't have to worry about illegal walkouts!