Open Thread and Diary Rescue

Tonight's Rescue Rangers are Avila, hhex65, jlms qkw, shayera, TruthOfAngels, and ybruti, with Unitary Moonbat shuffling the scrolls

May 1 is a day laden with history, especially regarding the starts of huge things – previous todays have seen the dedication of the biggest maypole ever, the Empire State Building (1931); the opening of the Great Exhibition in London (1851); and, on an even more imperialist note, the Battle of Manila Bay (1898). There was also a time when communists the world over sang The Internationale (choose your language) on what was sometimes known as International Worker's Day.

 Away with all your superstitions

• murasaki explores pagan May Day celebrations throughout history and calls for increased awareness of climate warming in May Day: Fertility & Regrowth. (Avila)
• kcoe summarizes the purpose of The National Day of Prayer in Exploiting the National Day of Prayer. (hhex65)
• Bogleg says My Long Winter is Over and shows how all of us can end our winters too. (jlms qkw)

 For reason in revolt now thunders

• LtdEdishn reminds us that religious conflict in America has sometimes led to violence, such as a little-known event in the 1840's called The "Bible Riots". (ybruti)
• PhilipMoon turns a spotlight on the racist Right in Beyond Terrorists: MI GOP's Support Anti-Semitism and White Supremacist Hate Groups. (TruthOfAngels)

 And strike the iron while it’s hot!

• MPetrelis has some positive news from other countries in Pro-gay advances in Poland and Nepal. (shayera)
• A child speaks candidly while visiting the office of a member of Detroit's dysfunctional city government in brightstar's In Detroit, the Student Becomes the Teacher. (hhex65)

 Too long we’ve languished in subjection

• Vietnam vet goldkeyrealty strongly advises PTSD sufferers to seek help because, as he knows from his own long struggle, It Only Gets Worse! (ybruti)
• Philip Munger brings us some great news from Alaska in Don Young's Toughest Opponent Gets Tougher. (shayera)
• Louisiana 1976 diaries on New Orleans in Incompetence? Or Genocide? But First, Blogathon Announcement..... (TruthOfAngels)

 Equality has other laws

• Drawing from personal experience in the South, YellerDog describes methods of voter suppression in Poll Tax, Voter ID, and the Supremes. (ybruti)
• Growing economic equality is the theme of The Two Americas by Daveparts. (TruthOfAngels)

jotter has yesterday's High Impact Diaries.

emeraldmaiden has tonight's Top Comments 5/1/08 - Factory Farms Impact Who?

Enjoy, and please recommend your own favorite diaries in this open thread.