30 Comments

I started my nursing career in Idaho. Earned my Bachelors in Nursing degree at Idaho State University. Idaho of course is a “Right to work your ass of for low pay and minimal benefits “ state. I worked there for my first 18 years of my career. We moved to Oregon 18 years ago and my pay doubled with much better benefits. Oregon nurses are represented by the ONA. It was like night and day. And so happy to be in Oregon!

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“All that harms labor is treason to America.” – Abraham Lincoln

We are grateful to Joan Baez, Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen for their voices in song and in spirit. Thank you for this moving selection, TC.

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Some background on "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."

Is The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down Confederate?

“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” is quite literally the story about the defeat of the Confederacy, in no way glorifying its cause, or slavery, told from the perspective of a poor Southerner from Tennessee who would have not been in a position to own slaves, and due to conscription, would have been forced to fight .

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That's always been the way I heard it.

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there's a casual home photo I've seen of Robbie and Levon poring over a history of the Civil War, just to get the names and chronology right.

about thirty years ago, I co-wrote a Civil War song and we probably looked at the same book(s).

that album is a serious contender for my favorite of all time, possibly just after "Blonde On Blonde" and "Blood on the Tracks."

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I find it sad that on Labor Day, millions of abused workers have a party. This could be a day to do a Norma Rae. Stand on that picnic table as they down their burgers and beers and scream "Union"!

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Thank you TC! 2 great songs from 2 amazing artists

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I am proudly Union. I have never crossed a picket line. I am stunned that (as Starbucks tries to unionize) none of the employees can tell me how best to support them.

Union forever!

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Feel the same. Grew up in a union household. I probably would not have been able to go to college if dad wasn’t working for union wages. And thanks for the scholarship from the Orange Belt Painters and Decorators Union Trust Find Local 33! (I think it was 33–so many damned years ago.🤦🏻‍♂️)

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LIKE

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Happy Labor Day to you and yours, TC. You have been the laboring one here and we are grateful. Love the curated Labor Day music list-- all favorites of mine. TY, TC. The abiding importance of the artists in our midst to reflect back to us who we are! These 3 among the greatest.

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Baez, Seeger, and Springsteen---THE folks with whom to celebrate Labor Day. Thanks TC. I think I'll listen to a disc (or maybe two) of Pete tomorrow, and add Arlo for good measure. Cheers---and Keep Cool (my son in Encino says it has been bad...esp not cooling off in the evening....Wow.)

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Yeah, the not cooling off at night is bad. Current temp at 10:16pm is 85, got up to 103 today. with humidity it's "midwestern" out there. Stays over 100 till Tuesday, when it "only" gets to 97. Upper 90s all week and then next Saturday it just got forecast to be cool and rain.

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who would ever have thought there'd be a Summer during which people thought of NYC as someplace with relatively desirable weather?

surely not I.

Happy Labor Day, everyone.

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Thank you very much.

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Pete Seeger. Obama. Tears!

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Yeah, that day was The Happiest Day of my Political Life. As it obviously was Pete's.

How little we knew.

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Such joy on his face!

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Mine too, and I am sure yours. I remember telling people "We've finally won the election of 1968!"

Hah!

And HAH!!

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Then came the crushing blow, November 2015. I felt joy return with Biden’s win. Who could have believed what we’re facing would be our new reality. Glad it brought you to substack, grateful for occasional rays of sunshine.

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yea verily to all of the above...

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I'll keep mine simple: thank you! Enjoy your weekend!

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U2 - :-)

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Thanks for sharing those reminder songs TC. I miss Pete.

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Very moving, all three selections. I will listen to them throughout the Labor Day weekend. Thank you, TC.

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“I never died, said he”

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He still hasn't although one must search diligently to find him or his spirit.

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Great choices❣️❣️❣️

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❤️ thank you for these three.

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but dontcha really want Robeson singing "Joe Hill" above all others?

obviously, I do.

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