May Day holds unique significance as a point of contact and solidarity between the Old and New Worlds. The first of May, a time when the chill of winter has begun to fade into the collective annual memory and the warm communal summer nights ahead are in clear view, has been a day of celebration in Europe long before gaining political status as the International Workers’ Day following the Haymarket Protests in Chicago in 1886.
Today, the first of May, is a day to acknowledge and appreciate change, however inconvenient or abrupt. Change is not only necessary, it is essential for progress and equality. On this May Day, we must remember our past and the struggles of the working class, but we must also look to the future and continue to fight against the spread of fascist ideologies, increasingly expressed via the idealization of the last century’s leaders of fascist thought (i.e., Mussolini, Junker, Churchill).
Coinciding with the publication’s standardized “Recommended Reading” article, I have done my best to compile the usual trio of literary recommendations with the cultural, ethical, and political importance of the day in mind, hoping to fuse to the best of what the West can offer in order to stimulate and inspire the positive transformation that is vital for the survival snd preservation of Western civilization.
‘Maifest’ by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1771)
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hero of the German people, wrote ‘Maifest’ when he was only 22 years old in honor of the long-standing European tradition of welcoming Spring. The poem captures the jubilation associated with genuine unity. In ‘Maifest’ far from his most publicly successful, Goethe invokes the spirit of Maia, the goddess of fertility, and asks her to come forth and bless the land with abundance and growth. In doing so, he highlights the interconnectedness between nature and human society, and how the well-being of one is necessary for the flourishing of the other.
“The Origins of Totalitarianism” by Hannah Arendt (1964)
Born into a Jewish family in pre-war Germany, Arendt’s lived observations regarding tyranny and chauvinism, in general, are of distinct worth. While I admit to diverting from the distinctly literary nature intended to be the focus of this monthly periodical, I cannot help but recommend the interviews recorded towards the end of her long and fascinating life. They serve as an invaluable preface to her many literary works which belong, in her own words, to the genre of ‘political theory,’ a discipline of study of which I share a natural attraction.
In “The Origins of Totalitarianism,"Arendt explores the rise of totalitarian regimes in Europe, including Nazi Germany, and examines the conditions that allowed for such systems to emerge. She delves into the ideologies and techniques used by these regimes to control their citizens and the impact they had on individual freedoms and human rights. Her perspectives, fabulously articulated, may be as surprising to my readers as they were to me—I mean this in the best possible way.
‘Humbling’ is the word that comes to mind.
‘Long Walk to Freedom’ by Nelson Mandela (1994)
Nelson Mandela’s autobiography is a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and the human spirit. In it, he shares his experience growing up under the racist apartheid regime in South Africa, his journey towards political activism, and the grueling 27 years he spent in prison as a political prisoner. Despite the unimaginable hardships he faced, Mandela never lost sight of his vision for a free and equal South Africa. His unwavering commitment to justice and reconciliation serves as a reminder of the power of hope and perseverance in the face of oppression. 'Long Walk to Freedom' is a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration and insight into the struggle against injustice and oppression.
On this May Day, as we celebrate the coming together of nature and society, let us also remember the struggles of the working class and the fight for equality and justice. Let us take inspiration from Goethe’s invocation of Maia to bless our lands with abundance and growth. Let us heed Arendt’s warnings about the danger of totalitarian ideologies. And let us look to Mandela’s example of resilience and determination in the face of oppression. May this day serve as a reminder that while the past may have shaped us, it does not define us, and the future is ours to create.
Welcome to the warmer months, and may God bless you all as they pass.
-the Shultz Report by M. Shultz