Monday, September 03, 2007

Reverse Order

While sitting in the end zone at a recent Vikings football game, I was startled to see how sitting behind the hanging flag changes the point of view. Seemed odd to me to see the flag hanging in reverse from the ceiling of the metrodome--because of where we were sitting. Since today is our country's Labor Day, the flag is, nonetheless, an appropriate symbol.

"Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country...It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker. (www.dol.gov)"

11 comments:

  1. And in honor of Labor Day today, I did NONE. After church I sat by a river and just enjoyed the day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very nice and an uncommon view of our flag.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous1:28 AM

    Happy labor day! And good starting week to you, Kate!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy Labour Day! Here it is on first of May :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous4:34 AM

    Everything is open except "government offices" and places like the post office. So Labor Day is a big sale day in most cities and the people who are supposed to be at home with their families are working. It is a kind of sad joke on working people—an oxymoron. Politicians make sure they are off don't they?

    I like your backwards flag and the explanation behind it. Lots of people wouldn't know that it is reversed and what that means or what they are supposed to do when a flag passes them in a parade.

    You bring up a subject that many people shrug their shoulder at.

    ReplyDelete
  6. la saison NFL va bientot commencer, j'espere que cette année les Giants vont enfin faire quelque chose ;o)


    season NFL soon will start, I hope that this year Giants finally will do something ;O)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Somehow surprising is that it's to a large extent to commemorate US workers manifestations that the labor day became May 1 in most countries - except in US, Canada and maybe some others.

    To turn the flag in the right direction would not have been a problem in most countries, especially in Switzerland where are all sides are equal. You could actually turn it in any direction.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That flag is a nice meditation figure. As it was turned around for you and for me, I started thinking about all the challenges to the "working person" today. I'm sure we need a reinvigorated labor movement these days. Old Man Lincoln said it all, didn't he.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Abe - I don't know about all the politicians taking the day off - I think some of them were campaigning ;-)

    The flag looks definitively disturbing to me - I have a visual memory that does not like to be tricked!

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is an interesting angle.
    The labor isue here is complex - the unions are not much of a help here - & the majority are making a little above the minimum wage.
    Plenty of greed to go around from the peace & love generation who are the managers & CEOs of today.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I hope you had a great Labor Day, Go Vikings!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting my blog; I appreciate it! Come back often!!