remember the triangle shirt waist factory fire of 1911

Subject: remember the triangle shirt waist factory fire of 1911

Today, March 25, 2011, marks the 100th anniversary of that tragic fire in the Triangle building in New York City. 

I think it is appropriate for all of us involved in any blind organization to pause and reflect on just why we have come together. 

Remembering the conditions suffered by the garment factory workers in those distant days should remind us of the back rooms and the work shops and the poor farms where blind people existed.  Despite the hard road ahead of us, we really have come a long way.  We need to keep in mind that it has been through collective action, not by individual gain, that has brought us as far as we find ourselves. 

I would hope that regardless of our political leanings, that we all defend the right of people everywhere to organize for their own protection and advancement. 

Certainly we have seen many abuses of power in organized labor, but we only have to look about the world to see the corporate abuses which exist when there is no worker's organizations allowed. 

Imagine what would become of us and our gains if the government decided to ban the right of the blind to organize?  Who would take up our cause?  And if we had to look elsewhere, other  than within ourselves, would it really be our cause?  Or would it once again be the "care and pity" from our loving benefactors?  We've been down that road.  I, for one do not want to have to return to custodial life. 

 

Carl Jarvis

 

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Too long have the workers of the world waited for some Moses to lead them out of bondage. I would not lead you out if I could; for if you could be led out, you could be led back again. I would have you make up your minds there is nothing that you cannot do for yourselves. --Eugene Victor Debs
1855-1926