May Day...

[fajrdrako]

Happy May Day to everyone, whatever it might mean to you. Beltane, International Worker's Day, Maharashtra Day, Golden Week, St. Joseph the Worker's Day, Roodmas, Lei Day - whatever it may be, have a happy one.

An interesting day historically, May Day. Full of significance in numerous directions. It's the only day I know of for anarchists; and though I don't like the connotations of violent protest and repression associated with the labour movement, I like the connotations of freedom, hope, life-involvement, rebirth and renewal.

In honour of the day, a quote from one of my heroes, Emma Goldman:

The demand for equal rights in every vocation of life is just and fair; but, after all, the most vital right is the right to love and be loved.

Comments

[cupati.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reminding me: it means horse-and-mirror-and-wink to me.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

What's that?

[cupati.livejournal.com]

The doctor who calendar - May is The Girl in the Fireplace. ;)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

How wonderful! An even better connotation.

I wonder what the 2008 Torchwood calendar will be like.

[cupati.livejournal.com]

Vaguely pornographic.

Well, I don't think they'll get away with printing it without the "feeling a bit of a cock" naked owen shot.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

LOL! You raise my hopes.

Kalenda Maya!

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Happy May Day! There is appropriate music from Montferrat over on oltramar!

Re: Kalenda Maya!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Wonderful - just the thing!

[brashley46.livejournal.com]

And a happy May Day to you! I don't necessarily agree with Emma in general, but in the particulars, she was right on.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes. Though Emma made some odd statements, I like her style and her approach. I mostly read about her in my late teens. It was Shelley - who was a poet and philosopher, and not in any way a politician - who had stated all the ideas I had integrated as an adolescent, making me an anarchist, free-thinker, atheist and pantheist. Emma reflected that, a century later, and in a political forum. I loved her for it.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

"Atheist and pantheist".

Reserving the right of self-contradiction? If so, today was certainly the proper day to reaffirm any such right for anyone alive!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Hee. Well, I never know exactly which to describe myself as, and on further deep thinking, have pretty much concluded that my pantheism is a spiritually-directed atheism. I could explain further if you like, but I always think that the only more boring thing than people talking about their health, is people talking about their religion!

I feel no particular contradiction there, though perhaps a certain rather delightful paradox.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

after all, the most vital right is the right to love and be loved.

I'd put "the right not to be killed or tortured" before that!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, that's a good one too, and I think Emma would actually agree.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Those two would be tied for first place, I think.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

It's also the birthday of my favourite Arthurian character!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

What - Mordred's birthday? really?

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Yes. In the mediæval romances, in standard hero-myth style, Arthur was told that a boy born on May Day would destroy him, so he tried to have them all drowned. But, of course, he got rescued.

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

That's something I ought to have remembered, but didn't.

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

Oops - that wasn't commodorified it was fajrdrako, having forgotten to log in again after commodorified used my computer for LJ access a little while ago. How... embarrassing.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'm back and I'm me again. Identity restored. Whew.