Soapbox

Charlie Watts, the rock steady drummer for the Rolling Stones, died Aug. 24 at 80.

Charlie held himself apart from the other members of the Stones. While their indulgences became legendary, he lived quietly in Devonshire, England, with his wife of nearly 60 years, Shirley, and daughter, Seraphina, raising Arabian horses. Charlie was rock’s original “sharp dressed man,” being named one of the world’s most elegantly tailored men. Charlie’s first love was jazz. He formed several successful jazz groups that played when the Stones weren’t touring. Charlie’s drumming was legendary. He provided the heartbeat and backbone that drove the Stones’ signature sound, often playing just off the beat. He was renowned for his amused detachment while on stage.

Trained as a graphic artist, he helped design the Stones’ sets and contributed to many of the group’s album covers. Charlie shunned publicity. His terse answers in interviews became his hallmark, but they hid the real Charlie Watts who was considered one of the most decent people in the music industry.

Keith Richards, the Rolling Stones guitarist, famously said, “Charlie is the key (to the band’s sound). When he’s gone, it’s over.” Above all Charlie was respected by fans, critics, musicians and not least by his band mates. Music critic Gene Seymour wrote, “(Charlie Watts) was rock and roll’s best and most respected drummer … there were millions of fans who aspired to be Rolling Stones, (whereas) the actual Stones aspired to be Charlie Watts.” The Stones resume their No Filter tour in St. Louis on Sept. 26 with Steve Jordan replacing Charlie Watts. – john van becay, Aurora

Charlie Watts

Unions fight for us all

Labor Day is upon us, with parties and parades. This year, we celebrate the proud history of our American Labor movement. Mother Jones advised, “Mourn the dead, and fight like hell for the living!”

We at the Western Colorado Trades and Labor Assembly intend to do both. We hope to educate others about the roots of Labor Day, to understand why we have so much to celebrate – and so much to fight for.

The long weekend we’re celebrating was paid for by the blood of striking workers. In 1894, it was common for employees to work 12 or more hours per day, seven days a week. Despite early child labor laws, children as young as 5 still worked in mines, mills and factories. When the American Railroad Union called for a nationwide boycott of Pullman cars, President Grover Cleveland called in 12,000 federal troops to break the strike. Resulting riots led to the deaths of dozens of workers. In 1894, Labor Day was created to heal the breach between the government and the American worker.

As we mourn our fallen, we see a dawning hope in the rise of unionism in our country. New unions are organized daily, and union membership is on the rise. This generation of workers understands union membership is a pathway to a solid career, great benefits and a living wage. Unions fight for ALL of us and create safe workplaces where workers are treated with respect. We will always fight for workers’ rights.

The Western Colorado Trades and Labor Assembly would like to welcome all Western Slope unionists to join our organization, to strengthen the Labor movement in Colorado. For more information, please contact mander son@coaflcio.org.

Wishing you a safe and happy Labor Day – from our family to yours. – Molly J. Anderson, Affiliate Union & Allies Organizer, Colorado AFL-CIO

Veg out this Labor Day weekend

Labor Day offers a powerful reminder of the crucial gains experienced by American workers in the past century.

In 1894, when President Grover Cleveland proclaimed the first Monday in September as Labor Day, Americans worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in abysmal conditions to eke out a living. They were treated as animals.

A century later, animals in factory farms still are.

Mother pigs suffer a lifetime in tight metal stalls. Their babies are torn away, mutilated without anesthesia, crammed into crowded pens for six months, and then slaughtered in the dawn of their lives.

Dairy cows spend their lives chained on a concrete floor. Each year, they are artificially impregnated to keep the milk flowing. Their babies are torn from their grieving mothers at birth and slaughtered for veal, so we can drink their milk.

As it did for American workers, relief for these sentient beings is in sight.

Our supermarkets offer a rich variety of convenient, healthful, delicious plant-based burgers, veggie dogs and meat-free nuggets along with nut-based cheeses, ice creams and other dairy-free desserts. This Labor Day let’s all celebrate these plant-based options. – Diego Horvath, Durango