Paul LePage, Maine’s Republican Governor, Orders Mural Celebrating Workers Removed
March 23, 2011 at 5:34 PM 8 comments
Wow. I’m almost speechless at the ruthlessness of the Republicans: Not only do they want to take away things that benefit the middle and working class, they want to erase from our collective memory the history of the labor movement (you know, winning the right to a weekend, etc.) — including that of Rosie the Riveter:
Gov. Paul LePage has ordered the removal of a 36-foot mural depicting Maine’s labor history from the lobby of the Department of Labor.
Acting labor chief Laura Boyett emailed staff Tuesday about the mural’s pending removal, as well as another administration directive to rename several department conference rooms that carry the names of pro-labor icons such as Cesar Chavez.
According to LePage spokesman Dan Demeritt, the administration felt the mural and the conference room monikers showed “one-sided decor” not in keeping with the department’s pro-business goals.
[...]
The 11-panel piece depicts several moments, including the 1937 shoe mill strike in Auburn and Lewiston, “Rosie the Riveter” at Bath Iron Works, and the paper mill workers’ strike of 1986 in Jay.
This is verging on scary. They want to rewrite history and to leave gains made by the working class out of it. They don’t want us to know or remember that we have power.
This reminds me of the Taliban blowing up ancient statues of Buddha in Afghanistan. Erase memory. Erase history.
Entry filed under: Corporatocracy, Dumbed Down, Fascist America, Repression, Republicans, Including Wingers & "Moderates", Unions, We the People. Tags: .
1.
Kurt | March 23, 2011 at 7:35 PM
I agree. What happened to jobs, jobs, jobs?
2.
Say It Ain't So Already | March 23, 2011 at 8:13 PM
Exactly. I meant to add a note about that. What about them jobs?!
3.
solikemybeth | March 23, 2011 at 9:44 PM
Oh come on – someone’s got to pull down/paint over the mural and make/put up new signs on the conference rooms. There’s your jobs program. Problem solved! (Anyone know where I can get training as an anti-abortion counselor? I have a feeling that’s going to be the next new hottest occupation.)
4.
Say It Ain't So Already | March 23, 2011 at 9:54 PM
Hey, yeah. Slap my face. Shoulda seen this as a jobs creation thing.
Gawd.
5.
marilyn gallo | March 28, 2011 at 4:57 PM
What will be next? Will they be renaming the Dept. of Labor, “the Dept. of Republican Interests”? Thank God for Liberal Massachusetts!
Proud Baystater
6.
Say It Ain't So Already | March 28, 2011 at 5:09 PM
I know. It’s just awful and so un-American…yet they claim to be the true patriots.
7.
marilyn gallo | March 28, 2011 at 7:10 PM
I like this definition of Patriot.
Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about.
Mark Twain
8.
Say It Ain't So Already | March 28, 2011 at 8:25 PM
Oh, I love that.
I’d add, a patriot is the person who hollers the loudest while wearing a flag pin (without knowing what it means).
Sigh.