10/03/02: Post by Bob
Posted by: BLOWBACK
Speaking about the upcoming war with Iraq,I'd like to share a Wobbly poem printed by it's newpaper(the Industrial Worker---still going strong too!) April 14th 1917.Dedicated to all those considering a stint in the military. "I Love My Flag"I love my flag,I do,I do,Which floats upon the breeze,I also love my arms and legs,And neck,and nose,and knees.One little shell might spoil them allOr give them such a twist,They would be of no use to me; I guess I won't enlist.I love my country,yes I do,I hope her folks do well.Wihout our arms,and legs and things,I think we'd look like hell.Young men with faces half shot offAre unfit to be kissed,I've read in books it spoils their looks; I guess I won't enlist.Speaking of the Wobblies,I bet most of the people posting here take freedom of speech for granted.But there once was a time when even the mentioning of the Declaration of Independance on a street corner would have you labled a "red agitator" and land you some jail time.Don't believe me? The Industrail Workers of the World engaged in what is now known as the "Free Speech Fights".Many were thrown in jail simply reciting the Declaration.I've included some links that go into this in more detail,and don't forget to go to the IWW site and join in the fight for worker emancipation!http://www.generalstrikeband.com/history.htmlhttp://history.binghamton.edu/hist356/lec19.htmlhttp://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~rjensen/vol2no3/history.htmhttp://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAiww.htmhttp://www.labornet.org/viewpoints/meister/joehill.htmlhttp://www.voiceoftheturtle.org/articles/dave_flynn.shtmlhttp://people.clemson.edu/~pammack/lec323/radical.htmhttp://digital.library.arizona.edu/bisbee/http://www.iww.org