Big Music From the American Heartland Written by Nancy Steinbach

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1、BigMusicFromtheAmericanHeartlandWrittenbyNancySteinbach,LawanDavisandDanaDemangeI'mDougJohnson.Onourshowthisweek:Wehearmusicfromgroupstakingpartinconcertscalled"BigNoiseFromSpringfield,Missouri"AnsweraquestionfromalistenerabouttheVoiceofAmerica'sbroadcasts?AndreportabouttheupcomingLaborDayholid

2、ay.Monday,Septemberfifth,isLaborDayintheUnitedStates.Inmostnations,LaborDayiscelebratedinMay.FaithLapidusexplains.FAITHLAPIDUS:ThefirstdayinMayhasbeenthetraditionaldaytocelebratespringsinceancienttimes.ItalsoisthedaytohonorworkersinalmosteveryindustrialcountryintheworldexcepttheUnitedStatesandC

3、anada.ThefirstlinkbetweenhonoringworkersandtheancientMayDaycelebrationwasmadeineighteenthirty-three.TheBritishsocialreformerRobertOwenchosethatdayasthedateforthebeginningofaperiodofjoyandhopefortheworld.Ineighteeneighty-nine,thefirstParisworkersconventiondeclaredagreatinternationalworkersdemons

4、trationonMayfirst.Sincethen,theInternationalLaborDayhasbeencelebratedonthefirstorMay.TheUnitedStateschoseanotherdayforitslaborcelebration.NewYorklaborleaderPeterMcGuireissaidtohavesuggestedthatthefirstMondayinSeptemberbeaholidaytohonorlabor.Hesaiditwasanicetimeoftheyearforacelebration.Hepropose

5、dpublicparadestoshowthestrengthoflabororganizations.Andheurgedthatpeopleendthedaywithoutdoorparties.ThefirstAmericanLaborDaycelebrationwasheldinNewYorkCityonSeptemberfifth,eighteeneighty-two.Abouttenthousandworkersmarchedthroughthestreets.Theneverybodywenttoanearbyparktoeatamealandhearspeechesa

6、ndaconcert.Theideaquicklyspreadthroughoutthecountry.Ineighteenninety-four,CongressapprovedabilldeclaringLaborDayanationalholiday.Formanyyears,thefirstMondayinSeptemberwasadaywhenAmericanworkersdemonstratedforbetterworkingconditionsandpay.Overtheyears,however,theconditionofAmericanworkersimprove

7、d.Suchdemonstrationsarenolongercommon.Now,LaborDayweekendforAmericansisatimetocelebratethelastdaysofsummer.Manytownsstillholdspecialevents.Peoplethroughoutthecountryenjoyoutdooractivities.AndformanyAmericanstudents,LaborDaymeansit