MAYDAY History

MayDay 2008

Sunday May 4

A New Bridge

Infrastructure for the Future Beings

We Dedicate this MayDay:

to Stephen Feinstein

In the Heart of the Beast Theatre Board Member, who died suddenly in the prime of his life - for working tirelessly as a bridge builder for peace and justice as Director of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Minnesota.

to Waite Neighborhood House

for its exemplary work with Engaged Youth Leadership Training in our neighborhood, and for shepherding the healing of the staff and children who were in the school bus on the collapsed 35W bridge.

to the Citizens of Our Metro Communities

the ones who lost their lives, the ones who survived, the ones who were first on the scene to respond, and the ones who formed the vast network that created a safe passage for the survivors when the 35W bridge collapsed - for reminding us to love our loved ones, to be prepared for sudden change, and to unite and act with courage.

A New Bridge

Infrastructure for the Future Beings

On August 1, 2007, we witnessed the fall of the 35W bridge.

During the profound Ecumenical Memorial Service for the 13 citizens who perished in the river, Hamdy El-Sawaf of the Islamic Jurisprudence Council of Minnesota offered these words:

“If a bridge made of iron, steel and concrete can fall down, then a human bridge of faith, trust, confidence and hope must be established.”

These words challenge us to receive the tragedy of the fallen bridge as an opportunity to consider the infrastructure we are building for the present and future beings.

Are we building toward depletion and collapse as consumers and conquerors, or are we building a path to sustainable, reciprocal harmony with the rest of the earth?

Let us turn together with trust, faith, joy and ingenuity toward the work of building a bridge for safe passage through our transition to a glorious, sustainable, healthy life for all the future beings.

Happy Mayday! Enjoy!

In The Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre
Creator and Producer of the MayDay Parade, Ceremony, and Festival

A bridge is essentially the part of the path (way, road, Tao) which is not easy. The bridge is there precisely because the going gets tough, because there is an obstacle to deal with. It could be said that the bridge is the most resource intensive part of the path, it is the most vulnerable, and it requires the most intention and investment.
-Reed Ellis Aubin, staff brainstorming notes

“If we will have the wisdom to survive, to stand like slow growing trees on a ruined place, renewing, enriching it... then a long time after we are dead the lives our lives prepare will live here.”   - Wendell Berry

See the Storyboard for the MayDay Parade & Ceremony