“It is hardly necessary to say that so far as results were concerned this strike did no good. The dissatisfaction of the operative subsided, or burnt itself out, and though the authorities did not accede to the demands, the majority returned to their work, and the corporation went on cutting down wages.”Harriet Hanson Robinson on the Cotton Mill strike of 1836
Harriet and her mother were kicked out of their home at the boarding house where they lived in Lowell Massachusetts when Harriet participated in the strike at the Cotton Mill where she worked. She was 11 years old.
I thought of Harriet Hanson Robinson, who later became a Suffragette, when I read the messages on my blog asking if I had heard of any results from Postcards To Trump.
When I wrote about Postcards To Trump, and sent my own postcards, I never expected them to actually be seen by anyone in the White House. Except for the person who received them and I imaged threw them out.
Because even if Donald Trump did see the postcards, I doubt he would care.
But just because there was no media coverage of the event, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. And like the 1836 Strike at the Cotton Mill where Harriet Hanson Robinson worked, it still has meaning and has the potential to inspire people.
I know of at least one Postal worker who saw those postcards, which means a lot of other postal workers did too. I also know that if felt good, was cathartic for many people to write those postcards. It’s also a good start, a way to lift us from feeling despondent and helpless.
And who knows where it might lead, what will come next.
So I don’t think it was a waste of time and energy. Not for me anyway. It was creative, though provoking and energizing. And unlike Harriet, I am fortunate enough not to have had to risk my work and home to do it.
We really have no idea and probably never will know, who was effected by the Postcards we sent.
I think of it like building a cathedral. The people who worked on those monumental buildings, didn’t expect to see them finished in their lifetime. But that didn’t stop them from doing good work that they believed in.
I agree, Maria, I’m sure he never sees anything negative his minions will make sure of that. But the minions at least see them if only long enough to see the content and toss them out. And because they are postcards, as you say, who knows how many people saw them on their way to the White House.
I don’t feel it was a waste of my time, let me vent some of the many many things that are wrong with this president. I sent a postcards and could’ve sent many more. He has so many, many reasons for all of us to find him a dreadful president, not to mention a despicable person. One of my cousin sent 23 postcards, good for her!
I think a lot of people sent postcards Melissa. :)