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Appreciation For An Extremely Honest Businessman
Dear
Editor:
About a week ago I got a call from Jack Cress saying that he had overcharged
me $56 on a car repair. I don't think that's ever happened to me before,
under any circumstances, and I just couldn't sit quietly and let it pass
without comment.
Jack has worked on my vehicles for over 25 years, and I've always considered
him to be extremely honest, not to mention remarkably patient with
histrionic women whose cars are broken – but this just amazed me.
Most of us are willing to complain about people, but I feel compelled to
express my great admiration and appreciation for this exceptional man. What
a blessing that he's in our community. Thanks for everything, Jack, you're
the best.
Sincerely, Marci Nielsen
The Meaning Of Labor Day
Dear Editor:
September 6, 2010 is Labor Day. It isn’t just a day for family picnics, the
end of summer, or the beginning of football season. It’s a celebration of
the American workforce. The first Labor Day was September 5, 1882 in New
York City and soon became a congressionally sanctioned National Holiday.
Labor Day resulted from workers trying to organize for better working
conditions, living wages, and some say in how a business operated. The first
organizers were met with deadly violence from management, the federal
government, and private security forces. As labor became a more powerful
voice in this country, we saw the living standards of all Americans rise.
Thousands died trying to make the workplace something we could all be proud
of. Although Labor Day is most seen as a result of organized labor and trade
organizations, I suggest there are many organizations to celebrate. You can
begin with the Pullman Strike (black porters working on railroads) and
including the United Coal Miners (an Appalachian heritage) and the Grange
(farmers organizing to protect the interests of agriculture). All of America
can claim a proud history of workers living and dying to improve working
conditions for all of us. A partial list of accomplishments include child
labor laws, the forty hour workweek, overtime pay, paid holidays, safe
working conditions, and many others. Today thank that checker and bagger at
the grocery store, the person who delivers rock for your driveway, the
electrician who makes sure the wiring in your home or business works and is
safe, the fire fighters, the EMTs, the clerks in the retail stores, and the
nursing assistants who make sure your care in a hospital or nursing home is
of high quality, and everyone else who works for a living. Our cultural
heritage is full of examples of celebration of labor: Loretta Lynn’s song
and movie ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’, the Phil Ochs folksong ‘Joe Hill’ sung
exquisitely by Joan Baez, Tennessee Ernie Ford’s song ‘Sixteen Tons’, Sally
Field’s movie ‘Norma Rae’ to name a few. Instead of shooting off fireworks,
listen to the music and watch a movie about the American labor movement and
be thankful for the productive and resilient workforce of our country. To
all of you who work for a living, I give you a big THANK YOU.
Katherine B. Hegemann
Trade, Tennessee |
