On this day in 1898, the Battle of Virden began when armed members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMW) surrounded a train full of strikebreakers and exchanged fire with company guards. 13 people were killed, dozens more wounded.
After a local chapter of the UMW began striking at a mine in Virden, Illinois, the Chicago-Virden Coal Company hired black strikebreakers from Birmingham, Alabama and shipped them to Virden by train.
The company hired armed detectives or security guards to accompany the strikebreakers, and an armed conflict broke out when armed miners surrounded the train as it arrived in town. A total of four detectives and seven striking mine workers were killed, with five guards, thirty miners, and an unrecorded number of strikebreakers wounded.
After this incident, Illinois Governor John Tanner ordered the National Guard to prevent any more strikebreakers from coming into the state by force. The next month, the Chicago-Virden Coal Company relented and allowed the unionization of its workers.
"When the last call comes for me to take my final rest, will the miners see that I get a resting place in the same clay that shelters the miners who gave up their lives on the hills of Virden, Illinois...They are responsible for Illinois being the best organized labor state in America."
Mother Jones
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Help, I am becoming too old to have been single my entire life, and I don't see much hope of things changing
I'd probably be rejected just because it's so weird to have never been in a relationship at my age. I don't even care if it's anything serious, I just want the universe to throw me even a FWB or a fling or whatever the fuck
There are people who will not care about that and just want to be with you regardless.
Or you can just lie.
that would be nice. how do I find those people?
I have a solution that is a bit and I don't understand it. You have to follow the laws of the animal kingdom. Spend one year learning a mating dance. Next year having spent one full year mastering whatever kind if dance is local to your area go to whatever place is appropriate for your climate and dance. I honestly think you will attract a mate. This is a bit, but one year of dancing practice is more effort most men spend and it will be a green flag. 30 minutes 3 times a week. You can start at zumba or whatever is close. You will make friends, grow powerful, and I really think this will work to find a mate. I cannot stress how much I think this is a stupid idea that will work.
plenty of people will think its kinda cute and sweet.
well how do I find those people?
Trial and error.
Having only been single ever shouldn't really turn people off. A lot will find it kinda cute and also not having several failed relationships in your past means no one is gonna possibly thinking of why that is. You're a clean slate and don't come with any baggage or expectations set by whatever previous relationships someone may have had, people will find that appealing cause it's less they have to deal with.
yeah, I guess it could be perceived that way :)
have you tried talking to people of your preferred gender?
No, there is nowhere around here to go and try that where women might actually be receptive to it. Plus I'm really just not good at talking to people and making a good first impression (though I'd try to fix that if I thought any women would actually be receptive to me approaching them)
Social skills are skills that are trained like any other, that's some high grade self sabotage fam
I know, but there's nowhere to train them. Just an endless number of places where you go to spend money and nobody wants to be bothered. And nobody ever approaches me either.
Start by flirting with elderly ladies. They know you're not serious and are hardened from decades of practice.