Journal entry by Al Negstad — 32 minutes ago
Flames of Discontent: The 1916 Iron Ore Strike, Gary Kaunonen, tells a story which needed telling for a number of reasons. Socialism is much in the news these days, often with a positive spin. Socialist impulses were significant for the people involved with the strike but with the rise of the Soviet Union, the "Red Scare" and the domination of mass media by reactionary forces, socialism became a bug-a-boo. However, reading this account of the strike and the illegal tactics employed by the mine owners in cahoots with elected officials casts socialism as an attractive alternative.
Significant progressive politicians also undermined the effort of strikers because of philosophical objections to the Industrial Workers of the World, (IWW), (Wobblies), Union. Lord deliver us from idealists who'll sacrifice a human for an ideal. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his little book Life Together, says God hates visionary dreaming because the pastor, disappointed by parishioners foibles, ends up being their accusers.
Flames is important for a number or reasons not least to understand Minnesota history. It also presents a helpful understanding of American labor history and the IWW. Most significant is the light it casts on contemporary issues between labor and capital.
Blessings,
Al
The role of Finnish immigrants is well told in Flames, so I included this picture of Joanne in Finland.
Significant progressive politicians also undermined the effort of strikers because of philosophical objections to the Industrial Workers of the World, (IWW), (Wobblies), Union. Lord deliver us from idealists who'll sacrifice a human for an ideal. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his little book Life Together, says God hates visionary dreaming because the pastor, disappointed by parishioners foibles, ends up being their accusers.
Flames is important for a number or reasons not least to understand Minnesota history. It also presents a helpful understanding of American labor history and the IWW. Most significant is the light it casts on contemporary issues between labor and capital.
Blessings,
Al
The role of Finnish immigrants is well told in Flames, so I included this picture of Joanne in Finland.
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