A rose to all the working people out there on this Labor Day weekend. Labor Day traces its roots to the labor movement of the late 19th Century when the nation began its shift from an agricultural to an industrial society. Since adopted formerly by an act of Congress in 1894, Labor Day stands as a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country. There is probably no greater force in the world than the working men and women of the United States, a force that has not only shaped our nation’s character but is a model the civilized world seeks to emulate. So pat yourself on the back, workers. You’ve earned it.
A rose to organizers, vendors and attendees at this weekend’s Black Prairie Blues Festival and Prairie Arts Festival, two events which have established themselves as West Point’s preeminent annual events. Friday’s blues festival, which celebrated its 21st year, was formerly known as the Howlin’ Wolf Memorial Blues Festival, while Saturday marked the 37th year for the arts festival. Both have developed reputations for quality that sets them apart from similar events around the state. This does not happen by accident, of course. We applaud the diligent work of organizers for both events and congratulate them for yet another outstanding performance.
A rose to MUW, for being recognized by the magazine “Washington Monthly” as one of the best “bang for the buck” universities. The W ranked 36th overall, highest among the state’s universities. The award focuses on the important role universities play in their community. Rankings are based on three main criteria: social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs) and service (encouraging students to give something back to their country). We applaud The W for its admirable performance in all three areas. The rankings are just another reminder of how important MUW is to all of us.
A rose to organizers of the 15th annual Tennessee Williams Tribute. This year’s tribute, which runs Thursday through Sunday, features the performance of an original play written by David Roby of Birmingham, Alabama, based on the unseen characters found in Williams’ epic, “The Glass Menagerie,” as well as a host of other events, including an opening night gala, free acting workshops, a “Backstory Breakfast” with scholars, a catered luncheon, the “Stella” Shouting Contest and “Tom’s Columbus,” a morning of lively discussion in Williams’ childhood home. The tribute has been under the loving care of Brenda Caradine since it’s inception. While health issues have prevented Caradine from taking the lead role in planning this year’s event, she remains a source of inspiration and will undoubtedly soon return to her familiar role as the event’s greatest advocate. We salute her, as well as those who have stepped up to assume great responsibility, as we celebrate a home-grown hero and America’s greatest playwright.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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