Cesar Chavez Holiday
Former United Farm Workers President Cesar Chavez unmasked our institutions and our leaders and exposed them for to what they really were -- not what they pretended to be. Chavez did it in life, and now he does it in death. Chavez is once again the subject of a controversial issue, but this time it's not about workers rights. When the California Senate considered a bill to memorialize Chavez by making his birthday, March 31, a state holiday, the masks came off. The Senate approved the bill, 23-0, and sent it to the Assembly. But 16 senators abstained. The dissenters, Republicans, who opposed the bill, didn't even have the guts to make a counter-argument for fear of appearing anti-Latino, given the affection that many, but not all, Latinos feel for Chavez (Arnette, B2). This fear is not unfounded, Latino voters make for a high percentage in California today. Strip away the politics and the reasons for a Cesar Chavez holiday are clear. But will this bill pass? What reasons are there to have a Cesar Chavez holiday? Many people equate his work to that of Martin Luther King's work for African-American people. But is another holiday needed? When it comes to Cesar Chavez, separating the man from th
Chavez's victories didn't just benefit farm workers, but the whole agricultural industry. In the same way the Abolitionists and the Civil Rights movements helped save the soul of America by forcing it to keep its promises and fulfill its greatness, the UFW helped save the soul of American agri-business by prodding it toward humane reforms. Today there are farmers who recognize that, and who are ready to give Cesar Chavez his due. The tragedy is that most politicians, desperate to hold onto their offices and win higher ones, allow themselves to be pushed around. They may admire Chavez, but they are terrified of the prospect of losing elections and having to make livings in the private sector. Because of this, they do the bidding of whomever yells the loudest, threatens the most, or writes the biggest check. And ag lobbyists yell awfully loud, threaten an awful lot, and write awfully big checks. That's the first lesson in Valley politics. Democrat or Republican. Latino or non-Latino. Old-timer or youngster. It makes no difference. If the issue on the table has anything to do with Chavez, or the UFW, you can expect our leaders to hide under the table. So will this bill pass? I think it should, but realistically their are a large number of ways it can be shot down. Even if it doesn't, honoring Cesar Chavez does not take a holiday. Simply treating workers fairly at all levels of industry should be offering enough. In life, and in death, you cannot keep a good man with a good cause down. e myth can be troublesome. He was a great leader, but a complicated man
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1070
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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